Jim is the training manager of a large pharmaceutical company. Recently, the company invested a large amount of money in creating a highly interactive e-learning course with rich graphics and animations. Jim was confident that the course would be a resounding success. However, the course did not receive the response he expected.

Many in the L&D face a similar problem. A lot of time and effort goes into the creation of e-learning courses, but they do not deliver results. Often, they target a diverse audience and fail to meet the specific learning needs of learners. Some learners might find portions of the course too basic and a waste of time. Others don’t have the time to sit through the entire length of the course. Personalized learning is one way you can overcome this problem.

Imagine a restaurant where dishes are prepared exclusively for you, considering your appetite and your preferences for various kinds of food. The chef would observe how you eat and ask for your feedback before serving you other dishes.

In the same way, personalized learning delivers courses that meet learners’ specific needs, based on their knowledge levels and format preferences. Depending on learners’ progress through the course and their feedback, the platform delivers new learning materials. Most personalized learning initiatives are successful, as they involve learners and are aligned with their needs.

Here are four tips for using an LMS to tailor your online training programs to your learners’ specific needs.

1. Conduct a pre-test to evaluate your learners’ knowledge levels and preferences.

Today, most LMSs come with tools that help you conduct a thorough analysis of pre-test results and precisely determine the knowledge level of each learner. You can also use the LMS to identify the specific preferences of your learners – discovering, for instance, which learners are comfortable with gamified assessments.

2. Deliver specific learning content that meets the learners’ needs.

You can use an LMS to deliver modules on topics that help bridge the knowledge gaps of each learner. For instance, if one learner is unaware of how to use personal protective equipment, you can assign him or her modules that cover the use of that equipment. If a learner is well-versed in the basics of industrial hygiene, then you can deliver advanced modules on the topic so he or she can skip the modules covering the fundamentals.

3. Collect feedback from learners about the training programs.

Gathering feedback from learners is an important component of personalized learning. You can use an LMS to ask questions like these:

• Did you easily find the information you wanted?
• Did the links to external learning resources function properly?
• Was the learning content organized well?
• Was the content easily accessible?
• How do you rate the quality of multimedia elements?
• What were the multimedia aspects you liked the most?
• Were there any gaps in the learning content? Did you access any external materials?
• How long did you take to complete the module?
• Do you think the topics were comprehensive? If not, on what topics you would like to follow up?
• Did the assessments contain relevant questions?
• Did you have any IT issues? Were there any problems in obtaining help?
• Were you able to complete the course within the scheduled timeframe? If not, why?
• Was the course engaging? If not, what can be done to make the course more interesting?

4. Analyze learners’ feedback and chart the course of further learning.

Based on the answers to these questions, you can use your LMS to enhance the experience of individual learners. For instance, if a learner is unable to complete the modules assigned to him or her within the stipulated timeframe, you can develop a better schedule. Likewise, you can provide more information on the topics that another learner feels were not covered comprehensively. You can also conduct a post-training assessment to gauge understanding. This process goes a long way in charting the future course of action.

Jim ensured his course was interactive and engaging but failed to realize that his learners have different needs and knowledge levels. He expected a single course to find universal appeal, which was not the case. Had he used a curriculum that allowed his learners to choose the modules most relevant to them, his course would have had better success. With advanced planning, you can use your LMS creatively to deliver a great personalized learning experience.