Hrvoje KARNA received his PhD in the field of technical sciences at the University of Split. From 2007 to 2018, he worked in the IT sector for Siemens and Atos in various positions. In 2018, he joined the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia and since then he has been working at the Croatian Defense Academy. Currently, he holds an Assistant Professor position and teaches several courses in the field of information and communication technology. His interests include computing, data science, and education. He attended Edition #3 of the NATO DEEP e-ICP course.
Question 1. What new skills or knowledge did you gain from the e-Instructor Certification Programme that you find most valuable?
The opportunity to participate in this excellent program was great from a learning and skill-building perspective, but also a chance to work with participants from other countries and thus exchange experiences. The curriculum of the program is excellent, and well-balanced in terms of the ratio of topics in the field of pedagogy and the application of technology in distance learning. During the sessions and independent work, I had the opportunity to deepen both theoretical knowledge related to the education process and IT skills that are applicable to everyday work.
Question 2. What are the main features of a Learning Management Systems?
Considering that a well-designed LMS system should support the process of comprehensive development of employees through the development of their knowledge and skills with a focus on the daily needs of the work they perform, some key features are certainly: a smart interface, simple management, easy integration, support for different styles of learning, monitoring and reporting etc. not to forget the security features.
Question 3. How can you define the difference between an e-learning platform and a learning management system?
LMS systems and e-learning platforms provide learning environments that give users the ability to design and deliver courses. The main differences are that LMSs are generally more comprehensive in terms of the functionalities and features they provide, but also in terms of customization. Therefore, they may require some more time to master. E-learning platforms on the other hand are typically cheaper solutions, easier to use while still providing the functionalities necessary to create and manage content. For the reasons mentioned, LMS´s are usually relied upon by organizations, while e-learning platforms are typically intended for general use.
Question 4. What advice would you give in order to design the best interface for a learning management system?
The user interface must look good, has to be simple/functional, and at the same time reliable. Good design attracts users. Smart functions will keep them. The reliability of the system should not be doubted.
The interview was conducted by the NATO DEEP eAcademy team.