What is a Learning
Management System (LMS)?
LMS is a software application, that creates, delivers and
manages eLearning content. The most key factors in LMS purchase decision are functionality,
price and support. Top of desired features are Live/Video Conference, ITM,
Mobile learning, Gamification. The most used are Assessment/Testing Tools and
Blended Learning, but the lack of certain features remains the biggest
dissatisfaction. However, setting up an LMS is just one step, which includes
involvement to establishing connection with the company requirements. So, it is
important to choose the right LMS for your needs.
What is a good LMS?
A good LMS platform should be capable of managing a large
amount of data easily for many users. It needs to possess a friendly interface
for users and administrators or the so-called Application Program Interface
(API). The platform should have specified reports, which are formed from the requirements
of the company. Considerations must be the portability and scalability of the
system. Another aspect with immense importance is the administration of the
LMS. This includes the management of complex recourses, trainers, training
inventories, rooms, planning of training sessions, tracking feedback, and
notifications to end users.
What is the future
face of LMS?
The LMS will become more individualized – to schools and to
teachers. There will be personal applications, that can be plugged together in
kind of self-personalizing environment. Popular use today has the Learning
Tools Interoperability (LTI) standard, which is created by the IMS Global
Learning Consortium. LTI links content and resources to LMS's. Its purpose is
to connect the LMS with external service tools in a standard way across
learning systems.
Next Generation
Digital Learning Environment (NGDLE)
NGDLE envisions what is the next thing that is not an LMS that
can help manage digital learning.
There are five different dimensions of NGDLE:
1. Interoperability and integration - allows the parts to be
connected and to share data.
2. Personalization - learning environments and activities
can be tailored to individual users.
3. Analytics, advising and learning assessment - so that
course level learning analytics as well as planning advising systems that have
focused on student success can be part of this environment.
4. Collaboration - imply several types of interaction - student
to student, student to faculty, faculty to faculty.
5. Accessibility and universal design - so that everybody
can access education.
Referring to these dimensions of NGDLE to build individual
components (bricks), the options for customization and personalization are
infinite. This is the same as Lego analogy and as institutions, students,
trainers, the NGDLE will prompt us to take the role of individual creators.
Therefore, NGDLE can be implemented like a Lego.
The experts are stating that the possible future of LMS will be the
implementing of NGDLE.
Where do we live?
We are living in a world with endless information. This
information elevates the capabilities of our companies. Learning Management
Systems are the modern way to continue the path of gaining the knowledge in a
very efficient and remarkable manner, which is developing the look of our existence
in the technology world.
Author: Kamen Zhelev
Author: Kamen Zhelev
