Learning Management System (LMS) proposal

Discussion
1

As a consequence of the increasing interest in using video and flipped classroom concepts in inductions, I’d like to propose that we set up an LMS.

A LMS includes integrated tools for the entire education workflow: Course advert, enrolment, phased/structured learning, online assessment and course certification/completion.

The benefit to the space and members would be that we have a single, consistently-applied useful tool for doing inductions and other appropriate training. At the moment we have resources that are unstructured, scattered across several platforms under different user accounts.

An example workflow would be:

  1. I want to do the induction for Tool X
  2. I go to the LMS platform and see the induction course outline
  3. I enrol for the theory part of the induction
  4. I watch several videos, animations, slide shows in a structured orderly way
  5. At the end of each, I do a quiz to show that I understood the material
  6. At the end, I receive a pass mark that certifies that I have completed the theory part
  7. The inductor gets a notification and adds me to the invite for the next practical session
  8. I attend the session and pass, and now I am inducted to use the tool
  9. The inductor goes into the LMS and updates my course entry to indicate that I have completed the induction

If we use an appropriate Wordpress plugin, we could integrate step 9 with an automatic addition of the user into the appropriate user groups. We could also do it as a standalone Moodle site (I am familiar with the full stack for both options).

I am happy to lead/facilitate/co-ordinate the development of the LMS with the systems techs and others.

Your thoughts?

3 Likes
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One thought - as has often been discussed, many people do inductions just to learn about the tool and discover what it can do. Part of your laser induction is that showcasing of it. I’m thinking it might be good to think about making short ‘showcasing videos’.

I’d ten encourage people to do the induction itself when they want to start using it for something- then the learning is consolidated by that practice. That showcasing video would get out of the chicken and egg situation of having to do inductions to lean what the tool might be useful for (as inductees often seem to see it).

I’d also suggest ‘video tool guides’ giving a ready reference to the workflow - much like a checklist.

2 Likes
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I think it’s worth experimenting with. If it doesn’t work, try something else or revert back to the existing system.

4

I’d also suggest starting with a pilot of this approach in one area - laser - and can learn from that and roll it out.

It can also be helpful to consider from the perspective of meeting needs and identifying what needs one is looking to meet. E.g. learning about the tool - currently many inductees meet that need by taking an induction. There is need to ensure H&S… a need to ensure proper workflow is followed, new users have a need for a checklist and ready reference to support and remind them….

Rather than reproduce much of the induction in video etc. it is deconstructing the induction, breaking it down and re figuring it making best use of video, av, moodle etc.