What Is Learning Management System (LMS) ?

Overview:

We are living in a world, which is driven by accuracy and efficiency due to the rising incorporation of optimized systems in every field of life. No wonder the  traditional learning models are moving away from brick and mortar structures to E-learning culture, taking into consideration the fact that Learning Management System (Software used to facilitate E-Leaning) as a perfect way to save money and time.

What is learning management system (LMS)

So, what is learning management system?

How do we incorporate it?

 

(LMS)Online teachers have to perform the same functions, which traditional teachers do in their traditional classroom environment; managing enrollments, tracking of attendance, developing, and disseminating learning materials, assessments of student’s learning; and finally, developing and maintaining results. Luckily, LMS facilitates teachers in all these areas. In the last few years, application of LMS is not limited to educational institutes but it is widely used in business organizations to meet the ongoing learning needs of their employees, sometimes may be  diversified workforce working in different time zones .

 

In last few years, LMS have become more sophisticated and have integrated several functions and applications in their usage.  The initial framework of LMS started back in 1960 when University of Illinois created PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations) where multiple users can interact online, course contents can be created online and students can complete their course. However, it was beginning of 21st century when evolution of internet, globalization, and technological innovation facilitated the expansion of LMS. Today, many LMS are maintained on cloud thus saving companies from headache of installation and maintenance of in house systems.

 

LMS Trends in 2016:

In e-learning, two terms were seen being used repeatedly; LMS and LMCS (learning content management system). LMS is used to manage students, keeping track of their progress and delivery of course content whereas LCMS is used to create and update content. However, now many LMS use combined features of LCMS and LMS.

 

For decades, LMS were using in only two field; in academia to facilitate students in learning and corporate companies were using to meet the training needs of organizations. But in 2016, LMS has expanded its usage in four broad categories; corporate, academic, continuing education and association LMSs.

 

LMS -A Win-Win Game for All:

No one can deny the fact that online systems improve the efficiency and accuracy, but LMS is offering additional benefits to its users.  E-learning can use various media to effectively deliver the content i.e. Text, audio, visuals, videos and much more to add. LMS is offering more flexibility to use medium of instructions for trainers to teach and evaluate their students by choosing their media from variety of options available, same flexibility it offers to their students to learn in different time zones may be at their own pace and it is creating more reliable and cost effective method to teach their teams. It is reasonable to say that it is win-win game for all.

 

It is most beneficial to fast paced organizations, which have to evolve themselves in short span of time, to keep themselves with industry; such as, Medical companies and companies who are in technology related business to update their training material online and built the capacity of their employees on regular basis and track their progress in course.

 

There was a time (still many organization practice this) when employees have to wait for months to wait for any training opportunity and employers were too hesitant to provide training opportunities to their workforce due to high cost of trainings. But now the training material is available online and that can be used by other team members so it has helped to achieve economies of scale.

 

From Chalkboards to Computer Screens:

Before the start of 21st century, Peter Drucker said, “Universities won’t survive. The future is outside the traditional campus, outside the traditional classroom. Distance learning is coming on fast.” It does not mean that traditional educational institutions are going to be closed anytime soon; but it is a fact that E-learning is growing and LMS are getting better day by day.

Gone are the days when people had to go long distances to take admissions, going to institutions daily to take classes and then wait for months to know what they have performed in their exams. Now the education is simpler, from registration to final results everything is online; the distinction of “working hours” and “odd hours” has been blurred now because everything is available online round the clock.

 

Coursera and EdX are offering dozens of MOOC (Massive Online Open Courses) to the millions of learners across the globe from top rated universities and with the increased penetration of internet globally; it is obvious to expect that E-learning will continue to play its ever-expanding role in education. More and more learning apps will be available on smart phones, MOOC and e-learning industry will be more accessible. Georgia Tech has already started their MOOC-based master’s degree in computer science.

Hence, ‘What is learning management system (LMS)’ is much more than a mere query if an entity is planning for growth and progression in the yearly strategy.

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