Are your employees steadily honing their abilities? Do they know how to use them on the job to tackle everyday tasks? In this article, I’ll feature 7 tips to monitor skill development with the help of a Learning Management System.
LMS reports: How to track skill development with a Learning Management System
Skills make the world go round. Well, at least the corporate world. Your employees must master the skills they need to navigate each new work day, from communication and lateral thinking to the fine art of negotiation and persuasion. But how do you know if your staff is building the skill sets their job demands? Here are 7 tips to track skill growth with the help of LMS reports.
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Assessment reports
Pre-assessments serve as a benchmark for employee progress, while final exams allow you to monitor how much they have developed their skills and bridged gaps. Most Learning Management Systems feature built-in assessment reports. As a result, you’re able to compile data for individuals and groups to look for trouble spots. For example, a high percentage of corporate learners don’t show much improvement in their test scores after completing the online training activity. This may indicate that there’s an issue with the online training strategy rather than learner motivation or participation.
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Simulation performance reports
Online training simulations require certain skills and knowledge. Thus, they are the ideal progress tracking tool that allows you to monitor individual skill growth. You can evaluate every aspect of their task performance to see where they need to improve, as well as which skills they must develop in order to boost efficiency. It’s also best to provide immediate e-learning feedback so that corporate learners know how to move forward.
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Certification online training overview
Some Learning Management Systems have the ability to track certification online training programs. As such, you can develop skill-based certificates that consist of online training activities, modules, and assessments. Corporate learners must complete the requirements to earn the online training certificate and prove their skill mastery. For best results, offer a separate certification online training course for each skill set. This allows you to track skill growth on a case-by-case basis, instead of trying to divide comprehensive certification results into distinct skill or performance issues.
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Work competency reports
Work competency reports help track skill growth and employee progress, as well as individuals that stack up against their peers. They are usually comprised of several data points, including on-the-job observations and manager evaluations. This data is compiled in the Learning Management System to provide a complete picture of the employee’s current skill levels vs. the desired skill proficiency level. As a result, you’re able to determine which skills employees need to improve based on their job duties and tasks.
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Course completion times
It takes employees longer than expected to complete online training courses, even those that don’t directly relate to skill development. This is a tell-tale sign that your staff lacks the skills required to complete the coursework and tasks. As an example, corporate learners spend a significant amount of time completing the sales online training simulation. A reason for this could be that they don’t have sufficient communication skills or product knowledge, or they have limited tech skills and are unable to use the POS software. Online training completion times do require some follow up to identify the root cause. For instance, online surveys and assessments can help disclose why corporate learners took longer to finish the online training module.
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Branching scenario success rates
Branching scenarios are another online training activity that requires a certain amount of skills to achieve the desired outcome. Employees must use these skills to choose the right decision-making paths. A co-worker argument calls for problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, while a customer complaint scenario may require advanced lateral thinking and active listening skills. Low success rates indicate that employees lack the crucial skills they need to navigate the situation. In fact, you can view LMS reports to dissect skill gaps and figure out which talents and abilities align with each task. For instance, a corporate learner ventures down the least favorable path in the third level of the branching scenario, which ties into negotiation skills.
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Learner-generated online training content
This skill tracking method involves active learner participation. Corporate learners have to utilize a broad range of skills to create their own online training materials, like presentations or infographics that center on a compliance trend. Learner-generated online training content also serves another purpose, which is to create a microlearning online training library. Compile all the online training materials that employees develop into a categorized database and use it as an online training repository. Another option is to invite corporate learners to develop online training resources that focus on specific skill sets. For instance, a video demo that showcases favorable teamwork skills, or a podcast that provides tips on how to improve creative reasoning skills. In the process of creating these online training resources, corporate learners will deepen their own understanding of what each skill involves and how to use them in real-world contexts.
Insider tip to find an LMS for skill tracking
The most important feature to look for in a new LMS is reporting and analytics. Ideally, customizable reports that allow you to monitor skills that are relevant to your organization. Data visualizations are also a must-have, as they give you the opportunity to detect trends and improve your e-learning course design. For example, pie charts could reveal that more than half of your employees lack a skill that’s required for their job description. In response, your organization offers support online training resources to bring staff up to speed.
As your organization evolves, so should your employees’ skill sets and talents. This is why you need to re-evaluate your skill-based online training periodically and keep a close eye on individual growth. Then you can adjust your online training approach to target undetected skill gaps or those that arise from new work-related tasks or challenges.
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