Learning Management Systems (LMS): Overview, History, Types, Advantages, and Challenges.

 Overview

Technological advancements in higher education have led to the development of learning management systems (LMS), which are web-based applications that provide students with online learning opportunities and 24/7 access to course content. However, many universities and faculties are reluctant to adopt LMS as teaching tools, with teachers' underutilization being a significant issue. Factors influencing faculty adoption include teachers' perceptions, instructional goals, and self-efficacy beliefs. LMSs are platforms that involve course management, content management, learning systems, instructional management, and portals. They help students access learning information, download marks, upload assignments, and interact with lecturers and students. Higher education institutions (HEI) have developed several LMS systems for online activities and teaching. However, we need more information on concepts, types, tools, advantages, and challenges to improve learning performance and encourage other countries to adopt and develop these learning systems.

History

Learning management systems (LMS) have evolved, with the Internet being the primary communication medium. FirstClass, created in 1990, was the first LMS software, offering features like online conferences, discussion boards, and email. Other LMSs include Blackboard LLC, Moodle, Desire2Learn, and Canvas. LMS provides online educational services for administrators, teachers, and students, ensuring authorized access, when using communication tools, and presenting learning content. Sometimes, people refer to LMS as an "online learning platform".

Why choose LMS

Universities increasingly choose Learning Management Systems (LMS) to enhance their educational procedures, making them more powerful, flexible, and efficient. The LMS should support technical operator proficiency, lecturer knowledge of modern technologies, and student participation in remote learning courses. They should also support academic integrity, reduce late submissions, and improve collaborative interaction. Universities should focus on the advantages of an approved LMS, such as student performance and course results, and emphasize the importance of mobile devices and computers.

LMS Tools 

• Learning Skills Tools 

Learning tools include various modules, such as a learning module, a quiz model, an assignment model, and an online presentation model. The learning module refers to learning tools and produces activities for students. The quiz model can include a number of functions, such as a marking scheme, a response facility, a question database, and a tool for facilitating student performance. The assignments model enables lecturers to upload assignments to the LMS; students can then work on, amend, and send their completed assignments before or on the submission date. The online presentation module refers to uploading members' presentations to the LMS or websites, such as YouTube. 

• Communication Tools 

Various tools facilitate and enable interaction among students, as well as between lecturers and students. The most widely used tools are communication tools, which serve as announcements, informing all students about the course, upcoming activities, and the latest updates. Users, lecturers, and students utilize the discussion tool to read and respond to each other's posts and comments.

• Productivity Tools

These tools are considered the last to be related to LMS. The productivity tools include calendars, document management systems, and surveys for students and lecturers. Document management systems allow students and lecturers to download and upload files from computers connected to the internet. Other management tools, such as LMS, can gather information about the number of students who access the LMS website and student performance. Many LMS systems permit students to check and see their general performance and details of their report (e.g., the grades for exams, assignments, and quizzes). 

Types of LMS Systems

• Student Management System 

Student management system (SMS) is a crucial online software in academic institutions. The creation of SMS aims to manage and control the data and information of students. Furthermore, the SMS delivers many essential services concerning courses, exams, applications, grades, and payment. PeopleSoft and Banner are two widely used commercial SMS systems. 

• Learning Content Management Systems 

Software known as learning content management systems (LCMS) generates, amends, and controls e-learning content. They are currently considered the most adopted in the education domain, providing a user-friendly environment for lecturers to manage and deliver digital learning content. The shareable content object reference model (SCORM) is used by LCMS systems to communicate with online learning content. The main objective is to manage digital assets used in learning products with LCMS systems containing datasets for lecturers' work.

• Content Management Systems 

Content management systems (CMS) consist of three aspects: process, content, and software or technology. The process is a collection of activities like sharing information, publishing information, and downloading documents. Various media formats, including sound, graphical video, animation, and text, describe the content in CMS. The CMS software or technology executes processes for users and controls content via the Internet. There are several types of CMS systems, including record management, CMS enterprise, document management, CMS web, CMS components, and others.

Advantages of LMS Systems

Learning management systems (LMS) offer numerous advantages for educational procedures, including the ability to eliminate physical locations and provide a virtual platform for students and researchers studying on multiple campuses. LMSs are particularly beneficial for students facing difficulties, such as living remotely or having health issues. Additionally, LMS is more accessible due to the increasing use of digital devices in academic institutions, such as laptops, personal computers, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) devices. This increased accessibility allows users to log in through various devices, making LMS systems an essential part of educational procedures. LMSs are online learning management systems that provide attractive environments for young students, particularly through gamification. Users can combine these systems with other popular features to meet their needs. LMS developers aim to satisfy current customers and attract new ones by regularly updating their apps. They can also combine LMSs with other popular features to meet user requirements, ensuring a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. 

Challenges and issues with LMS

Higher education is critical to a country's economic development. Higher education presents developed skills that lead to higher productivity, enhancing the quality of life. Because of its importance, the advanced world prioritizes higher education for developing skills considered essential in today's workplace. However, in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, higher education enrollment is low. OECD statistics show that developed countries have over 50% higher education enrolment while developing countries have less than 5%. To improve higher education enrolments, developing countries must implement appropriate strategies to avoid exclusion from the world, because they do not have the essential skills required in the 21st century. 

Conclusion

For any institution or university, the quality of research and education is the nature of business. Technology plays an important role in presenting high quality to students, lecturers, and staff. The competitive market for higher education means that learning management systems can now adapt to these new technologies. These systems offer helpful tools such as discussion threads, online chats, video conferencing, resources, and exams. This article discusses LMS types, tools, applications, benefits, and challenges. It also includes a summary of the benefits and why higher institutions should use LMS. Future LMS research endeavors should concentrate more on improving student performance at schools and universities.

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