LMS Evaluation
At many institutions, the current LMS is five or more years old. In that time, the teaching and learning context might have changed considerably, and other products, including open-source options, have emerged, raising the question of whether an institution should conduct a complete evaluation of its LMS strategy. The LMS serves as the linchpin of an institution’s teaching and learning enterprise, and as such it should provide maximum value and flexibility for the faculty. The examination of the LMS forces an institution to take a hard look at its teaching practices, to educate the faculty that the LMS can be more than a “course website,” and to invite them to use the full spectrum of teaching tools it provides. If a decision is made to replace the LMS, such an undertaking can bring with it a steep learning curve. As changes in education delivery and redefinition of student needs continue to reshape the modern campus, colleges and universities might find themselves adapting to pedagogical changes more frequently than in the past.
Source: Educause 7 Things
Posted in: Emerging Markets Poll
Kristopher 8:20 am on September 6, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Our organization is currently researching LM systems, which really will become our strategy for entering the blended learning/distance markets.
David William Price 7:30 am on September 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I’d really prefer a system that encourages interaction between people rather than providing pre-fab content, recording learning credits and applying them towards possible promotions.
Deb Giesbrecht 7:03 pm on September 8, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
We have a Learning Management System at work – Learnflex – which we very recently used extensively to train staff on the recent software upgrade we performed. It was invaluable to the organization and to my personal learning. In today’s economy, resources are particularly valuable and in short supply. So alternative learning methods, that involve less human resources than face-to-face learning, are essential in the growth and development of any organization. The upfront costs maybe more in acquiring the software and developing the programs, however, in the long run the cost-benefit ratio should favor both the employer and employee respectively.
Doug Smith 8:23 pm on September 11, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
As different instructional models are brought forward, online learning and blended learning will continue to grow along with cloud based information trading posts (blogs, wikis, etc), and the choice of LMS will be extremely important both financially and pedagogically.