How to encourage LMS user engagement in learning

Why is LMS engagement important?

Firstly, let’s look at why LMS engagement is important. For any size organisation, employee training is vital and user engagement is a measure of how effectively the training is being delivered. For mandatory topics such as Health & Safety and Cyber Awareness, it is especially important for users to complete them in a timely manner and absorb the information effectively. When regulations are being updated on a frequent basis, an effective online solution will encourage users to stay up to date in line with these changes.

A high level of LMS engagement is a key performance indicator that learning objectives are being met. Seeing positive results with employees engaging enthusiastically with the learning management system will show to stakeholders and decision makers within your organisation that it is a worthy investment going forward. For decisions regarding L&D budgets and where spend should be allocated, these kind of conversations are valuable.

When courses or activities are proactively chosen rather than being assigned to staff, they are more likely to be motivated and engage in the learning process. This will lead to a higher level of knowledge retention and a greater ability to apply the newly acquired skills and knowledge in their job role. This can ultimately lead to improved job performance, job satisfaction, and career growth opportunities.

The value of accessible content

Accessible content within a learning management system is an absolute must when it comes to promoting user engagement. Having this type of content available will make it easier for all learners, including those with disabilities, to both use and engage with the content, promoting a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunities. Below are some examples of accessible features which will encourage engagement:

• Optimisation for mobile and tablet
• Adaptable font sizes
• Visual cues to help navigate content
• Screen reader availability

Making eLearning content accessible is essential to ensure that all employees have equal access to training materials and can participate in the learning process equally. This can lead to improved learning outcomes, an inclusive and diverse workplace culture, and ultimately, better engagement in learning. 

At Access, we understand the importance of accessible and inclusive content within an LMS, which is why all of our courses are compliant with the WACG.2 standards and screen reader optimised.

Emphasising the importance of creating a continuous culture of learning within an organisation will benefit employees in many ways, whilst encouraging LMS engagement which will garner tangible results. This culture of learning is likely to motivate your workforce and encourage them to pursue further learning opportunities beyond mandatory training.

Below are four ways to create a culture of learning and encourage LMS engagement:

1. Communicate the importance of learning within the LMS.
   
   If users understand the value continuous learning can bring both professionally and personally, they are more likely to participate in it.
   
   
2. Offer tailored content in line with specific skillsets.
   
   This will encourage users to engage with the learnings within the LMS and want to complete the available training, instead of it feeling like a tick-box exercise.
   
   
3. Encourage social learning.
   
   If users are sharing their positive experiences and personal recommendations with their peers through the LMS, it will cultivate a positive learning culture and encourage others to do the same.
   
   
4. Provide ongoing support.
   
   Helping to navigate the LMS and overcome any challenges they might face when using it will ensure users can get the most out of it to achieve their learning goals.

You can measure engagement with your learning management system by using the reporting features which should be offered as part of the package within your chosen LMS software. However, there are different ways you can evaluate how users  engage in learning, all with their own merits and intricacies.

1. User participation

This is probably the most common measure, showing how many users are participating in the learning process and how frequently they are accessing the content.

2. Time spent learning

A good way to find out if users are spending the right amount of time within the LMS is by measuring their time spent learning. For mandatory topics, this is important data to have access to as it can inform future decisions regarding how to shape eLearning content.

3. Course completion

If users are not finishing training courses, there is usually a reason for this. Being able to review course completion rates will give a firm indication of how engaging they are and whether users want to get to the end of it. This is especially important for non-compulsory learning.

4. Assessment scoring

When users are tested on their learning, not only does it offer them accountability, it also provides useful insights into how information is being absorbed and retained. Similarly to the above point, if users are not scoring highly and failing to pass the assessment, this needs to be looked at. Is the assessment measuring their understanding correctly, or is it not testing them on the right information?

5. Feedback provided

A great way to get an understanding of user experience is by collating feedback. You can identify areas of improvement, encourage participation and if the feedback is positive, this can help to validate that the LMS is doing what it’s supposed to be and getting the user engagement expected.

6. Organic recommendations

Tracking and reporting on how many times a course has been recommended organically will show actual user engagement. It will then give course and content builders an idea of what topics are trending and ensure they have more similar content to offer.

By using the above metrics to measure user engagement, you can better understand how what users are getting out of both the platform and content within it. This will then help you identify areas of improvement and ensure the user experience is the best it can be.

Now we have discussed why LMS engagement is important and how it can be supported and measured, here is a list of questions to consider when trying to encourage staff to engage in learning via an LMS.

1. Do the users have time within their work schedule to allocate to their learning and training?
   
   
2. Are your employees supported in their learning needs, and is a culture of learning fostered within your organisation?
   
   
3. Can LMS engagement be measured effectively with the use of reporting tools?
   
   
4. Is it communicated clearly why users should be undertaking the training?
   
   
5. Are timeframes offered in which the learning must be completed by, and are these appropriate for what is expected within the learning materials?
   
   
6. Are your employees able to see the progress they are making with their training in a simple and visual way?
   
   
7. Is the chosen solution easy to use and is training provided to effectively utilise it?

As we have discussed within this article, there are many reasons why LMS user engagement should be prioritised within an organisation.

Being encouraged to engage in learning practises supports employee retention and job satisfaction, creating a stronger workforce overall. It will also help with cost-based decisions regarding LMS choices and wider conversations about learning priorities.