"Path LMS became an arm of ACSM, not just a vendor. They took the extra time, care, and attention to learn about us, and they cared about what we were doing, and that made the difference—when you can tell that the people that you're working with care just as much as you do."
Key Features
Strategic Workshop to analyze content and audience needs
Ongoing instructional design support for revenue-generating content
Enhanced the online educational experience for ACSM members
Gained a comprehensive understanding of educational gaps and needs Created a clear roadmap for online learning department development
Streamlined the management of educational offerings
Implemented Path LMS to serve as their online learning catalog Completed stalled course development project in four months
Expanded the availability and accessibility of educational content
Maintained revenue-generating content production during staffing transitions Established a foundation for future growth with scalable processes
ACSM’s journey with educational content began with recording conference sessions on VHS tapes and cassettes that they would then sell to members. As technology evolved, the organization started exploring online education. They started utilizing a learning management system to host recorded content and reach professionals who could no longer attend in-person events due to the pandemic.
Challenge & Solution
To keep pace with their members’ evolving needs and adapt to trends in adult learning, ACSM recognized the importance of transitioning from traditional recorded presentations to more interactive, technology-enabled experiences. This meant implementing SCORM-compliant solutions that could deliver engaging content to learners wherever they were.
ACSM was also looking to expand their educational offerings through new course development initiatives by partnering with external vendors to enhance their content portfolio.
ACSM recognized the need for expert partnership in learning technology and content development. “You hire experts because they’re experts,” notes Katherine Schowengerdt, Vice President of Operations at ACSM. After conducting an RFP process, ACSM chose Momentive and Path LMS for both their learning management system and Learning & Development services.
Our technology-forward vision and deep understanding of associations are what set us apart. “Associations are different and have unique needs. We serve diverse customer groups who each require different types of content and varying levels of access,” explains Schowengerdt. “This understanding, combined with their complete learning ecosystem that brings together innovative technology and expert Learning & Development services, made them a uniquely valuable partner.”
Our partnership began with the Strategic Workshop that helped ACSM address one of their core challenges: creating a comprehensive educational path forward that would serve their diverse audience segments, from undergraduate students to PhD researchers. The Strategic Workshop provided a valuable outside perspective and helped create visual frameworks that made their complex organizational needs more digestible for both staff and volunteer leaders.
On the content development front, our Learning & Development team tackled stalled course projects, implementing strong review processes and completing the remaining modules. This quick win demonstrated the value of having experienced instructional design support.
Results
ACSM gained a better understanding of their gaps and needs, as well as how to effectively use both internal and external resources for learning content development. The Strategic Workshop enabled them to build a new online learning department with a clearly defined purpose. At the same time, the instructional design support has allowed them to continue producing revenue-generating content during staffing transitions.