As children, we develop learning styles that either help or prevent knowledge recall. In all of these styles, user experience (UX) plays a role in how we retain and interact with information.
Learning management systems (LMS) also utilize UX, but this feature is often overlooked.
The Overlooked Importance of UX in LMS
Learning management systems software is used to administrate, document, track, report, automate and deliver educational courses and training material to employees and customers.
LMSs are designed to identify training and learning gaps using analytical data found on the system or with Fullstory web analytics software and their industry competitors, like Smartlook. For these reasons, integration and reporting features are considered when shopping for LMSs.
While these parameters are essential from the company’s perspective, end-users aren’t concerned with software compatibility or scalability; they’re interested in the platform’s UX.
What is User Experience (UX)?
User experience is how a user interacts with and experiences a product or service. UX can include the user’s perceptions of ease of use, utility, efficiency, responsibility, and accessibility.
UX can impact your business website positively by boosting customer retention, improving credibility, and optimizing the customer journey. These features improve an LMS similarly, except the focus is placed on how quickly students become accustomed to the interface.
The right LMS platform will include plenty of features that benefit startups and students while also being simple and intuitive. Students should only require minimal tech experience (i.e., the ability to search on Google) to navigate the software and learn what they need to learn.
What Determines a Good User Experience On an LMS?
There are four key UX features that determine whether an LMS offers a great user experience.
These include ease of use, layout consistency, intuitive dashboard design, and accessibility.
1. Overall Ease of Use
Ease of use is a central usability concept that comprises all UX elements. While usability is the bare minimum requirement for making a successful product, a true easy to use system has to include aspects of logical and emotional design elements to create a seamless experience.
The trick of UX is turning complicated features into something that’s simple to understand. If an LMS has a convoluted design, it’ll be difficult for students to navigate through its functionalities.
2. Layout Consistency
A great LMS will provide a consistent experience. Not only does consistency cut down on user frustration, but it can reduce learning time and familiarity. When students know how your system will behave, they won’t worry about what may happen. Instead, they can focus on the task.
Consistency needs to be present in the visual design and experience. It’s also important that you use one platform for the majority of their learning experience to reduce confusion.
3. Intuitive Dashboard Design
Intuitive design and ease of use are often used interchangeably, but they’re two different things. While ease of use makes the product easy to understand, an intuitively designed dashboard is made in such a way that the end-user doesn’t require instruction to use the platform at all.
Students have to spend a lot of time learning the subjects or training materials you’re providing them. They shouldn’t also have to learn your entire LMS dashboard while being in class.
4. End-User Accessibility
Your students come in all shapes and sizes, but some businesses forget to include accessibility features that help the differently abled. An LMS should include screen readers, text adjustments, color adjustments, ADHD-friendly features, videos with subtitles, and other inclusive features.
Creating an inclusive learning environment is important for students, regardless of their ability. Just about everyone and anyone should be able to learn from your universal LMS platform.
