What is LMS, Anyway?

Maybe you’ve wondered about where your online training comes from; then again, maybe you haven’t. Regardless of whether that question makes you scratch your head, I’m going to attempt to explain it to you anyway. After all, this blog is about obtaining knowledge, so prepare to learn something new.

A Learning Management System, or LMS, is a software platform in use by schools, businesses, and all types of organizations, to disseminate training and all types of coursework without the need for a classroom. In 2010, according to an article featured on the site edudemic.com, educational systems spent $2 billion in computer systems that are capable of supporting LMS, in order enhance the learning experience for millions of students. Many educators believe that online learning tools are a positive addition to traditional curricula, helping to engage students and improve their grades. It makes sense, since most students have computers at home; bringing them into the classroom has been a natural progression.

School-age children and college students are not the only segment of the population benefiting from LMS. The workplace is embracing this tool in order to keep employees well versed in industry developments, as well as required training. Instead of schlepping to sales or training seminars, you can now get the same experience on your computer or electronic device of choice, wherever and whenever. It beats sitting in a conference room; now you can sit in your easy chair or at your desk, and take part in the same training you might have to travel hundreds, if not thousands of miles to receive in person. Webinars have replaced seminars, and most companies couldn’t be happier.

No matter how old you are, or how far removed you are from an actual classroom, it’s easier than ever to be a student. Just fire up your Internet connection and the world of learning is at your fingertips. It can be required training for your job, coursework to effect a career change, or just good old-fashioned curiosity that sparks your imagination. And, before you go thinking that an LMS is just one more tool your company can use to spy on you, think again. You always benefit from education no matter where it comes from; if your company is providing it through an LMS platform, consider yourself lucky – you’re getting paid to learn something new!

Let’s not forget that online training, and all training for that matter, can be far from perfect. If you’ve had a less than positive experience with training (online or otherwise), let us know about it!

Who Needs Grad School When You Can Access Online Training?

The conundrum many individuals (and not just college-age students) face is whether to pursue that graduate degree or take one’s chances by attempting to procure a job with just a bachelors degree. It all depends on which field you want to pursue; there are some fields where education is the utmost necessity, but for many of us, we cannot put off career advancement for climbing the academic ladder towards a masters degree.

There are a number of reasons why students decide to forgo obtaining a graduate degree in favor of entering the workforce. The first, and most daunting of reasons is the debt that a college education saddles us with as soon as we leave the hallowed halls of academia. Who wants to plunge even more in debt for a graduate degree? Let’s keep in mind that graduate credits cost at least 50 percent more than undergraduate credits, so a two-year masters program might end up costing almost as much as a four-year undergraduate program.

Second, we might be squandering opportunities that are open to us while we toil away for another two years. There is no rhyme or reason to the job market these days; no one can say for certain whether a graduate degree will open more doors than a bachelors, or even plain old life experience, if you happen to be considering going back to school after you’ve been in the workforce for an extended period of time.

Third, many of today’s most marketable skills can be self-taught. Topics like social media, Search Engine Optimization, and other types of Internet technologies can be learned by doing, as well as through online training. The costs of obtaining these skills are significantly less than graduate degree programs, and you have access to an infinite wealth of information just by having a computer and a high-speed Internet connection. But, again, depending on what knowledge quest you’re on, the choice is yours.

Make no mistake – we’re true advocates of education here; but, we much prefer quality over quantity. Investigate your options and let us know which decision you’ve reached.

For the best in online training, make sure you check out Coggno.com in your travels.