Knowledge Anywhere's LMS has so many features that it can be difficult to remember or find them all. No matter how often we try to communicate new changes to our training platform, there are always a few lesser-known abilities that could make a training Administrator's life easier. 

So, without further ado, here are our top 15 underutilized LMS features, alongside guides and resources on how to get started.

Leaderboard & Badges

1. They provide an element of gamification

Training can be monotonous. These features can provide some fun and friendly competition or a sense of personal accomplishment. Studies show that users spend more time, more willingly on systems that leverage gamification, since it's seen as less of a chore and more of a challenge. When a user's experience with training is positive, the willingness to complete it should increase.

2. They allow learners to show off their progress internally and externally

Besides just being interesting, badges and certifications have real-world value. Internally, it can be used for employees to show employers that they have learned new skills and systems, and can even potentially be used as justification for more responsibility. 

Outside of the organization, it shows the user's level of employability in ways that are tangible and easy for others to see. Instead of saying "I have worked with [X skill, system, or product]," learners with badges and certificates can proudly display official-looking titles, with their names, while explaining "I have been professionally trained and certified in [X skill, system, or product] on [date] during my [role] at [company]. This sounds more official, legitimate, and specific. In other words, it's certifiable! 

Resources & how to get started

To see a walkthrough demo video about badges and how to track them, click here

 

LMS Open Marketplace

Having an Open Administrator Marketplace in a corporate learning management system is an invaluable resource for any organization looking to optimize its training program. With an Open Administrator Marketplace, companies can easily search and integrate third-party tools and applications to enhance the functionality of their LMS platform. This means that administrators can customize their LMS to fit their specific needs, whether it be integrating with HR software, implementing gamification features, or offering personalized training paths. Knowledge Anywhere's Marketplace includes ej4, LinkedIn Learning, OpenSesame, Ecommerce, Knowledge Mark, QuickQuiz, Scormify, Azure Active Directory, PandaDoc, GoogleAnalytics, Zapier, and more!

By leveraging an Open Administrator Marketplace, companies can not only streamline their training program but also stay ahead of the curve with cutting-edge technology and tools.

Resources & how to get started

To see a walkthrough demo video about our Administrator marketplace, click here

 

LinkedIn Learning & Open Sesame Integrations

Together, these integrations allow your Learners to access over 50,000 pre-made, professional courses through your Knowledge Anywhere LMS.

Through our LinkedIn Learning Integration, Knowledge Anywhere customers can access and join over 27 million users and 78 Fortune 100 companies that take advantage of this training platform. Our Open Sesame integration allows for access to 30,000+ off-the-shelf online courses, where Learners can easily find quality online training content for any industry on virtually any subject, available in multiple languages and accessible to learners around the world.

Resources & how to get started

Click the individual hyperlinks for a step-by-step guide to our LinkedIn Learning and Open Sesame Integrations.

 

Categories

The ability for administrators to assign categories to learning paths and courses is a game-changer for corporate learning management systems. This new feature enables administrators to organize content in a way that is intuitive and easy to navigate for learners. For example, an onboarding category can be created, making it easy for new learners to find all the relevant content in one place. This not only simplifies the learning experience but also helps learners to feel more confident and empowered as they navigate through the system.

Additionally, the fact that this feature is customizable and can be turned on or off as needed, gives administrators greater control over the learning experience, allowing them to tailor the system to their specific needs. Overall, the addition of categories to learning paths and courses is a powerful tool that will help organizations to optimize their training programs and maximize the impact of their learning management system.

Resources & how to get started

Click here for a video and step-by-step guide on how to utilize Categories within your LMS.

 

Customizable Certificates

Having customizable certificates in a corporate learning management system is an important feature that adds value to both the learners and the organization. Certificates serve as a recognition of achievement, motivating learners to complete their training and strive for excellence. With customizable certificates, organizations can create certificates that align with their brand, adding a professional touch to the recognition process. Additionally, these certificates can be tailored to specific courses or learning paths, giving learners a sense of accomplishment and validation for their efforts.

For organizations, customizable certificates can also help to track the progress of learners and evaluate the effectiveness of their training program. By leveraging this feature, administrators can easily create and distribute certificates to learners who have successfully completed their training, reinforcing the value of the training and fostering a culture of learning and growth within the organization. 

Resources & how to get started

To see a walkthrough demo video about customizable certificates, click here

 

Learning Path Page Filters

Learning Path Page Filters are an invaluable tool that can significantly improve the usability and effectiveness of a corporate learning management system. With these filters, administrators can easily sort learning paths based on various criteria such as due dates, completion status, or individual learner progress. This feature enables administrators to quickly assess the performance of individual learners or groups and make data-driven decisions about training strategies.

For learners, filters provide a seamless experience that allows them to quickly locate relevant learning paths and training content, without the need to search through an overwhelming number of courses.

Resources & how to get started

To see a walkthrough demo video about Learning Path filters, click here

 

Administrator Roles

Customizable user roles in a corporate learning management system, like those available in Knowledge Anywhere's LMS, can provide a range of benefits to organizations. By assigning roles with specific levels of access and permissions, administrators can ensure that employees have the right amount of control and access to training materials. The flexibility to create different roles, such as user, administrator, instructor, and more, can help companies tailor their LMS to their specific needs. For example, administrators can delegate responsibilities and ensure that learners have access to only the content that is relevant to their job roles, making the training process more efficient and effective. With the ability to assign customized roles, organizations can optimize the use of their LMS and provide targeted training that meets their unique needs.

Here's a quick breakdown of Administrator roles Knowledge Anywhere has:

  • Global - formerly known as Super Admin
  • Group - formerly known as Restricted Group Admin
  • Basic
  • Instructor
  • Registrar

Resources & how to get started

To learn more about Knowledge Anywhere's Admin roles, read this article

 

Digital Signatures

Digital signatures offer several benefits within an LMS. With digital signatures, administrators and learners can sign documents electronically, which streamlines workflows and eliminates the need for physical documents. Digital signatures are also more secure than physical signatures because they are encrypted and tamper-proof, ensuring that the signature is authentic and cannot be altered. Additionally, digital signatures provide a clear audit trail, allowing administrators to track who signed a document and when, and providing proof of compliance in the event of an audit. 

Resources & how to get started

For a step-by-step article about how to set up a digital signature within your LMS, click here

 

eCommerce

One of the biggest benefits of using eCommerce to monetize training courses within a training platform is the ability to generate revenue for your organization. By offering paid courses, you can not only cover the cost of creating and maintaining courses but also generate additional income for your business. Additionally, eCommerce allows you to expand your reach beyond just your employees or internal audience, as anyone can purchase the courses. This opens up opportunities for new partnerships and collaborations, as well as the ability to reach a wider audience and potentially grow your customer base. By providing a streamlined purchasing process within your training platform, you can also make it easy for individuals and organizations to purchase and access the training they need, ultimately increasing the value of your platform.

Resources & how to get started

To see a walkthrough demo video about how to utilize eCommerce within your LMS, click here

 

Hire Dates for Groups

The ability for admins to set learning path group assignments based on learner hire dates is a valuable feature in a training platform. With this feature, admins can automate the learning path assignment process for new hires, ensuring they receive the appropriate training and onboarding materials. By setting a date range and assigning a learning path to that range, the platform will automatically assign the learning path to any learner whose hire date falls within that range. This saves time and effort for admins who would otherwise need to manually assign the learning path to each new hire. Additionally, it ensures that new hires receive the necessary training promptly, leading to increased productivity and reduced time to competency.

Resources & how to get started

For a step-by-step article about how to set up Learning Path group assignments based on hire date, click here

 

Directed Learning

With the Directed Learning feature, administrators can assign one or more courses directly to an individual learner without having to assign the course to a Learning Path. Directed learning paths are a helpful feature in an LMS as they allow learners to have a more personalized learning experience. With directed learning paths, administrators can assign specific courses to learners based on their role, job title, or skill level. This ensures that learners are only taking courses that are relevant to their job responsibilities or career goals, which can lead to more engaged and motivated learners.

Additionally, directed learning paths can help streamline the learning process and make it more efficient for learners, as they don't have to spend time searching for relevant courses. Instead, the courses are already organized and presented in a clear, easy-to-follow path. Overall, directed learning paths can help increase the effectiveness of an LMS by ensuring that learners are receiving the training they need to succeed.

Resources & how to get started

To learn how to assign a course to an individual learner, read this article

 

Personal Identifiable Information (PII)

PII, or Personal Identifiable Information, can have several benefits when included in an LMS (Learning Management System), especially for admins. Some of these benefits include:

  1. Improved communication: Having access to a learner's first name, last name, and email address can help admins communicate with learners more effectively. Admins can use this information to send targeted messages and notifications to learners, ensuring that they receive the information they need in a timely manner.
  2. Personalization: By knowing a learner's name and email address, admins can personalize their communications, making them more engaging and relevant to the individual learner. This can improve engagement and retention rates, as learners are more likely to engage with content that feels personalized to them.
  3. Tracking learner progress: PII can also be used to track a learner's progress through a course or program. Admins can use this information to identify learners who may be struggling and offer them additional support, such as personalized coaching or additional resources.
  4. Compliance: Including PII in an LMS can help ensure that the system is compliant with relevant data protection and privacy regulations. By enabling the PII feature checkbox, admins can ensure that they are only collecting the information they need to effectively manage the learning process.

Resources & how to get started

To read about PII, click here

 

Saved Reports

Saved Reports can be a lifesaver for trainers within a training platform. With this feature, trainers can easily save and access reports they frequently use without having to recreate them every time they need them. This saves valuable time and allows trainers to focus on analyzing the data rather than spending time compiling it. Saved Reports also provide consistency in reporting across the organization, ensuring that everyone is accessing the same data and metrics. This feature enables trainers to make informed decisions about their training programs, monitor progress, and identify areas for improvement. Overall, Saved Reports can help trainers be more efficient, and effective, and make better use of their time.

Resources & how to get started

For access to all of our resources about Saved Reports, click here.

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