Learning Management Systems (LMS): Overview, History, Types, Advantages and Challenges - By Gerhard van der Bank

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. LMS 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, more information is needed on concepts, types, tools, advantages, and challenges to enhance learning performance and motivate other countries to adopt and develop these learning systems.

History:

Learning management systems (LMS) have evolved over time, with the internet being the primary medium of communication. FirstClass, created in 1990, was the first LMS software, offering features like online conferences, discussion boards, and email. Other LMS’s include blackboard LLC, Moodle, Desire2Learn, and Canvas. LMS provides online educational services for administrators, teachers, and students, ensuring authorized access, providing communication tools, and presenting learning content. The term "online learning platform" is sometimes used to refer to LMS. The internet remains a significant medium of communication in LMS.

Why choose LMS:

Universities are increasingly choosing Learning Management Systems (LMS) to enhance their educational procedures, making them more powerful, flexible, and efficient. 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 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 different modules such a learning module, quizzes model, assignments model, and an online presentation model. The learning module refers to learning tools and produces activities for students. The quiz model can include numerous functions like a marking scheme, a response facility, a question database and a tool for facilitating the performance of students. 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 to websites such as YouTube.

    Communication Tools

There are various tools that facilitate and enable interaction among students’, and interaction among lecturers and students. In the communication tools, the most widely used tool is the announcements, which provide information to all the students’ related to the course, the upcoming activities and the latest news. The discussions tool is used to read users, lecturers and students posts, comments and for posting messages and replying to them as well.

    Productivity Tools

These tools are considered the last tools that are 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 that are connected to the internet. In LMS, there are other management tools that can gather information about the number of students that have access to 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. SMS is created to manage and control students’ data and information. Furthermore, the SMS delivers many essential services with respect to courses, exams, applications, grades, and payment. There are two commercial systems of SMS that have been widely used which are Banner and PeopleSoft.

    Learning Content Management Systems

Learning content management systems (LCMS) are software used to generate, amend, and control e-Learning content. They are currently considered as the most adopted in the education domain, providing a user-friendly environment for lecturers to manage and deliver digital learning content. LCMS systems use the shareable content object reference model (SCORM) 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) are composed of three aspects: process, content, and software or technology. The process is a collection of activities like sharing information, publishing information, and downloading documents. In CMS the content can be described by the various media formats, such as sound, graphical video, animation, and text. The software or technology in CMS executes processes for users and controls content via the internet. There are various types of CMS systems, including record management, CMS enterprise, document management, CMS web, CMS component and other types of CMS systems.

 

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. LMS are particularly beneficial for students facing difficulties, such as remote living or health issues. Additionally, LMS are 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. LMS are online learning management systems that provide attractive environments for young students, particularly through gamification. These systems can be combined with other popular features to meet user 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.

LMS Challenges and Issues

Higher education is crucial for the economic development of a country. Higher education presents developed skills that lead to higher productivity, enhancing the quality of life. This is why the advanced world prioritizes higher education for developing skills that are regarded as essential and vital in today’s workplace, due to its importance. However, in developing countries, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa, higher education enrollment is low. OECD statistics show developed countries have over 50% higher education enrolment, while developing countries have less than 5%. To improve higher education enrolments, developing countries need to implement appropriate strategies to avoid facing exclusion from the world, because they short the essential skills required in the 21st century.

 

Conclusion

The quality of research and education is the nature of business for any institution and university. Consequently, technologies are playing an important role in presenting high quality to students, lecturers, and staff. The market for higher education is so competitive that learning management systems are now able to 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 advantages and why higher institutions should use LMS. Future LMS research endeavors should concentrate more on improving student performance at schools and universities.

 

References

S. Alharbi and S. Drew, “Using the technology acceptance model in understanding academics’ behavioural intention to use learning management systems,” International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, vol. 5, no. 1, 2014, doi: 10.14569/IJACSA.2014.050120.

 

S. Parkman, D. Litz, and N. Gromik, “Examining pre-service teachers’ acceptance of technology-rich learning environments: a UAE case study,” Education and Information Technologies, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 1253–1275, May 2018, doi: 10.1007/s10639-017-9665-3.

 

J. Rhode, S. Richter, P. Gowen, T. Miller, and C. Wills, “Understanding faculty use of the learning management system,” Online Learning, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 68–86, Sep. 2017, doi: 10.24059/olj.v21i3.1217.

 

S. Wichadee, “Factors related to faculty members’ attitude and adoption of a learning management system,” Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 53–61, 2015.

 

F. Bousbahi and M. S. Alrazgan, “Investigating IT faculty resistance to learning management system adoption using latent variables in an acceptance technology model,” The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2015, pp. 1–11, 2015, doi: 10.1155/2015/375651.

 

N. N. M. Kasim and F. Khalid, “Choosing the right learning management system (LMS) for the higher education institution context: a systematic review,” International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (IJET), vol. 11, no. 06, p. 55, Jun. 2016, doi: 10.3991/ijet.v11i06.5644.

 

D. Rakemane and B. C. Serema, “An evaluation of the effectiveness of student management system (SMS) at Boitekanelo College, Department of Health Care Service Management, Botswana,” Lonaka JoLT, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 134–141, 2018

 

J. S. Mtebe, “Learning management system success: increasing learning management system usage in higher education in sub- Saharan Africa,” International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 51–64, 2015.