a dummies guide to selecting a learning management system (lms

The Forzani Group Ltd 2007

The Game Plan

February 5, 2007February 5, 2007

A Dummies Guide to Choosing an LMSA Dummies Guide to Choosing an LMSThe Forzani Group Ltd / The Calgary EThe Forzani Group Ltd / The Calgary E--Learning NetworkLearning Network


Agenda

• Introductions• FGL Training Challenges• E-Learning Terminology• Selecting an LMS


Introductions

• Group introductions• Give your name and an interesting fact about

yourself


Introductions

• Who Currently has an E-Learning program?

• Who is looking to start and E-Learning program?

• Who currently has an LMS?

• Who purchases 3rd party content (custom/OTS)?

• Who develops content internally?


The Forzani Group Ltd.

• The largest national sporting goods retailer in Canada.

• Banners include Sportchek, Coast Mountain Sports, Sport Mart, National Sports, Intersport, Sports Experts, Atmosphere, RnR, Hockey Experts, Pegasus, and Nevada Bobs.

• 263 corporate stores, 207 franchise stores• Offices in Calgary, Laval, Markham, Mississauga• 15,000 employees, 10,000 front line employees

with average retail turnover


The Forzani Group Ltd.

• Current training catalog contains about 80 ILT courses and 15 CBT courses

• Sumtotal LMS and LCMS are hosted in house• We do all our own course development• Current course focus is product training for store staff• We allow all staff to train from anywhere


Ryan Van Orman

• Been with FGL for over 7 years• Been with the training department since E-

learning was launched in 2005• Previously worked in the IT group• Responsible for:

– Administer the LMS– Consult with Category Trainers on course design– Author all CBT courses (animation, flash, video,

audio)


FGL Training Challenges

• 10,000 field staff with high turnover• Providing consistent training across the country• Accurately recording current training results• Recording employee certifications (OH&S,

WHMIS, Vendor)


LMS Terminology

• CBT – Computer Based Training• SCOs – All the different objects that comprise a

CBT• LMS –Records employee training results.

Manages ILT and CBT course scheduling and registration. Maintains career pathing, competencies, skills.

• LCMS – Stores, manages, and authors CBTs• KMS/CMS/DMS – A system that maintains,

organizes and offers content


Selecting an LMS

• There are a couple ways to select an LMS• First

– Dream up a million ways to use an LMS– Write a big complicated RFP– Select the fanciest LMS on the market– Pay $100,000’s to purchase and implement– Then try and figure out how to use it


Selecting an LMS

• Second– Identify an Executive Sponsor– Develop a strategy for your E-learning program– Identify what solutions are available– Cost benefit analysis– Needs analysis– RFP– Vendor demonstrations (short list)– Reference check clients with the same implemented

version


Executive Sponsor

• Needs to be active in the project as well as day to day operations

• Provides a knowledgeable executive to deal with issues that arise in production


E-learning Strategy

• A strategy if essential for a successful program• Provides a clean “roadmap” of what the end

result needs to accomplish• Doesn’t have to be incredibly detailed• Things to consider

– What will the system be used for?– What is the expected output from the system?– Where will content come from?


Identify Possible Solutions

• Determine what solutions are available• Where do you find potential solutions?

– Internet– Research– White Papers– Fancy consultants

• Industry trade shows / conferences


Cost Benefit Analysis

• Going to E-learning doesn’t automatically save money

• Determine what the soft cost benefits are:– Reduced printing costs– Reduced travel– Higher compliance/saturation– Higher retention


Needs Analysis

• Determine what you NEED• Determine what you WANT• Keep it simple• Understand who your users are and their skills


RFP

• Now you would conduct your RFP


Vendor Demonstrations

• Short list your RFPs• Develop a demo script for the vendor• Create a checklist for your selection panel• Have the vendor use your data• Focus on seeing the results


Reference Check

• Check your vendor’s client references• They should be implemented clients with current

versions• What issues/concerns did they have during

implementation• Do they continue to have any issues/concerns• Ask about the quality and location of vendor

support


RFP

• Keep the RFP simple• Direct questions• Important to know what they can and can’t do• Valuable negotiation tool


Usability

• Make sure the system can be used by your learners

• Understand their skill level• Ability to find and register for training• Focus on number of clicks• Understand the learner’s system requirements


Prescribed Learning

• Assigning courses based on attributes:– Job Title– Location– Manager– Start Date

• What happens when the curriculum changes


Certifications

• Courses that are required for compliance• Do they expire?

– Every X days– Every January 1st

• How does the learner / manager get notified?– Email– Report

• How is the certification audited?– Just date and score– Test results


Course Content

• What format of content will you be using– Power Point– Word– Excel– PDF– 3rd party content– Content created with other tools

• Does the LMS support it• Can the LMS modify the individual SCOs


Content Versioning

• Does the LMS version the content regardless of source?

• Understand how you need versioning to work– Take it once and never again– Remove previous version results– Take every new version– Record results of all versions


Billing

• Do you bill for your courses?– Registration Fee– Cancellation Fee– Course Fee

• Do you operate in multiple currencies?• Do you need automated or manual billing?• Interface to your billing system


Reporting

• Understand what you need• Make sure you see your requirements• Watch out for easy to customize• Ensure the right people see the right data• SEE IT!


Interfaces

• What interfaces will you have?– Payroll / HRIS– Billing– Corporate Data Warehouse

• Understand the latency of the interfaces– What happens if a learner isn’t in the system but

needs to train


Branding / Multi-Language

• Determine your branding needs– All pages are branded

• Will each brand require multiple languages• Ensure language packs are complete

– Online help– Error messages– All pages

• Should be a client option, not requiring the vendor


Pricing

• Determine costing for LMS and LCMS separate• Determine maintenance costs• Understand vendor pricing model (seat count)• Understand the cost to maintaining historical

seats• Don’t forget the implementation costs

(consultants, interfaces, testing)


Miscellaneous

• Understand your security needs• Do you have privacy issues (FOIPP)• Will you allow learners access from home• How will you pay for training done at home• Integrate LMS with your knowledge system, one

location for everything


Q&A

Ryan Van OrmanNational Trainer, E-Learning

The Forzani [email protected]

a dummies guide to selecting a learning management system (lms

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