Learning+Management+Systems



A [|Learning Management System]is a software platform designed around an academic learning model that provides curriculum to students online, in a virtual classroom, or in instructor-led courses. Included in a robust system are the capabilities to interact with students in a synchronous and asynchronous manner, testing and collection of student performance data, alter curriculum, and manage course administration. LMS’s were not specifically designed for the academic environment and a standard business-oriented LMS will interact with or have an integrated capability with enterprise applications. Common to both academic and business oriented models is the fact that the systems are based on the needs of the provider.
 * DESCRIPTION:**

At least one source describes the earliest learning management system as a product of Luther Seminary faculty members who, along with some talented students, devised software that enabled academic and administrative management of geographically separated students. Concurrently, in the early to mid 90’s at Virginia Commonwealth a group was designing a template-driven software application that became a recognizable learning management system. Enhancements to perform the management of administrative functions external to the virtual classroom were developed to schedule, deliver, and administer courseware along with testing and assessment. The success of these early applications gave rise to an ever-growing and adapting niche of software applications. Early applications were [|client/server]based however many of the latest products are [|web-based applications]. Many of the web-based systems incorporated earlier functionality with enterprise-level systems such as human resource management for an LMS that can meet the needs of a corporation or system that has training and education requirements for 100,000 personnel over a lifetime of employment. There are numerous LMS products that are commercial or [|open source]. While open source is often equated with “free” many experts remind us that hosting, maintenance, and technical support are not necessarily free. Third party providers can be contracted to perform services necessary to establish, optimize, and maintain the LMS be it a commercial or open source application. There can be confusion over the terms LMS, LCMS, CMS, and there are others that fall into the expanding world of the Learning Management Industry. Initially, Learning Management Systems (LMS) were designed to manage students in an on-line environment and therein lies the difference between and LMS and an LCMS. An LCMS, or [|Learning Content Management System], is designed to manage content vice students. Today, most LMS’s not only facilitate e-learning and management and administration of learning but also incorporate modules to aid in development of courseware with an e-learning suite. So, the terms may be used interchangeably but that does not equate to all products providing the same features.
 * HISTORY:**

In today’s technologically advanced world of education and training it is hard to imagine life without the options of on-line education, virtual classrooms, and even instructor-led classes without the aid of an LMS. Not only have they streamlined the administrative processes associated with education and training but they are also streamlining the content development process as well. From delivery of course content at anytime to any student anywhere in the world with access to the world-wide web to providing interactive education in the classroom, LMS’s will continue to evolve and meet the demands of the learner as well as the teacher. Certainly, LMS’s have enabled access to curriculum, via online methodology, while maintaining scholastic mentoring to a greater number of students than was previously available. Delivery of course content via multimedia modes further enhanced with interactivity is a valuable gain from the widespread use of LMS’s. The most obvious impact associated with the advent of learning management systems has been to break down the walls of traditional educational institutions and open the universities to a greater number of potential students who for many reasons were unable to attend traditional classes. The claim of streamlining administrative processes and enabling repurposing of content and faster curriculum changes is a staple of the Learning Management Industry and its many practitioners.
 * IMPACT ON EDUCATION:**

LMS’s have expanded from the initial role of managing the administration of learning to providing a means of developing and re-using course content, via learning objects and web-based templates. As technology has become more embedded into the learning environment LMS’s have continued to add features that remove the clutter of administration and allow a focus on instructional development. It has been said that good training is interactive and good LMS’s make it easier to add that interactivity while making content modification a streamlined process as well. Business applications for LMS’s are much the same as the academic environments however software applications have been added to enhance the benefit for businesses. For example, interfaces between human resource software and the LMS remove redundancy in recording completion and scheduling of training requirements as well as cataloging the skill enhancement training over the lifetime of an employee’s career at a company.
 * PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:**

Open Source LMS
 * EXAMPLES:**
 * [|ATutor]– Open Source Web-based Learning Content Management System
 * [|Claroline]– free LMS
 * [|Sakai Project]– Collaboration and Learning Environment

Commercial LMS
 * [|APEX Learning]– K-12 products in support of e-learning
 * [|Blackboard Inc]. - Provider of products that enable universities, schools, and corporations to host classes on the World Wide Web
 * [|Vignette]– an enterprise content management system

Stafford Johnson, Delia (Published 01/9/2007). Building Smart Environments-The Future of Learning Management Systems. __EdNews.org__ [|http://www.ednews.org/articles/6423/1/Building-Smart-EnvironmentsThe-Future-of-Learning-Management-Systems/Page1.html]
 * REFERENCES:**

Michael Feldstein, CEO, Feldstein and Associates. What’s Important in a Learning Content Management System. __eLearn Magazine__ [|http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=tutorials&article=4-1]

Learning management system. wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_Management_System]

Learning content management systems. wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_content_management_system]

Vollmer, Jennifer. Debunking the LCMS Myth. __clomedia.com__ [|http://www.clomedia.com]

Zonneveld, John (August 2007 ).Consolidating Learning Management Systems for a Dispersed Workforce. __BI Report__ [|http://www.dmreview.com]

Rafferty, Jim. Learning Management Systems in Seminaries. [|http://www.ats.edu/projects/Rafferty%20LMS.pdf]

John D Paulin holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College and was the Director of the Marine Corps Communication-Electronics Maintenance School from July, 2003 – July, 2006. Contact information: e-mail jpaulin@hawaii.edu
 * AUTHOR:** John D. Paulin is a Master’s Student of Educational Technology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.