Learning Management Systems (LMS)

What is a Learning Management System?

A Learning Management System (LMS) is a platform that helps instructors manage and organize educational materials online and conduct online courses. Learning management systems help streamline the learning process by providing a central location for accessing material online and developing content. LMS software is used by K-12 schools, higher education institutions, school districts, etc.

LMS software benefits administrators, teachers, and students. Students and teachers can access and upload course material such as calendars, syllabi, assignments, and grades. LMS platforms also allow instructors and administrators to track student progress on an individual basis and at the aggregate level. This software also helps minimize the use of paper materials and supports remote learning.

Centralizing educational data provides several advantages. It allows educators and administrators to more easily access student data and curricula. Better data access improves their efficiency and quality of life. It also saves money by avoiding duplicate systems and information repositories. It also allows educators to scalably personalize education and student engagement.

Learning management systems have traditionally been on-premise products. However, the last 5 years and the normalization of remote learning and work has created a shift. Now, some form of cloud-based deployment is considered the standard model for modern LMS. Some vendors will offer hybrid deployment approaches. Hybrid LMS is only necessary in niche use cases, such as when there are unusual data privacy or access control requirements.

Corporate LMS and Learning Content Management Systems

Vendors typically offer either education-focused or corporate-focused LMS. However, some companies offer platforms that can be used for both purposes. Corporate learning management systems are commonly used internally for employee training and externally for customer training. Corporate LMS that are used for online employee training may also be called training management systems, or eTraining/ eLearning portals.

Most learning management vendors will specialize into either academic or corporate use cases. This category focuses on the academic use case. Products in this category will provide more structure for grades management, student data integrations, and parent portals. In contrast, corporate LMS will emphasize more professional development content and accessibility for business users.

Both corporations and educators may use learning content management systems (LCMS) to organize and create content for learning or training purposes. LCMS software focuses on digital learning as the primary educational medium and allows the instructor to create new content. Alternatively, LMS platforms do not focus exclusively on digital learning, but also manage in-person and off-line learning.

LMS vs. eLearning Systems

While there is some overlap between LMS platforms and eLearning systems, there are a few key differences between the two.

ELearning content systems offers the user access to a curated digital library that can include videos, ebooks, and online courses/lessons. The primary function of eLearning systems is to provide the user with a large content library for self-guided learning or integration with an LMS platform.

LMS platforms, on the other hand, may not offer content libraries at all. Instead, they focus more on managing the learning process and storing and tracking individual/ aggregate progress. Most vendors offer eLearning systems that can be integrated with an LMS platform.

LMS and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE)

The term ‘virtual learning environment’ (VLE), or virtual classroom, is often used synonymously with LMS. These two terms essentially refer to the same products, but emphasize different aspects of the software.

Virtual classrooms typically have a larger focus on the collaborative aspect of learning. Products that are marketed as a VLE may have stronger discussion, forum, or student collaboration features. On the other hand, LMS has traditionally referred to products with strong performance tracking and analysis capabilities. Many LMS vendors have strengthened the virtual classroom aspects of their platforms as virtual-only learning has become either more financially attractive or socially necessary.

LMS Features & Capabilities

Most LMS platforms offer a basic set of features:

• Content creation: Allows instructors to author content and use web tools to embed files from the web or their own files into lesson materials.
• Content management: Allows instructors to share materials between courses and upload materials from the web or their own files.
• Assessment creation: Ability to create new questions/ assessments - including support for various question types, randomization of MCQs, the ability to import third-party question banks etc..
• Assessment management: This can include automatic updating of questions and automatic and manual marking.
• Learning object repository (LOR): An online library for sharing, storing, searching, and managing learning objects (e.g. content, specific lessons etc..)
• Grading and feedback tools: This can include the ability to annotate student submissions and create student reports.
• Course management: This can include course catalogs, course registration management, calendars, gradebooks, and virtual classrooms.
• Student and instructor portals: Individual portals for students/instructors to access course materials.
• Collaboration tools: Ability to comment and share on the LMS interface through channels such as live chat, blog articles, and discussion boards/threads.
• Progress data and analytics: Ability to track student progress against standards such as Common Core or NGSS, identify gaps in individual learning, and set customized learning objectives.
• SCORM/ AICC/ Tin Can Compliant: Ability for an eLearning software and LMS to interact over a standard protocol.

Some vendors offer more advanced capabilities or features aimed more at corporate buyers rather than education institutions:

• Social media support: Ability to integrate social learning tools and keep track of student engagement.
• Mobile app: Allows students and instructors to connect to the LMS interface using a mobile application.
• Blended learning support: Ability to record, share, and assess off-line learning events such as seminars, workshops, demonstrations etc…
• Gamification tools: Using game-mechanics in order to boost user engagement - including things like badges, trophies, leaderboards, or points.
• E-commerce support: Ability to sell educational materials and/or online courses, track purchases, and monitor the performance of marketing initiatives.

Learning Management System Comparison

When comparing learning management systems, consider these factors:

• Mobile accessibility: As mobile devices become the primary method of accessing the internet, they are also an increasingly core method of accessing learning resources and academic information. Be sure to evaluate how optimizes various LMS systems are for mobile-first students, particularly in areas like video content, forums, and grade reporting.
• Scalability: Your LMS platform should support your institution’s expansion, not hinder it. Factors that can influence scalability include whether it is cloud-based or on-premise, the pricing model, and the scope of available features like gamification and native content creation.
• Ease of use and customization: The majority of your LMS users will be teachers and students, so the platform should be as intuitive and easy to use as possible to accommodate a wide range of user capabilities. User reviews will be the best non-trial gauge of how easy an LMS is to learn and regularly use.
• Content creation vs. content management: While most learning management systems have both, LMS platforms will vary in their focus on user-created content and content management capabilities. Before selecting an LMS, determine whether your institution is more focused allowing instructors to design content, courses, and assignments or if managing preexisting content and students’ progress through lessons and courses is a higher priority.

Pricing Information

There is a wide range of free or open source LMS software, for example Moodle, Canvas, and Google Classroom. However, these products can be costly to implement and customize, charge extra for non-basic features, and typically do not include support staff.

Commercial offerings such as Blackboard and McGraw-Hill's Connect are an alternative option. These LMS platforms have higher upfront costs (compared to the free versions), but also typically include a dedicated support staff and professional services. Most paid LMS do not advertise pricing, but quotes frequently range from $2.50-$4 per user per month, up to a certain number of users.

More Resources

• 49 LMS Statistics and Trends for a Post-COVID World

Other Learning Management System (LMS) Products

• Rockstar Learning Platform
• mElimu LMS
• NEO LMS
• Yo!Coach