Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Learning management systems are an essential part of contemporary education at all levels. I studied LMS programming, theory, and practice in my EdSp program at University of Missouri in 2004. They were known as network learning systems then, but the concept was the same, though it has evolved immensely since then. Today, I use LMS as an electronic hub of information and resources that provide students everything they need to succeed in my courses. The LMS will continue to evolve, but conceptually, their functionality will be a mainstay across education for many years to come.
My professors often reminded me that the applications we were using would eventually become obsolete and be replaced by new ones. Educational technologists are change agents who must remain informed of "ed-tech" trends and disruptive innovations that can improve teaching quality and effectiveness online and in the classroom.
Teaching methods and strategies should also change. Teachers and department heads need to keep up with new technologies and teaching trends. Education is always changing. It requires a commitment to lifelong learning and the ability to adapt quickly to new teaching tools, methods, and strategies without wasting time or resources.
Hybrid Learning
I use learning management systems (LMS) to reap the full benefits of online delivery. It helps me to manage course content and strengthen my students' sense of connectedness to the learning community. The LMS makes teaching infinitely more efficient and organized than teaching without it.
I also recognize, however, that there is no replacement for traditional face-to-face instruction.
My view is that e-learning should supplement active classroom learning, not replace it. The LMS provides a rich menu of tools that allow instructors to post lecture materials and presentations online to be viewed outside of class. This opens opportunities to use precious class time for other dynamic and engaging activities. I use collaborative task-based learning projects and small group discussions to keep students engaged in the L2. I also devote class time to teletandem and orientation activities for the final projects; to ensure students are on track.
Course development applications like Adobe Captivate and Camtasia Studio offer instructors an intuitive interface for further customizing lecture presentations with interactivity, searchable tags, media-enhanced examples, and embedded links to related content. Multimedia authoring is an invaluable skill for all teachers in all fields, particularly teachers who need to control and protect their content.
Below are work samples I compiled to show how I harness the power of the LMS to make my courses more organized, more dynamic and interactive, and more accessible to students.
K-12, business, and government on a global scale.
that rivals major proporietary applications
like Blackboard and Canvas.
specifically for teachers.