An LMS Administrator is vital to any organization that uses a Learning Management System (LMS). They are responsible for configuring courses, running reports, creating certifications, creating learning paths and curricula, and consulting with internal clients to create an improved learning experience. To succeed in this role, a potential LMS Administrator must have strong technical skills and work closely with other company members. LMS Administration also requires the appropriate background experience and qualifications. This article will discuss an LMS Administrator’s duties, capabilities, and how they fit into the organization.
To understand the role of an LMS Administrator, let’s first answer the question, “what is a Learning Management System, and how does it serve the organization.” An LMS is a software application used to plan, implement, and assess a learning process. Functionality may include anything from providing online training courses to managing employee performance. Learning Management Systems are used in various industries and organizations, including businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions.
The LMS Administrator is generally responsible for configuring the LMS to meet the organization’s needs. These responsibilities include setting up courses, creating learning paths, and managing user permissions. In addition, they consult with internal clients to identify areas for improvement and make recommendations for changes.
Watch the “What is an LMS Administrator” video for a quick article summary. After you view the video, continue reading for a more in-depth understanding of the LMS Administrator role.
Why is the LMS Administrator Role Important?
LMS Administrators are vital because they ensure that the LMS is used effectively and efficiently. Efficiency is essential; however, talented LMS Administrators are often in a unique position to contribute to a learning program from multiple dimensions. They understand the learning management system and its capabilities better than those who design and develop the courses. Consequently, LMS Administrators can provide valuable insights that can improve the learning experience for all users.
LMS Administrator Qualifications and Background
An LMS Administrator should have a solid technical background and be comfortable working with various software applications. In addition, LMS Administrators should be able to communicate with internal clients and understand their needs effectively. The Ideal educational background would include information technology and Instructional Design; however, many successful Administrators come from various disciplines and educational backgrounds. The key to success is to have the right mix of technical, problem solving, and interpersonal skills.
LMS Administrator Responsibilities
There are several categories of responsibilities. Let’s discuss each type and provide examples of duties for each.
LMS Configuration
LMS configuration refers to setting up the LMS and configuring it to meet the organization’s needs. Examples of items that the LMS Admin must configure are courses, user permissions, user roles, learning paths, and training materials. This list is just a sample because, with many LMS systems, the organization can customize nearly every feature.
LMS Reporting
The purpose of LMS reporting is to track progress and performance. LMS Administrators create custom reports for organizational leadership and stakeholders. This group will include functional or departmental leaders and the Chief Learning Officer (CLO). In addition, the Administrator will design reports that help identify the training program’s effectiveness. Often this is evaluated based on the number of course completions or determining if the training program improves job performance.
Learning Analytics
Unlike LMS Reporting, Learning Analytics focuses on identifying macro patterns and trends in data to improve the LMS and organizational performance. LMS Administrators use learning analytics to identify trends that indicate how the LMS is used and whether or not the Learning Management System investment is achieving established ROI goals effectively and efficiently. Based on an analysis of Learning Analytics, the LMS team will make recommendations for improvements.
LMS Certifications
Certifications and compliance training are essential parts of corporate curricula. LMS Administrators are responsible for the creation and management of LMS Certifications. Tasks include setting up the certification process, managing user progress, and issuing certificates. The Administrator will also help develop strategies to satisfy the requirements of Continuing Education (CE) credits.
Gamification and Badges
Gamification, Leaderboards, and Badges are increasingly important as more organizations seek to drive engagement and enhance motivation. LMS Administrators create and manage certification and badge programs. Tasks include:
- Setting up the program.
- Creating the rules for awarding certifications and developing the criteria.
- Designing the certification process.
- Issuing the certificates.
LMS System Maintenance
Modern Learning Management System software constantly changes to add features and fix problems. LMS Administrators play a critical role in keeping the LMS current. LMS Administrators are responsible for applying updates and patches, monitoring system performance, and troubleshooting problems. With each change, there is a risk of impacting existing functionality and courses. The Admin must work with the LMS vendor and other stakeholders to mitigate those risks.
LMS System Documentation
The complexity of LMS implementations requires good documentation of the system configuration and processes. LMS Administrators are responsible for maintaining system documentation, which may include the LMS user manual, LMS processes, LMS features, LMS configurations, LMS course structures, and LMS security.
User Support
Depending on the organization’s size, the LMS Administrator will play various roles in user support. In a small organization, the LMS Administrator will provide first-line support, which means they will help users with problems such as forgotten passwords. In larger organizations, the LMS Administrator will provide Tier II support. Tier II support is for more complex issues that require a deeper understanding of how the LMS functions.
LMS Integrations
The typical LMS implementation will use at least one integration with another internal or external system. The LMS Admin is responsible for configuring and maintaining those integrations. Therefore, LMS Administrators must have a strong understanding of the LMS and partner with other system owners to ensure the integration functions as intended.
LMS Administrator as Learning Experience Designer
Beyond the routine duties of administering the learning environment, LMS Admins have the opportunity to add additional value to the company by acting as Learning Experience Design consultants. LMS Administrators are uniquely positioned to be the learner’s voice because they understand how learners interact with the LMS daily. This understanding allows them to see opportunities for improvement that those who design and develop courses may miss.
For example, LMS Administrators can provide insights about how to make courses more discoverable to users. In addition, they can help improve the navigation of a course or make it more user-friendly. By acting as a Learning Experience Design consultant, LMS Administrators can play a crucial role in improving the overall learning experience for all users.
LMS Administrator Role in the Organization
The LMS Administrator is typically a member of the learning and development team. They report to the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) or another senior leader in the organization. In some cases, they may be part of a larger group that manages different aspects of the learning management system. Larger organizations may also have multiple LMS administrators responsible for specific details of the system or course management process.
Wrap-Up
Skilled LMS Administration is essential to the success of corporate learning programs. Therefore, training and development leaders should invest the time and budget to ensure that their LMS Administrator or administration team is well prepared for the many responsibilities of the role.
SkillQ offers LMS administration services and can help you with LMS needs such as LMS selection, LMS migration, LMS implementation, and LMS maintenance. To learn more about how we can help you with your LMS needs, visit skillq.com.