ICT individual assignment
Name Solomon birhanu
Roll no 18
Grade 122
Section 2
To Tr. Muluken wubete
1 learning management system
A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration,
documentation, tracking, reporting, automation and delivery of educational courses, training
programs, or learning and development programs.[1] The learning management system concept
emerged directly from e-Learning. Although the first LMS appeared in the higher education
sector, the majority of the LMSs today focus on the corporate market. Learning Management
Systems make up the largest segment of the learning system market. The first introduction of the
LMS was in the late 1990s.[2]
Learning management systems were designed to identify training and learning gaps, utilizing
analytical data and reporting. LMSs are focused on online learning delivery but support a range
of uses, acting as a platform for online content, including courses, both asynchronous based and
synchronous based. An LMS may offer classroom management for instructor-led training or a
flipped classroom, used in higher education, but not in the corporate space. Modern LMSs
include intelligent algorithms to make automated recommendations for courses based on a user's
skill profile as well as extract meta-data from learning materials in order to make such
recommendations even more accurate
Purpose
An LMS delivers and manages all types of content, including video, courses, and documents. In
the education and higher education markets, an LMS will include a variety of functionality that is
similar to corporate but will have features such as rubrics, teacher and instructor facilitated
learning, a discussion board, and often the use of a syllabus. A syllabus is rarely a feature in the
corporate LMS, although courses may start with heading-level index to give learners an
overview of topics covered.
Technical aspects
Most modern LMSs are web-based. There are a variety of integration strategies for embedding
content into LMSs, including AICC, xAPI (also called 'Tin Can'), SCORM (Sharable Content
Object Reference Model)[15] and LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability). LMSs were originally
designed to be locally hosted on-premise, where the organization purchases a license to a version
of the software, and installs it on their own servers and network. Many LMSs are now offered as
SaaS (software as a service), with hosting provided by the vendors.[16]
Features
Managing courses, users and roles
The LMS may be used to create professional structured course content. The teacher can add, text,
images, videos, pdfs, tables, links and text formatting, interactive tests, slideshows etc.
Moreover, you can create different types of users, such as teachers, students, parents, visitors and
editors (hierarchies). It helps control which content a student can access, track studying progress
and engage student with contact tools. Teachers can manage courses and modules, enroll
students or set up self-enrollment, see reports on students and import students to their online
classes.[20]
With much of the integration of new resources being controlled by technical guidelines outlined
by SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model), the process of integrating new features
within multiple LMSs has become more efficient.
Online assessment and tracking students' attendance
LMS can enable teachers to create customized tests for students, accessible and submitted online.
Platforms allow different multiple question types such as: one/multi-line answer; multiple choice
answer; drag-and-drop order; essay; true or false/yes or no; fill in the gaps; agreement scale and
offline tasks. Some LMSs also allow for attendance management and integration with classroom
training wherein administrators can view attendance and records of whether a learner attended,
arrived late, or missed classes and events.[17]
User feedback
Students' exchange of feedback both with teachers and their peers is possible through LMS.
Teachers may create discussion groups to allow students feedback and increase the interaction in
course. Students' feedback is an instrument which help teachers to improve their work, identify
what to add or remove from their courses, where students feel more comfortable, what makes
them be more included.[2]
Learning management industry
In the U.S. higher education market as of fall 2018, the top three LMSs by number of institutions
were Blackboard (31%), Canvas (30%), and Moodle (18%).[21] The same three systems led in
terms of number of students enrolled, but Canvas slightly surpassed Blackboard. Worldwide, the
picture is different, with Moodle having over 50% of market share in Europe, Latin America, and
Oceania.[22]
Many users of LMSs use an authoring tool to create content, which is then hosted on an LMS. In
some cases, LMSs that do utilise a standard include a primitive authoring tool for basic content
manipulation. More modern systems, in particular SAAS solutions have decided not to adopt a
standard and have rich course authoring tools. There are several standards for creating and
integrating complex content into an LMS, including AICC, SCORM, xAPI and Learning Tools
Interoperability. However, utilising SCORM or an alternative standardised course protocol is not
always required and can be restrictive when used unnecessarily.[23]
Evaluation of LMSs is a complex task and significant research supports different forms of
evaluation, including iterative processes where students' experiences and approaches to learning
are evaluated.[24]
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
There are six major advantages of LMS: interoperability, accessibility, reusability, durability,
maintenance ability and adaptability, which in themselves constitute the concept of LMS.[17]
Other advantages include:
An LMS supports content in various formats: text, video, audio, etc.
One can access materials anytime, from everywhere, teachers can modify the content,
and students can see the updated material.
The evaluation of students is easier and fair, based on student attendance and online
quizzes.
Teachers can track students' performance easily in the form of Tables & Graph.
Students and teachers can re-use the material every time they need.[25]
Students can learn collaboratively by setting up a School website with the LMS software
and helps "Keeps organizations up-to-date with compliance regulations. If your
organization must stay up-to-date with current compliance regulations, then a Learning
Management System can be an invaluable tool. Compliance laws change on a regular
basis, and updating a traditional course to reflect these changes can be a time-consuming
chore.
Disadvantages
Implementing LMS requires a well-built technology infrastructure. Teachers have to be
willing to adapt their curricula from face to face lectures to online lectures.[20]
LMS can often come across as impersonal and lacking in the dialogue opportunities
provided by in-person training.[26]
Having a learning module presented in only one style can make it difficult to
accommodate different learning styles.
2 open source course management system
A CMS is a Content Management System – the system your website most likely built on that also lets
you login and make changes, such as publishing, editing, managing and deleting content.
As the name suggests, an open-source CMS is free to use (i.e. it has no license fees) and has been
created and maintained by a global community of talented developers around the world. The source
code is available for anyone and any member of its tech community to extend, modify and create new
features as required by the community. A proprietary CMS, in a word, is the opposite of this.
What is open source content management? Open source content management platforms are platforms
with a source code that anyone can inspect, modify, or enhance. These tools are designed to be publicly
accessible and are commonly managed and maintained by organizations with a specific mission in mind.
In general, open source refers to any program whose source code is made available for use or
modification as users or other developers see fit. Open source software is usually developed as a
public collaboration and made freely available.
Open source software has exploded in popularity over the last few years. As more states
experience budget crunches, schools are looking for affordable solutions to provide the online
access that teachers and students expect.
For those outside the techie culture, it may be hard to grasp the powerful idea this has become,
and how it has forever changed the world of software development. The idea is simple; users
have access to the source code for the software. This means users can look under the hood, see
how it works, tinker with it, add parts and delete others to create a unique product that matches
the user's needs.
Why Is Open Source So Popular?
For one, open source software is aligned with the academic community’s values of freedom, peer
review, and knowledge sharing. Just as anyone can download and use open source software for
free, users can write new features, fix bugs, improve performance, or simply learn by seeing how
other people solved a programming problem.
Secondly, unlike expensive proprietary LMS's that require license fees and maintenance
contracts, Moodle or Sakai cost nothing to download, and you can install it on as many servers as
you want. No one can take it away from you, increase the license cost, or make you pay for
upgrades. No one can force you to upgrade, adopt features you don’t want, or tell you how many
users you can have. They can’t take the source code back from users.
Now, just because the source code is free does not mean there are no costs involved. Schools
must elect to run the server for the open source software or they can pay vendors to host it. While
open source software can be customized, this requires the time and skills of a software
programmer.
Pros Cons
Requires developers,
Customizable
programmers
School determines the upgrade
Hidden costs: hosting,
schedule or if a new version is
support, training
necessary
Fears of
Faster integration of new technologies
instability/scalability
Can be less costly than a commercial
solution
International appeal
The Pros And Cons Of Open Source Learning Management
Systems
There are so many choices to make when choosing the right Learning Management System.
Which features and support services do you need to get maximum ROI? What deployment
option is the best fit for your organization? However, all these considerations hinge on one very
important factor: your budget. Different LMS pricing/licensing models bring different perks and
pitfalls. While many companies opt for an open source LMS to develop and deploy their online
training, is it suitable for your organization? Without further ado, let’s delve into the benefits and
drawbacks of open source Learning Management Systems.
Benefits
1. Free Or Low-Cost
Undoubtedly, one of the most touted benefits of open source Learning Management Systems is
that they are free to use. You simply download the software without having to provide any credit
card info or choosing a payment plan. There are some exceptions to the rule, however. Certain
open source platforms require a nominal fee or are known as ‘freemium’ systems, whereby you
get the basic code for free but must pay for additional upgrades or add-ons. This makes it a great
choice for organizations who cannot afford monthly or yearly licensing fees.
2. Fully Customizable
Open source Learning Management Systems feature codes that you customize to suit your needs;
provided you have programming knowledge and experience, that is. You’re able to incorporate
your branding, adjust the layout, and personalize the dashboards. In short, modify every aspect of
the platform to achieve your specific training goals. Best of all, you don’t have to obtain
permissions, since it’s a free-to-use system.
3. Active User Community For Ongoing Support
Many open source Learning Management Systems come complete with an online user
community. There you’ll find tips, tricks, and advice to help you improve functionality and
master the platform’s features. You can also ask questions when you encounter a problem and
share pointers of your own after familiarizing yourself with the tool. The key is to find a system
with an active user community and/or online support resources, such as online training tutorials
or FAQs.
Drawbacks
1. Requires Programming Knowledge
The most common sticking point that prevents organizations from switching to an open source
platform is the learning curve. Unlike other LMS solutions, open source Learning Management
Systems must be finely tuned before you start the eLearning course development process. It’s not
merely a matter of adjusting the color scheme or integrating branding elements, but modifying
the back-end coding from the ground up. As such, you need people on your eLearning team with
programming experience who can personalize the LMS platform based on your training needs. In
other words, one of the pros (customization) may actually be a con if you don’t have the
necessary IT skills.
2. May Lack Certain Features
Some open source Learning Management Systems have limited features and functions. In certain
cases, you’re able to stretch the functionality by adjusting the coding. In others, you must pay
additional fees to access the ‘freemium’ services. For example, upgrading to more robust
reporting features or unlocking the certification support. This is why you need to verify all fees
involved with the platform beforehand. When in doubt, ask the developer what’s included in the
download and what comes at an extra cost.
3. Limited Support Options
As I mentioned earlier, many open source Learning Management Systems have user
communities. But most don’t venture beyond that. You probably won’t have access to email tech
support or a toll-free number. Some LMS vendors do offer these perks for an additional fee,
however. This is a major issue for organizations who need more advanced support services to
improve functionality. For example, they don’t have a dedicated IT staff who can deal with
coding errors or glitches, or they’re unable to set up the system on their local servers.
3 virtual learning enviroment
A virtual learning environment (VLE) in educational technology is a web-based platform for
the digital aspects of courses of study, usually within educational institutions. They present
resources, activities, and interactions within a course structure and provide for the different
stages of assessment. VLEs also usually report on participation; and have some level of
integration with other institutional systems.
For teachers and instructors who edit them, VLEs may have a fact role as authoring and design
environments. VLEs have been adopted by almost all higher education institutions in the
English-speaking world
A virtual learning environment is an online-based platform that offers students and professors
digital solutions that enhance the learning experience. Unlike a virtual classroom, which is meant
to replicate and replace the physical classroom environment for distance learners, a virtual
learning environment (or VLE) harnesses technology to supplement an in-class experience, with,
for example, digital communication, interaction and quizzes or polls run through the VLE.
A virtual learning environment refers to a system that offers educators digitally-based
solutions aimed at creating interactive, active learning environments. VLEs can help professors
create, store and disseminate content, plan courses and lessons and foster communication
between student and professor (in the form of e-mails and discussions), even in real-time. Virtual
learning environments are often part of a higher education institution’s wider learning
management system (LMS).
The following are the main components required for the best virtual learning environment or
online education curriculum to take place.
VLE learning platforms commonly allow
Content management – creation, storage, access to and use of learning resources
Curriculum mapping and planning – lesson planning, assessment and personalisation of
the learning experience
Learner engagement and administration – managed access to learner information and
resources and tracking of progress and achievement
Communication and collaboration – emails, notices, chat, wikis, blogs
Real time communication – live video conferencing or audio conferencing
