LMS and CMS and security features….

This week we have discussing the choice of different LMS (Learning Management Systems) in different educational scenarios.

I spent time looking up what to look for in a LMS in general and learned in great details about the amount of time it would actually take to make a LMS choice for any organization. The rubrics we worked on together, summarized what priorities different educational organizational may have when choosing a LMS, the cost of a LMS and most importantly – all the LMS options.

Last night, my husband wanted me to look over the brochure that he had prepared for his presentation today for work. It was brilliant – of course- full of graphs, images, statistics and a strong rationale why his company should win “the” contract.

Of course, he had done it in word and when I asked him about a possible “presentation” her mentioned that he would “blow up the word document” on the Interactive whiteboard. I showed him prezi and he is now sold on the “advances in Education”.

Earlier in the evening he was telling me about the advances of his Company’s Operating/Management System – of which he did not know the name.” It is the best – because it is the “most secure”” He did not the name, he knows it is not user friendly, that you have to bring home specific hardware in order to work from home, that it is very expensive, that it has a lot of lists (good for data entry) and is reliable (he can usually trust it and find things) – but it is secure.

However, when he saved his most valuable presentation that could be seen as “gold” from his competitors, he saved his presentation in word file and he started – but never finished – an amazing presentation in prezi. He texted his buddies to make sure that they were “ready” for the big day and did use his LMS to send e-mails. But other than e-mails, some of the most important “artifacts” to the company’s success – were “open” and available to the public.  All communication is “open” and all presentations are “open” but all data is secure.

I would think that the company would look for other LMS/CMS options that offer more choices if they want all of their content secure.

It makes me really think about google and gmail and google.docs and how it could be considered a LMS because of all its functions and tools – and is it safe? It is very reliable, and much more user friendly – but is it safe? Is anything really “safe”? I don’t know if I would prioritize a LMS for security, if it doesn’t offer all the tools and functions I need. Especially, if I am using so many alternative methods to work in a “collaborative system”.

It seems to me that LMS and CMS offer platforms from which the members of the organization work from. But we all need to be aware of the “real world” and take basic security measures in order to protect our identity and our intellectual property.

Verena:)