European schools share their secrets to successful LMS implementation

Digital transformation in education can feel overwhelming, especially when introducing a new Learning Management System (LMS). Teachers, students, and administrators all have unique needs, and change can be challenging. Yet, when approached thoughtfully, implementing an LMS can streamline communication, enhance learning, and strengthen a culture of collaboration and innovation.

We’ve gathered lessons from seven European schools and institutions that successfully adopted itslearning as their central LMS. Their experiences highlight strategies and mindsets that make digital transformation achievable and sustainable.

Start small and build confidence

VIA University College in Denmark, have 18,000 students and 2,000 staff. They introduced itslearning with a pilot involving 50 teachers, 400 students. Their approach was guided by four principles: keep itslearning as the central platform, prioritise the student experience, anticipate future needs, and collaborate with other university colleges.

To build confidence, they focused on a few core tools in itslearning, giving teachers practical experience from the start. This careful, phased approach ensured that by the time the full rollout occurred, teachers were comfortable with the platform, and students had a clear, centralised system to support their learning.

Takeaway: Introduce the LMS gradually and focus on essential tools to build confidence and ensure a smooth rollout.

Engage teachers and staff from day one

Both KPEDU (Finland) and Werner-von-Siemens Gymnasium (Germany) emphasised involving teachers and staff from the start to ensure successful adoption. At KPEDU, there was some initial resistance due to teachers’ poor experiences with their previous LMS. Over time, the teachers who were hardest to convince became the strongest advocates for itslearning.

At Werner-von-Siemens Gymnasium, the school created a dedicated team, provided onboarding days, instructional videos, and targeted training. Peer-to-peer support and open communication helped staff feel ownership of the process and promoted consistent use across the school.

Takeaway: Make teachers partners in implementation. Provide targeted, skill-based training and foster collaboration to build confidence and commitment.

Put students at the centre

VIA and University College Lillebælt both designed their LMS use around student needs. itslearning became a hub for schedules, assignments, and materials, accessible anywhere, on any device. Consistent course templates and reusable plans made navigation intuitive, helping students know what to do, when, and how.

This student-focused design promotes flexibility, autonomy, and accessibility.

Takeaway: A student-centred, accessible, and consistently structured LMS supports autonomy and reduces confusion.

Encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing

Collaboration was a key success factor across several institutions, including SOSU H (Denmark), Friedrich-Harkort-Schule (Germany), and the Danish university colleges. Teachers shared course templates, lesson plans, and best practices, while discussion forums and project spaces encouraged peer learning and exchange.

Across Denmark, university colleges using itslearning maintain close dialogue, sharing experiences and aligning approaches.

Takeaway: Build structures that make collaboration easy. Sharing resources and experiences fosters professional growth and a stronger teaching community.

Focus on practical integration

Successful implementations ensured the LMS fit seamlessly into existing workflows. VIA linked lesson plans directly to schedules and resources. KPEDU integrated other learning tools and open educational resources. Werner-von-Siemens Gymnasium aligned the LMS with state learning objectives and feedback systems.

Takeaway: Integrate the LMS with existing systems, standards, and teaching practices. Practical utility drives lasting adoption.

Recognise that culture matters as much as technology

Digital transformation succeeds when schools invest in people as much as technology. At Fagskolen i Agder (Norway), fostering an online community strengthened engagement. KPEDU involved teachers throughout the process, helping them overcome resistance and build confidence. Werner-von-Siemens Gymnasium tailored training to varying digital competencies.

When schools communicate clearly, offer professional development, and nurture a shared commitment, they build a stronger foundation for change.

Takeaway: Invest in people and nurture a culture of change. Technology alone cannot transform teaching. Confidence, communication, and collaboration drive success.

Leverage data and feedback to improve

Continuous improvement depends on listening, analysing, and acting on feedback from the whole school community.

At Fagskolen i Agder, itslearning’s built-in tools, such as reports, and surveys, are used to gather data from both students and teachers. Similarly, Friedrich-Harkort-Schule actively seeks feedback from across the school community, using input from both teachers and students to guide improvements and digital collaboration. This ongoing process ensures that the platform directly supports personalised learning and professional development.

Takeaway: Use built-in reports, surveys, and analytics to collect data. Turning data into action strengthens teaching, learning, and engagement over time.

Practical action steps

• Pilot before full rollout: Start small to test, learn, and refine.
• Focus on key tools: Identify features that directly benefit teachers and students.
• Involve teachers: Build buy-in and reduce resistance.
• Encourage collaboration: Foster knowledge sharing among staff.
• Integrate with existing systems: Make the LMS a natural part of daily workflows.
• Prioritise culture: Address mindset and professional development alongside technology.
• Use feedback and data: Continuously improve teaching and learning.

Conclusion

Implementing a new LMS doesn’t have to be daunting. By starting small, prioritising students, engaging teachers, fostering collaboration, and leveraging feedback, schools can create meaningful digital transformation.

The experiences of these seven institutions show that when schools plan carefully and focus on people as much as technology, an LMS can become a catalyst for innovation, improved learning outcomes, and stronger school communities.