Welcome to SimplySmarter, a monthly e-bulletin from Lawson Learning. The hot news for August is VLabs — our new distance learning program piloting this month with two courses. Click here for more information on our newest learning option. Look for our latest success story from Owensboro Medical Health Services on their implementation of Learning Accelerator. Click to get their story. As always you'll find news on current class schedules and more.

Download the PDF files below for a quick snapshot of the courses we're offering from August through October. Keep them handy to develop your personal training plan.

• Learning Labs: Customer Training Schedule(PDF)
• Online Learning Library: Interactive Webcasts (PDF)
• VLabs: Virtual Learning Labs

To register go to http://support.lawson.com,(link opens in new window) log in, click "Training," and then click the "Access Training" link. If you don't have a login for Lawson support or training, click here for instructions about what to do (PDF).

Need help finding a class? If you have specialized learning needs or are looking for a course not included in these schedules, give us a call at 1-888-449-8931 or send an e-mail to lawsonlearning@lawson.com.

Lawson VLabs: Learning from Anywhere

	My company has a limited travel budget. How can we stretch our Lawson training dollars further?
	Choose VLabs! Pull up a chair and get Lawson smart, fast — in our virtual classroom.

Lawson Virtual Learning Labs (VLabs), a new distance learning program from Lawson, is a great way to learn something new in an interactive, hands-on environment. It's just like being in the classroom, only easier. When it's time for class, simply open your web browser and sign in.

VLabs Offers Hands-on Training You Can Really Use
If you're familiar with hosting online meetings, online shopping, or any web activity, VLabs will be a breeze. It's entirely browser-based, which means no new hardware and nothing to install on your desktop. You'll experience instant feedback when you access the Lawson training server to complete hands-on exercises, engage in shared activities during breakout sessions, complete online quizzes, join live chats, and more.

Why Choose VLabs?
"One of the main benefits of Virtual Learning Labs is access to high-quality training without the need to travel," explains Jacquelyn Olson, Director of Learning, Americas. "You can experience hands-on, interactive instruction in real time — at the click of a mouse. But an equally important benefit is being able to take a class in the morning and use what you learned in the afternoon," she added. "You can expect excellent retention when you're able to immediately apply new concepts in your Lawson production system."

Learn from a Master
For our pilot VLab sessions, we've signed up Lawson experts like Don Peterson, inventor of the Microsoft Add-Ins, and presenter of the most popular Lawson Conference and User Exchange (CUE) sessions to date. Early response to Don's session has been overwhelming. All slots are full, and a waiting list is building. See upcoming issues of SimplySmarter for additional offerings of this course.

2-for-1 Promotion
In late July we launched a special 2-for-1 promotion for our pilot courses — Microsoft® Add-Ins (Query Wizard & Upload Wizard) and Advanced Smart Notification®: Links. The Microsoft Add-Ins sessions are filled to capacity, but we are still offering the promotion for Smart Notifications while space is available. After the successful completion of this pilot, we will add these courses to our public schedule. See the links below for detailed course information. To register go to http://support.lawson.com, log in, click "Training," and then click the "Access Training" link.
View additional sign-up instructions here (PDF).

Microsoft® Add-ins
Introduction to the Query Wizard Full course description
Introduction to the Upload Wizard Full course description

Advanced Smart Notification®: Links Full course description

Learn More About VLabs
Find out more about Virtual Learning Labs by calling us at 1-888-449-8931 or click here to send an e-mail to Lawson Learning.

If you have a problem that's looking for a solution, send us an e-mail. We'll get back to you promptly, and consider featuring your question in a future issue of SimplySmarter.

Countdown to a New Learning Management System

Lawson Learning is implementing a new learning management system (LMS) from SumTotal later this summer. Soon it will be much easier to register, launch courses, and review a list of your learning options. This intuitive interface will also include reporting functions that make it simpler for you to track your training history and plan for future training needs. See the next issue of SimplySmarter for details and training opportunities on the new LMS!

Learning Labs Update

A standard Learning Lab is now available for Lawson Budgeting & Planning. Learn the tool and discover best practices for effectively implementing it. Our first public session of Lawson Budgeting & Planning 9.0 Learning Lab (IMPLBP9) is scheduled for July 30-August 2 in St. Paul. Our next offering on October 16-19, also in St. Paul, currently has openings. To register go to http://support.lawson.com, log in, click "Training," and then click the "Access Training" link.

Take Advantage of First Wednesday Webinars

Join Lawson Learning for our monthly First Wednesday Webinars showcasing Lawson Learning Accelerator. Led by Senior Global Market Manager, Larry Marty, each one-hour session includes a discussion and demo of this innovative product. Visit www.lawson.com/LA_Wednesdays to review the First Wednesday schedule and register.

Learning Accelerator Gets Users Productive Faster at Community Hospital

Having recently purchased business software applications from Lawson, Owensboro Medical Health System (OMHS) of Kentucky realized it needed a training tool to get its nearly 3,000 employees up to speed quickly. It was just a question of finding the right solution.

"We were looking for something with testing ability that we could use for all types of software, not just Lawson products," says Cindy Lohmann, business applications team leader, IS Application Support, OMHS. "So when Lawson suggested Learning Accelerator, the timing seemed right."

As it turned out, it was a good decision — and an important one too — since the key to successful implementation of new software is a comprehensive training program. Lawson Learning Accelerator helps customers achieve success and return on investment even faster by basing lessons on realistic user roles and workflows. These lessons enable a quick transfer of new skills into the job. Using Learning Accelerator, OMHS created custom web-based simulations that are now helping them train, test, and support users of their Lawson and non-Lawson applications everywhere within their organization.

The initial training of 350 users has proven successful and during the process OMHS realized several advantages over traditional training for their organization and end users.

"Learning Accelerator saves us a lot of time in developing our curriculum because we now have one easy-to-use tool to create end-user documentation and training in a variety of simulation formats," says Michelle Lashbrook, training facilitator, OMHS. "And we can go in anytime to update the materials."

"There are obvious benefits for our users as well," adds Michelle. "Because the developed course material can be used for several classes and is presented in the same way each time, it provides consistency throughout our organization. And students appreciate being able to go at their own pace."

Both Michelle and Cindy agree another advantage and cost-cutter is that teams of trainers are no longer needed to lead the sessions because Learning Accelerator generates customized e-learning courses that individuals with solid computing skills can follow on their own.

After a simulation-based course is completed, it's posted on the intranet for easy access. Soon OMHS plans to use the "test-me" mode so people can see how much they've learned. "It's a big advantage that people can go back and refresh [their knowledge] at anytime," says Cindy.

Now the goal for OMHS is to have all employees up and running by June 2008 with the education for the Employee/Manager Self-Service implementation. "With Learning Accelerator, we have an effective tool for training, testing, and supporting our end users," concludes Cindy.