Module 2, Unit 1’s Reflections (1)
May 24th, 2009 by Ed Leung
Benoît and LMS
“How might Benoît go about deciding whether to go with Moodle or WebCT/Vista? What questions might he ask himself?”
The most pressing question Benoît must ask himself when choosing a LMS is, “How much technical support would I receive when I choose a specific LMS?”
As an educator, Benoît is responsible mostly for the delivery of the online course. While we do not know the competency and the level of computer literacy that he owns, we can safely assume that managing the daily operation of the LMS would not be a task that is high on Benoît’s mind. If Benoît is working for an institution (e.g. a university, a school board, etc.) that has a network of technical support personnel for a particular LMS, regardless of how Benoît himself is competent and confident in using the other LMS, it would still be ill-advised to go against the institution’s flow.
The strengths and shortcomings of the individual LMS aside, almost everyone who has taken an online course can attest to the challenges faced when the LMS is down for various reasons. Signing onto a LMS that is not supported by the institution is almost suicidal in terms of an educator’s time, and I would argue, sanity as well. With a supporting team providing the technical support, Benoît can focus on the development of the course, and the delivery of the course.