Learning management systems (LMS) are used to connect students, parents and educators in the classroom. A system could allow students and parents to see their grades from home, or it could allow educators to tutor their students virtually via chat room or video chat. Although there are many different possibilities with LMS’, the purpose remains the same: bringing students and teachers together to learn.
How they are used in schools
To have an effective online education system or eLearning system, the National Education Association suggests teachers have a Learning Management System (LMS) available. This is so “there is a shared vision and student-centered teaching which will provide educational support for evaluation and assessment.”
Creating a manageable structure
“LMS’ like WebCT, Blackboard, and Desire2Learn offer their greatest value to the organization by providing a means to sequence content and create a manageable structure for instructors/administration staff,” elearnspace, a site focused on education online said.
There are a few sites that can help educators with these systems quickly and simply. Moodle.com is one of them. Moodle is a “Course Management System (CMS), also known as a learning management system (LMS) or a virtual learning environment (VLE).” The site can be used by educators to create online learning sites.
School example
The Connections Academy LMS allows parents to:
- “View all students’ schedules, assignments, and lessons.
- Adjust the learning schedule for students in grades K-8.
- Monitor students’ progress using the online grade book.
- Record attendance.
- Communicate with teachers and other families via our secure WebMail and message boards.
- Rate the Connections Academy learning experience, at any time.”
Other attributes of LMS’
Besides offering the accessibility to view student schedules, lessons and assignment plans, LMS’ can also help teachers with their career goals and certifications.
“Elluminate Inc., a Canadian company, provides live Web conferencing that is tailored to school functions, such as professional development for teachers. The live-video capability and moderator tools can be integrated into the use of Moodle or Blackboard,” according to Education Week.
Resources to consider
The following are websites that educators can access to learn the latest information about course management systems and connect with other teachers for advice and support.