DreamLMS

A "Click to Compare" site for a great number of different LMSs

This is a Power Point presentation that starts with a description of internet usage among teens and makes a case for the need of good LMSs. Additionally it offers graphics describing the parts possible as part of an LMS.

This article references a number of pieces of research on online learning and distance education. This includes six elements of a distance learning program as well as descriptions of which students may be served by online vs. traditional education.

This is a committee report describing University of North Alabama's comparison of three LMSs including both Blackboard and Angel. The report looked at the ability of the LMSs to meet certain criteria including Wide user base, scalability, vendor stability, learning outcomes management and reporting and others.

This website has a quick overview comparing the features of 7 different LMSs including two we are looking at, Blackboard and Moodle, in our SIG.

This site allows one to "click to compare" 40 different LMSs (including different versions of the same system). 

Unlike other resources I've come across, this takes a look at the issue from a unique viewpoint. Instead of looking at the role of social media in an LMS, this asks whether or not social media should include an LMS. It evaluates the technology of the LMS in relation to social media tools, and takes a very quantitative analysis viewpoint.

A good resource regarding online learning in the K-12 environment. This provides insight into the social learning process from the point of view from both the student and the teacher (i.e. student collaborating with students / students collaborating with teachers).

This blog post contains a list of test scenarios for LMS usability. The results of each scenario could help to expose problems or gaps withint he navigation and organization of an LMS.

This page helps define the terms and methods for discussing the usability of a LMS. The resource has been developed by the Moodle company. Some terms defined include: usability vs. learnability, intuitive, 

This is an exhaustive study of the effectiveness of online learning conducted through an LMS. The study looks at how well learners can apply knowledge once they have completed tasks within an LMS. This is a resource for effectiveness and barriers to learning.

This article discusses why BrainHoney was chosen as the "Best Classroom Management System" by the Software and Information Industry Association. Ease of use is one piece of the criteria and relates to the section of our SIG studying "Organization and Navigation within a LMS".

The learning management system BrainHoney won the award for Best Classroom Management system from the Software and Information Industry Association. The article explains that BrainHoney won the award amid steep competition.

This is a good article for understanding how an LMS can be used to enhance student learning through communication. It discusses the benefits to using an LMS or VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) and acknowledges that less tech savvy teachers may be apprehensive. The articles discussions of social learning point to a need for analysis of all discussion and communication functions within the LMS we examine.

This article is great for someone looking beyond the traditional LMSs out there. It suggests an alternative in WordPress and BuddyPress and provides a thorough analysis of how they can used, the differences, along with the pros and cons of using a non-traditional LMS.

This is an article about choosing an LMS. I find it useful because it examines the specific use cases when considering a new LMS. It also links to a number of other useful articles regarding LMS features, satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

This is an older article dating in the late 90's but it is interesting to note that some of the same problems still exist, just in a more modern version. Firstly, contact and communication with the instructor and class, is still a contemporary issue. We think this has been solved with email, texting and skype, but if the instructor doesn't believe that as much interaction needs to be given to online students as campus ones, then it still stands as a barrier. Also, technical skills of students and faculty is listed and still true today, as well as the lack of support services.

This small portion of the Horizon Report discusses "Critical Challenges" of using technology as a method for delivering content to students. The four main areas that present challenges according to the New Media Consortium, the organization that publishes the Horizon Report, are: A. Digital Media Literacy: We all know it is important, the challenge is that there isn't a consensus as to what skills constitute literacy. B. Assessment lags behind as new technologies emerge quicker than committees and such can adjust curriculum accordingly. C. The traditional university instruction models are being challenged by constantly emerging technologies that offer more economic ways to deliver content so that high quality courses are still offered. D. Instructors and students must be diligent to keep pace with emerging technology, which challenges both groups' to learn and develop literacy as it quickly evolves.

This blog post states that LMS's are great when they have some good features, but there is a topping off point. When they get too fancy, the user has difficulty in navigation. There is a "sweet spot" so to speak in functionality. This blog post has an interesting reply within it for which the blog author gives a good response relating to the LMS serving as an obstacle to access course content. Learners can't get what they need quickly. This post is related to private industry, but I think still applies in the case of education.

This is a short blog post, but I liked that it confirmed some information from other articles I read about the "clunky" nature of the LMS and how this prohibits the desire to use it just when person is in a learning moment. This particular article relates to private business LMS's, but I think the point is still valid, and maybe even more so as it substantiates that this is not just an issue with education, but with people. The LMS can be a barrier to learning in general.

This article says the LMS is a barrier to learning because it is a "silo". The way to remove the barrier is to use systems like "WordPress" that have flexibility, are more seamless, and have wonderful plug-ins for gradebooks, tools to submit assignments and discussion boards. This article goes on to remark that eLearning is best when LMS is invisible, which certainly isn't the case with traditional LMS's.