Schools that want to organize all learning activities, offline and online, require tools to create and deliver their content to students quickly and efficiently. A learning management system (LMS) is an excellent tool that many educational institutions deploy to do the heavy lifting of their e-learning initiatives.
But when you’re not that familiar with the edtech field, choosing an LMS can seem a bit intimidating. Do not fret. We got your back. In this post, we’ll explore the most common questions that people have regarding learning management systems. So let’s get started:
What is an LMS?
A learning management system (LMS) is an “online education hub” that provides an extensive and indispensable set of features to support efficient teaching and learning:
- Creating content
- Assessment
- Gradebook
- Learning outcomes
- Attendance
- Communication tools
- Collaboration tools
- Gamification
- Mobile design
- Analytics and reporting
A school LMS is geared towards K-12, Higher Ed institutions, and other educational organizations. Typical users include teachers, students, administrators, other faculty members, and even parents.
How do schools use an LMS exactly?
An LMS is used for managing educational activities that happen online, such as:
- Creating and delivering educational content
- Assessing students and analyzing their results
- Tracking student achievement
- Collaborating on projects
An LMS is highly adaptable and can support multiple educational activities such as classroom learning, distance education, and continuing education.
What are the types of LMSs available on the market?
In terms of the system itself, schools can usually choose from two options: a self-hosted LMS or a cloud-hosted LMS.
- Self-hosted: this option uses a school’s private web server. That means a school has to support hardware costs, handle the implementation process, and have trained staff for maintenance, among other expenses.
- Cloud-hosted: this option uses a school’s cloud servers or a third-party cloud service, such as Amazon. Cloud-hosted LMSs are more common nowadays as they provide higher website performance, storage, flexibility, and lower costs. They also require less time for implementation and maintenance.
What are the benefits of using a school LMS?
A learning management system is a complete solution that makes life easier for students, teachers, administrators, principals, and even parents or guardians. Here are six advantages of using a school LMS:
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Higher engagement rates in classes
Teachers can make class material more interactive for students. They can create personalized learning paths where students have to achieve learning goals. Educators also use gamification to boost participation and award student work. They encourage students to collaborate online through groups, chat, group assignments, and more.
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Increased student achievement
When students are more engaged in classes, they learn better and achieve their learning goals faster. An LMS allows teachers to easily see student progress through class content and quickly identify areas where they’re doing well or areas where they need to study more.
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Saves time on teaching activities
The automation feature replaces rigorous and expensive manual work and helps teachers save time on their daily tasks. Teaching materials can be stored in a centralized online library, and teachers can organize better their content and data. Grading can be done automatically on some assignments, and administrative work takes less time to complete when done online.
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Increased communication and collaboration
An LMS makes it easy for all users to communicate, whether it’s students connecting with teachers, or parents connecting with faculty and school administration, or even schools from the same district communicating with each other. Students can receive instant feedback on their progress and have an outlet for asking questions when they need help. Collaboration tools such as groups, forums, blogs, and chats promote teamwork and help all users work better together.
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Accessibility and flexibility
An LMS enables students to learn at their own pace and provides flexibility. Students can access class content from any location through their mobile devices, helping them become more self-directed learners.
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Reduced costs
Doing online education schools can reduce costs related to classroom facilities, personnel costs, hardware and software licenses, and record-keeping costs. When using an LMS, teachers require less time to prepare material, and all data can be stored in a single secure location.
Conclusion
A learning management system is an engine that powers any online learning program and can significantly improve teachers’ instruction and students’ learning experience. Schools and universities that use an LMS see both short-term and long-term benefits.
