Technology online assignment

                        Learning Management System

Introduction

A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the
administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of educational
courses, training programs or learning and development programs. The
learning management system concept emerged directly from e-Learning. It
make up the largest segment of the learning system market. The first
introduction of the LMS was in the late 1990s
Learning management systems were designed to identify training and
learning gaps, utilizing analytical data and reporting. An LMS may offer
classroom management for instructor – led training or a flipped classroom,
used in higher education, but not in the corporate space. Colleges and
companies use them to deliver online training; corporates use them for
training purposes, as well as for maintaining employee records. Some use them
to offer courses that provide students access to education, and some others as
an online system which staff use to support course delivery and provide online
learning and blended learning opportunities for students and employees.

Purpose

The main objective of Learning Management Systems is to enhance the
learning process. A Learning Management System not only delivers content,
but also handles registering courses, course administration, skill gap analysis,
tracking, and reporting. An LMS delivers and manages all types of content,
including video, courses and documents. Most LMSs are web based and are
used in various educational institutes and companies to improve classroom
teaching, learning methodology and company records. They are used in various
industries and scenarios like in financial services, compliance training,
computer based training, online assessment, collaborative learning, application
sharing, and so on. Some LMSs also include a performance management
system which encompasses employee appraisal, competency management,
and skill gap analysis.

Features

1. Managing users, courses, roles and generating reports.This helps uploading courses, assigning roles, and generating various reports. The LMS may be used to create professional structured course
content. The teacher can add, text, images, tables, links and text formatting,interactive tests, slideshows etc. Moreover, you can create different types ofusers, such as teachers, students, parents, visitors and editors (hierarchies). Ithelps control which content a student can access, track studying progress andengage student with contact tools. Teachers can manage courses and modules,
enrol students or set up self-enrolment, see reports on students and import
students to their online classes.

2. Making a course calendar.This feature helps in managing the course activities.
3. Users and trainers can send reminders and notifications, including upcoming training and events.
4. Online assessment and tracking student’s 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 where in administrators can view attendance and records of whether a learner attended, arrived late, or missed classes and events.
5. Certification and display employees score and transcripts.This helps in maintaining training records of the learners, performance of the individual, and providing certificates to those who
have completed training successfully.
6. Administration.
7. Competency management.With the help of this feature one can track and check the skills of
the team members and compare them against business goals.

8. User feedback.
                            Student’s 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. Student’s 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 more included.

Benefits of Learning Management Systems

1. Stream lined training process.
                                   Using a Learning Management System make things easier for you, as it helps plan the training activities calendar which you can share with your learners, trainer and co-administrators. By doing this you can maintain and improve your training process. An LMS also helps in getting trainer reports, which is a time consuming process when done manually.
2. Ability to deliver engaging and motivating training.
                                  This is a fact that each individual learns in a unique manner. If you
apply different learning approaches, they increase your success rate. LMSs helps in communication and balance the whole system.
3. Technology leverage.
                                   In this digital world the working system has totally changed. Today
every employee is engaged with a laptop or desktop, and with the help of Learning Management Systems you make the training future ready; plus it becomes interesting and exciting for your target audience.
4. Centralized learning.
                                  It becomes easy to offer centralized source of learning to multiple
users and the training, performance, and content can be accessed from the same source.

5. Tracking and reporting features.
                                   Another benefit of using an LMS is that you can enhance performance through tracking and reporting tools. New user’s progress can be tracked, records can be reviewed and users can register for more than one course. Learning can be done through web based training.
Management can access the records and calculate which area needs improvement. The learners also become aware of the areas that need improvement and additional efforts, as the weak performance areas, can be identified easily.
6. Evaluation capabilities.
                                   Users can evaluate courses before joining, and employers can keep a track of the retention levels and real time performance by periodically scheduling assignments.
7. Easy upgrades.
                                   Content and information can be easily upgraded, as Learning Management Systems offer a centralized location for information which makes it simple to implement changes; plus, all users get the same upgraded information at the same time.
8. Simplified learning process.
                                   An LMS refines the learning process. The systems are easy to use
and a new user can figure out everything very easily, since help is built into the system.
9. Reduced cost and time saved.
                                  The right LMS can reduce the training costs in multiple ways as the
trainer doesn’t need to travel now, so there are no boarding and lodging charges involved. The teaching cost reduces to great extent. Learning Management Systems save organizations and instructors valuable time and money through web based training.
10. Interactive environment.

                                 Through new online tools, the interaction and communication part improves. Learners get the answers in real time and the engagement is more geared toward being interactive.
11. Anytime, anywhere learning.
                                 Centralized uploading and online access ensures this. You can learn whenever and wherever you want to.

Advantages

There are six major advantages of LMS:
                          interoperability, accessibility, reusability, durability, maintenance ability and adaptability, which in themselves constitute the concept of LMS.
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.
• Students and teachers can re-use the material every time they need.
• 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 chance on a regular basis, and updating a traditional course to reflect these changes can be a time- consuming chore.

Disadvantages

Although there are many advantages of LMS, authors have identified some disadvantages of using this system.
• 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.

• Some organizations don’t have the appropriate infrastructure to develop LMS, so it may be difficult for them to operate in this environment and adopt their curricula.

Conclusion

                            A Learning Management System is a software-based platform that facilitates the management, delivery, and measurement of an organizations corporate e-learning programs. The powerhouse of a complete learning technology solution, an LMS is a fundamental component of an effective learning strategy.
                           The role of a Learning Management System varies depending on the organizations objectives, online training strategy, and desired outcomes. However, the most common use for LMS software is to deploy and track online training initiatives. Typically, assets are uploaded to the Learning Management System, which makes them easily accessible for remote learners. In some
cases, the LMS may even have built-in e learning authoring tools that allow you to develop online training materials without additional third-party software.

Reference
1. Ellis, Ryann k (2009), Field Guide to Learning Management, ASTD
Learning circuits.
2. www.wikipedia.in