Technology in education is experiencing rapid evolution, and managing online learning systems (LMS) plays a crucial role in this change.

Forma.lms offers a flexible and scalable platform for creating and managing online courses. However, integrating forma.lms with other systems can further expand its functionality and improve the learning experience for users.

The benefits of integration

1. Efficiency in Administration:
   Integrating forma.lms with other administration systems can simplify user management by enabling the automation of processes such as registration and role assignment. This reduces the administrator's workload and ensures more efficient management of resources.
2. Reporting and Monitoring:
   Combining forma.lms with analytics and monitoring systems provides deeper insight into user performance. This allows teachers and administrators to identify areas of strength and weakness, tailoring courses to specific student needs.
3. Simple and Secure Access:
   Integrating forma.lms with company authentication and identification systems ensures secure and simplified access. Users can use the same login credentials without the need to manage multiple passwords, improving overall convenience and security.
4. Learning Personalization:
   Integration with talent management and skills assessment systems allows for deeper personalization of learning. Teachers can adapt content based on students' individual abilities and progress, improving teaching effectiveness.

Practical Implementation

To integrate forma.lms with other systems, it is essential to follow a well-defined strategy:

1. Requirements analysis: Clearly identify the goals of the integration, the systems involved, and the specific functionality
   desired.
2. Selection of Integration Tools: Use standard tools and protocols to ensure smooth communication between forma.lms and other systems. Using application programming interfaces (APIs) can simplify this process.
3. In-Depth Testing: Conduct extensive testing to ensure the integration works correctly in various scenarios. This helps avoid operational issues and ensure a smooth experience for end users.
4. User Training: Provide training to end users on how to use new built-in features. Clarity and user preparation are key to maximizing the benefits of integration.

Examples of integration

There are several concrete examples of interoperability between forma.lms and other systems. Here are some, keeping in mind that the evolution of these tools is always underway and that the list may not be exhaustive.

● Access to the system: integration often involves user authentication, which must be unique even in heterogeneous systems; unique authentication (Single Sign On, SSO) is essential for the safe and convenient use of educational content. With forma.lms it is possible to use plugins to access the LMS through the authentication mechanisms used in other systems, in particular:
○ Access via SAML / OIDC
○ Two-factor authentication
○ Access to the system with SPID / CIE authentication
● Integration with e-commerce: there are plugins to integrate forma.lms with Wordpress /WooCommerce, transforming the Courses defined in forma.lms into Woocommerce Products automatically, also allowing those who purchase a course in WooCommerce automatic access to the purchased forma.lms course;
● Certification and conservation of qualifications obtained: for this, there are plugins that allow you to produce certificates, which can certify the achievement of a Course, via the OpenBadge system;
● Learning objects: it is possible to use, in courses, SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model) or XAPI (eXperience API, or Tin-can) type teaching objects, recognized standards for the use of Learning objects and the tracking of results. With LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability), we can also take advantage of learning objects resident in other LMS platforms, not necessarily forma.lms;
● Use of video content: in addition to local video files, the videos defined in Youtube, Vimeo, etc. they can be part of a single forma.lms course;
● Web conference: it is possible to integrate the courses defined in forma.lms with different web conference platforms: BBB, WebEx, Microsoft Teams, etc.
● Electronic signature: the security of electronic documentation is more and more important. The ease of manipulating and counterfeiting electronic documents is a problem that now arises frequently. With forma.lms, using a specific plugin, it is possible to digitally sign the certificates and documents produced, having access to a dashboard for managing documents upon signature which integrates the LMS with the most popular electronic signature
certification systems (YouSign, DocuSign). Document management can be done conveniently and immediately within forma.lms.

Conclusion

The integration of the forma.lms LMS with other systems represents a significant step towards creating a complete and interconnected online educational ecosystem. By taking advantage of the synergies between different platforms, it is possible to offer more efficient, personalized and goal-oriented learning.
Investing in the integration process not only improves the user experience but also helps position the educational institution in step with technological evolution in the education sector.

(Luca Pasquinelli; Joint Technologies)