1. Making A Successful LMS
Switch – A Case Study of
March 23, 2012 8:30am
Tweet about this session! # LSC onLMS

2. Introduction of Panelists
Amy Bassett, BA
Marketing Director
Digitec Interactive
407.299.1800
abassett@digitecinteractive.com
www.knowledgedirectweb.com
Jack McGrath, BA, MLS
President and Creative Director
Digitec Interactive
407.299.1800
jmcgrath@digitecinteractive.com
www.knowledgedirectweb.com

3. Making A Successful LMS Switch
How to:
• Perform vendor selection and system evaluations
• Switch LMSs with minimal vendor cost and user
disruption
• Avoid “settling for mediocrity” in online learning
• “Convert” ILT or legacy content into effective
eLearning experiences
• Manage, launch, and deal with project scope
• ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO COVER?

4. Why Switch?
According to the 2010 eLearning Guild study, Getting
Started with Learning Management Systems:
• Only 62% of respondents said their LMS lives up to
vendor promises
• 13% plan to abandon their current LMS.

5. DMA’s Reasons for Switching
Poor communication
Wanted integrated course catalog & eCommerce
Support issues went unresolved
System was not multi-lingual
5
4
3
2
1
System did not support rich media content

6. Common Reasons Organizations Are Switching
• Not user-friendly
• Lacking key reporting functionality
• Lacking technical support
• Unable to scale up
• Too costly (more affordable solutions now
available)
• Outdated (lacks desired features and functionality)
Bersin & Associates survey (2009)
The Elearning Guild – Evolution of the LMS (2009)
Wainhouse Research (2012)

7. Question
Other reasons to switch?

8. Develop a Requirements Doc
• Decide which features you need in an LMS, with a
use-case for the learner and the admin:
 Critical
 Needs
 Wants
• Questions to consider
 Do you plan to sell courses?
 Do you need built-in authoring tools?
 Where and when will your learners access the platform?
Step 1. Perform vendor selection

9. Identify Potential Systems
• Send out, collect and review RFPs
• See system demos
• Narrow it down to 2-3 systems
• Demo your current solution for new vendors
• Ask for second demo (with IT staff)
 Have vendors demonstrate that they can import existing
student data
 Invite representatives from third party systems to sit in to
discuss any necessary integrations
Step 1. Perform vendor selection

10. • Confirm that you and your vendor are on the same
page
 All system requirements should be in writing and
approved by you and the vendor
 Define any nomenclature
Step 2. Minimal vendor cost and user disruption

11. • Hire an eLearning consultant to project manage the
move
• Ask all third party system providers to provide you
with a cost break down for any necessary
integration or support
• Agree on a fixed cost with the new LMS vendor for
all modifications, data import, support, etc.
Tips for Reducing Cost
Step 2. Minimal vendor cost and user disruption

12. Tips for Minimizing User Disruption
• Coordinate with new vendor
• Notify existing vendor that you need data exported
• Test, test, test – development to production
 Test at least 1% of the user accounts at random to ensure
accuracy
Step 2. Minimal vendor cost and user disruption

13. Tips for Minimizing User Disruption
• Plan a scheduled outage
 Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need
 Be sure to avoid typically heavy usage times i.e. end of
certification period, etc.
 Opportunity to market the new LMS – keep them informed
Step 2. Minimal vendor cost and user disruption

15. Tips for Improving Online Learning
• Begin with a business case. Why do your learners
need this course, and if you build it, will they
come?
• Start with solid learning objectives and outcomes
• “SMEs are not IDs” – use technical experts as
reviewers, rather than authors, unless you include
an editorial pass by an instructional designer.
Step 3. Avoid “Settling for Mediocrity”

16. Tips for leveraging existing content
• Use the “one idea per screen”
• Design interactivity and prescriptive learning
• Avoid lengthy, passive “talking head” videos. Use
controllers to allow user control.
• Create engagement and relevance through
messaging and discussion forums
• Measure your results with assessments that truly
reflect your content!
Step 4. “Convert” ILT into effective eLearning

17. • Start with clear requirements that stakeholders
agree to, based on actual needs analysis
• Check references on potential vendors
• Define a firm-fixed contract, with a set schedule
• Decide what warrants a scope change or what can
wait for future phases
• Develop your content using instructional designers
and SMEs and provide sufficient lead-time for
course design well before launch.
Step 5. Manage, launch, and project scope

18. Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card
• Drop a business card into the jar
 Write “I” on the back if you would like more Information
 Write “W” on the back if you would like to receive a copy
of our Whitepaper, 8 Steps to Selecting Your LMS
 Write “NI” on the back if you are Not Interest but want to
be included in the RAFFLE

19. Panelists Contact Information
Amy Bassett, BA
Marketing Director
Digitec Interactive
407.299.1800
abassett@digitecinteractive.com
www.knowledgedirectweb.com
Jack McGrath, BA, MLS
President and Creative Director
Digitec Interactive
407.299.1800
jmcgrath@digitecinteractive.com
www.knowledgedirectweb.com

20. Questions?