If you’ve followed along so far, you’ll remember that the goal here is to be able to generate the rich data an LMS can provide at a fraction of the cost.

“We’ll, how’s that possible, because there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

Well, it is possible, we do it all the time and it’s pretty straightforward.  Let’s look at the basic steps to set up an “LMS free” data stream from your training:

On the front end:

  • Make your Articulate modules (the easy part).
  • Build in assessments, interactions, net referrer surveys etc. The more the merrier.
  • When you are designing your training modules, consider whether you want a login form at the beginning of each one to track users individually. This approach works well in controlled environments where users can reliably log in, but it may not suit every situation. In cases where a login isn’t practical, an alternative is to email each user a unique ID number that can later be used to associate them with their progress and results. While this method avoids the need for user accounts, it does require a bit more setup in advance, including knowing who will be trained and ensuring they receive their IDs securely.
  • Add “variables” to store or capture the information you are after.
  • Add the “emitter” code as a global trigger.
  • Set the variables after each “event” – basically put a trigger on button that sets the action as a variable.
  • Call the emitter every time you want to send data to the database.

For example:
logon
logoff
viewed lesson
started lesson
completed lesson
opened resource
downloaded resource		 watched video
played simulation
attempted assessment
passed assessment
failed assessment
retook assessment
or anything else you would like to measure.

On the back end:

  • Set up and test a simple HTTP API on any available externally facing server. Since the data flow is inbound only, the security risk is relatively low.
  • Store the incoming data in a relational database.
  • Finally access and analyze it using your preferred data analytics tool.

Wait a moment, those last three sound like we need some technical help.”

You might feel like this requires a complex setup, but in reality, it’s very simple and can be up and running in just a couple of hours. If you’re hesitating, consider the cost of a thousand seats on your preferred LMS, then compare that to a system with no ongoing licensing fees.

As for scalability, this approach holds up extremely well. The API only receives a small amount of data, and we’ve successfully run this setup with over 100,000 users without encountering any significant issues.

So how can you get human readable analysis?

Conclusion:

If you’re still reading, you might be interested in the next part: why you might want to choose an LMS instead. Building a rich, data-driven training flow from modules hosted on a regular website is easy, effective, and surprisingly inexpensive. We can build it for you or support you in building it yourself. You will need help from your IT team—fortunately, they’re always available and happy to assist, right?

With this approach, you can stay within budget and deliver training that actually lets you measure how effective it is. I’ve written before about one of the industry’s dirty little secrets: “just get them trained, and for heaven’s sake don’t measure effectiveness—we might lose our budget.”

Don’t miss the next section, if you want both sides of the argument.

~ The End ~

Previous Sections of this Blog:
Part 1: “Why You Might Not Need an LMS After All”
Part 2: “Loads of Training Data Without an LMS”
Part 3: “What can you do with learning data?”

Upcoming Sections:
Part 4: “How to Implement a non LMS SCORM Solution”  “You are here.”
Part 5: “Why You Might Want to Choose an LMS”
Part 6: “Conclusion – Cheap, Easy, Effective – Why Not?”

Before You Go, A Quick Feedback Loop

I’ll practice what I preach:

        • Was this post useful to you?
        • Did the stories help clarify the message?
        • What parts felt unclear or too abstract?

Reply with your thoughts — or better yet, tell me one small change you made after looking at your own assessment data. Because when we listen, we learn. And when we learn, we create eLearning that actually changes behavior, not just knowledge.