Dive Brief:
- Open source learning management systems are growing in popularity with organizations looking for low cost, easy to manage corporate learning solutions. They can focus on collaboration and include employees as well as customers, says Mike Conner, chief evangelist for BlueBottleBiz, in Chief Learning Officer.
- Conner highlights the flexible nature of open source learning management systems, which suits the different learning styles present in any company. He mentions that open learning systems are more suited to employee collaboration because content can be shared from multiple sources. When employees share useful content with peers, this facilitates peer to peer learning.
- The key to successful use of open learning platforms is identifying the most engaged employees, or ambassadors as Conner calls them. These are the organizational thought leaders who inspire other employees and who are at a higher stage in their own learning journeys.
Dive Insight:
As workplaces become more learning oriented, the future holds promise due to advancements in corporate learning management systems that enable cross-departmental and intergenerational learning transfer.
Open LMS and MOOCs are both flexible and robust enough to handle most corporate learning modules, even those that involve blended learning programs. Open source LMS are equipped to allow company thought leaders to demonstrate their industry knowledge in a way that still honors the corporate culture and all generations of learners. Any company can take an active approach to using an open source learning management platform with reduced risk and costs.
