A Better LMS
Finding the Right Learning Management System
A fight worth fighting
An LMS is simply an online or app-based learning management system—an all-encompassing term for how and what a school (or a business) uses to create and manage its online courses, including: assignments, grading, reports and other feedback and information from teachers to students, parents and administrators—and there are many LMS options out there. In broad sense, and LMS is usually a part of a school’s Student Information System (SIS) and Content Management System (CNS). For my purposes, I will focus on helping you find the right LMS for your school. Choosing the right LMS shapes and defines the academic experience of students, parents, faculty and administrators in profound ways. If it is too complex, disaster and apathy reigns supreme. If it is too simple, it does not allow for or enable a broad, rich and diverse curriculum or full and effective feedback and management.
I write this, not as a reviewer of different LMS systems or a self-proclaimed expert, but as a dabbler in learning management systems—an odd hobby, I know—and as someone who believes in the power and promise of technology to empower a wide swath of potential students, and, perhaps ironically, to simplify the process of accessing and engaging learning in a dynamic and guided way. I certainly have my favorite learning management systems, and I am not loathe to share them, but I am also well aware that I wear a somewhat myopic lens. What inspires me may not be what inspires you. My needs may not mesh with your needs, but the need for a school to think clearly when considering an LMS is compelling and a process that requires forethought. What might be great from an administrative standpoint may not be what works best for teachers and students. If the teacher experience is frustrating, the cascading effect falls onto the students, and no amount of good intent on the part of administrators can stem the flow.
What follows are some thoughts about how to choose an LMS that fits your needs. If you have any specific questions or comments, please contact me via email or leave a comment.
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