A learning management system (LMS) is a software application or web-based technology used to plan, implement, and assess a specific learning process. Typically, a learning management system provides an instructor with a way to create and deliver content, monitor student participation, and assess student performance. A learning management system may also provide students with the ability to use interactive features such as threaded discussions, video conferencing, and discussion forums.
While traditional face-to-face meetings can still be effective, there are new educational technologies that weren’t possible twenty years ago. Currently, there is a lot of research into how to effectively combine online learning and face-to-face (F2F) meetings in what are called hybrid courses or blended learning. Hybrid courses combine the best of both worlds. Imagine moving most of your content delivery to an online environment and saving your course time for discussion, questions, and problem solving.
Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter provide popular tools for college students to build community. Students turn to online resources for information, so it makes sense for faculty to tap into that natural interest. Placing course materials online does not replace the teacher, but it does make class information and resources more accessible.
BlackBoard - most widely used commercial LMS in higher education
Moodle - most widely used open source LMS in higher education
Sakai - a popular open source LMS
Higher Ed article declares there are clear signs that the competition in the higher education LMS market these days is less about the battle for market share among the remaining proprietary providers and more about proprietary vs. open source options.
Learning Magazine article touts Moodle as leader of the LMS pack.
In the beginning, faculty frequently use an LMS solely to deliver information, but blogs, wikis, and online office applications also give users tools for creating information and collaborating in information management. What we can see in the web's evolution is a new focus on innovation, creation, and collaboration, and an emphasis on knowledge management over content management, and social interaction over isolated surfing.
People are using new technologies to look at problems in many different ways: to make new connections and form relationships between disparate pieces of information, and ultimately to create something new that can be shared with others. All that is reminiscent of current approaches to learning, including student-centered and active-learning models that encourage students to solve meaningful problems and reflect on their thinking processes. The challenge that we now face is figuring out how to incorporate Web 2.0 into teaching and learning.
With hybrid courses, while time in the traditional classroom is reduced, it is not eliminated. The goal of hybrid courses is to join the best features of in-class teaching with the best features of online learning to promote active independent learning and reduce class seat time. Using computer-based technologies, instructors use the hybrid model to redesign some lecture or lab content into new online learning activities, such as case studies, tutorials, self-testing exercises, simulations, and online group collaborations.
Hybrid teaching is not just a matter of transferring a portion of your traditional course to the web. Instead it involves developing challenging and engaging online learning activities that complement your face-to-face activities.
When developing a hybrid course, focus on the integration of the online and face-to-face components. Connecting what occurs in class with what is studied online is critical, so instructors do not end up teaching two parallel but unconnected courses.