Learning management systems (LMSs) are mostly for smaller businesses that require training of employees on a smaller scale. Course management systems (CMSs) are used primarily by universities, like Full Sail University that focus on the coursework and delivery to the students. Databases are similar to that of LMSs but on a scale directly related to education and focus on course rather than content. Learning content management systems (LCMSs) are used primarily by large institutions like the military that must deliver content materials to a large amount of people/learners, such as in the four major military branches. Personal learning environments (PLEs) are more learner focused like LMSs but can easily take on qualities attributed to the other systems, depending on the amount of users.
In just-in-time learning, the learner gains access to data, answers, questions and the system delivers information based on when and how it is needed. Just-in-time learning systems can be viewed as part of LMSs or LCMSs. LMSs cannot create instructional content. Learners gauge and plan learning and socially and collaboratively interact. Administrators target, track, analyze and report on the user’s learning. CMSs were designed to simplify the creation of online content and the administration of said content. From the article, the organization of the online content is also an important part as well as its management.
CMSs are organized around course development, distribution, and management of the course. By contrast, LCMSs are oriented to content development, distribution and management of content. LCMSs require pre-assessment that targets content. Learner’s profiles allow the system to extract content from a database to deliver individual content or to assemble full courses.
Successful implementation of a LCMS is contingent on the understanding of the organizational skill sets. The organization’s mission and goal are relevant to the purchasing of the LCMS, as the cost of an LCMS was over $200,000 for 5,000 to 10,000 users in 2004, according to our reading. LCMSs are combined systems that have the qualities/components of both LMSs and CMSs. LCMSs are comprised of reusable learning objects (RLOs) that can be used on their own or as part of the larger whole of instructional materials.
RLOs can be single objects like graphics or video files yet they can also be smaller pieces of learning that focuses on one goal. RLOs set the goal, the content and the assessment on a specific goal-by-goal scale.
LCMSs are able to quickly create and deliver learning content modular forms rather than the one size fits all fashion for more personalized learning. This personalization expedites the employer’s business and training goals. Benefits of an LCMS include increased and expedited efficiency, the reusing of content that may become relevant in future or alternate purposes, the reduction of training time which expedites productivity, maintaining current compliance through constant updates and changes according to changes in technology or government/educational regulations, and on-demand learning through easy search methods that enhance just-in-time learning.
LCMSs use multimedia and multiple forms of media as a delivery method which makes this type of learning system the most versatile and valuable to organizations and learners.
Kenya, I enjoyed reading your posting about LMS's and CMS's. It is evident from your writing that you have a good understanding of the terminology and in reading what you wrote, I too gained a better understanding myself. Thank You! So platforms vary depending the audience and the method of delivery. Nice job and Nice Graphic! ; )
ReplyDeletei too enjoyed reading your post. It cleared up some things for me as I continue to try and wrap my brain around all of the different acronyms.
ReplyDeleteI like the way that you broke it down by types of users as well as benefits for choosing specific systems. This is nice "cheat sheet" of different types of systems and the differences between each product. Thank you!
Kenya ~ we summarized the same reading activity, so it was a great fresher for me. We found most of the same points and quotes important. I found it interesting that you took more of an approach from the business aspect and I took more if the educational approach when it came to the money section. :) I love your graphic, too. Where is it from? Melissa Caruso
ReplyDeleteKenya , your explanations and examples were very informative as a reader. I have to agree with Melissa about your posts. You summed up and described everything very short and to the point. When I hear LCMS, I also think of Disney and their employees. Most of their delivery for the employees is in the LCMS which is logged into on property and off property. Limited, Inc., is leaning more and more towards the use of the LCMS. Oddly in the ten years I have been an employee, they keep changing their provider and shopping the market.
ReplyDeleteWhich in turn means more training for the employees, more hours and more pay...;-)
As I mentioned during the Wimba session this week, in order to best understand each of the platforms I refer back to the purpose of training. In a business setting where LMS systems are typically deployed, there would be smaller and more specific types of training that would more than likely be driven by job tasks or company policies.
ReplyDeleteIn a CMS, you have a wide variety of programs and learners whose purpose for training is to complete a course program for a certfication or degree.
Finally on a larger scale there exists the LCMS, which is similar to the LMS in that it is focused on the individual learner and their required job or skill.
@ Melissa...I use zFlick for all of my images. If you want to know more about it, check out my blog on our web 2.0 tools.
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