Assalammualaikum W.B.T...
Third week, the restless week had been fulfilled by doing on review and analysis of Course/Learning Management System. For that task, I have worked with my colleague, Halil b.Siri. Frankly, I don’t even know about the Learning Management System and its functions on our field (education).Next, the complete written review must be uploaded into the google.doc in forms of doc, pdf and PowerPoint presentation. Later then, we need to download the document back and share it with our course mates, lecturer and coordinator through yahoo! Mail.
From my personal thought, it is a bit tough to understand the concept of this LMS. First, we have to clear with the term itself. . After that, the review should include the disadvantages and advantages of using it. Additionally, the list of Open Source Software (OSS) must be in the review to make us more aware about the relationship between LMS and OSS. Making a research on this topic is enough to make me having dazzling. However, there is no victory without putting your effort on it. After made some reading and collecting all the information needed, my partner and I had written the review based on our fully understanding and basic knowledge about ICT in Education as shown below:
Learning Management System (LMS)
A Learning Management System (LMS) is software tools designed for delivering, tracking and managing online training and education. The concept for this type of software is web-based and it is created to facilitate the user “anytime, any place, any pace” access to learning input or content. For another instance, it is commercially developed and restricts access to their source code, free and open source models also do exist. In addition, this virtual learning emphasizes on student self-service, self-registration, instructor-led training, skill groups management, user notifications and deadlines, manager hierarchies, wait-list management, and of course actual serving if the training material. In order to make it more effective, it is equipped by automated testing facility to records answers, grades tests, and keeps all data for future reference.
The LMS concerns and focuses more on managing learners to ensure their progress and performances across all types of training activities by keeping all the track and record. Nowadays, it has been used widely by universities and colleges around the world which allow the instructors to conduct their courses and exchange theirs information with the student through the virtual learning. Next, LMS has been functioning to protect private training resources, such as procedure and policy manuals and other sensitive files. Other than that, an improvised LMS system provides interactivity and multimedia tools. So, learning will be more effective and interesting. As an LMS allows users to easily design and deploy customized training modules, it can leverage the knowledge of a few key individuals and distribute it to a large number of employees, customers, or even business partners.
Apart from that, LMS offers a wide-range access because it is web –based system which you can access it at any location and anytime. Regarding to this point, LMS is a flexible system for costuming and managing training records because it use web-platform. It distributes courses over the Internet and offering features for online authoring. Ever improving technology, this system has been used by the teacher and in business field too where the teacher can keep managing their students’ record and performance. In lesson also, it helps educators creating effective online learning communities and create online courses with opportunities for rich interaction. On the other side, employers can efficiently and effectively deliver and manage learning experiences for their employees. These experiences should be easily accessible and easily tracked.
This web-based training software platform indeed delivering intuitive, powerful e-learning and business training in enhancing the effectiveness of multimedia environment using Web 2.0 technologies like AJAX & Rich Internet Applications. Moreover, it loads with useful features like Flash video, multimedia files, Rich Internet Applications due to the usage of VBScript, JavaScript, and SQL in this system. For example, MySQL is a robust and popular database commonly used by ICT community. By using this database, it is not so difficult to build LMS though it does not have the industrial strength. Furthermore, the LMS also available for open source software. However none of the applications in OSS have all the robust functionalities of LMS. It just has a few which may be close to fulfill the needs. One of the OSS applications for LMS is Moodle. It was developed by Australian native, Martin Dougiamas. It is 100% suite with e-learning or online classes as well as face-to-face interaction. The feature also including multi-language interface and advanced reporting features. For further information, you can go the Moodle website at http//www.moodle.com.
Next, we move to the advantages of LMS. As we concerned, LMS is used to ensure consistency. For this point, LMS is the best side to centralise learning environment. Consistency can be achieved since it each user sees the exact same material with the exact same manner and can be evaluated through common pre-testing and/or post testing methods. Secondly, the LMS assists effectively in tracking and reporting for enhanced program. For example, employers can offer their courses through various media including web-based training, instructor-led training or webinars. The LMS also brings the great impact by producing immediate capabilities evaluation. In this situation, the instructor or the employer can review and evaluate the record of the results for their learners/employees periodically to determine success levels and actual time taken to complete each course and its components. Last but not least, it will provide a central point for organizations to keep up-to-date theirs product description, specifications, requirements, forms, and to allow easy uploading of new product or service information. Thus, the continuous Product and Service Proficiency for Employees who interact with Customers and Clients plays a crucial role to access the same training courses and the same evaluation materials as the employer have.
Due to the development of technology, we can deny that LMS also has theirs weaknesses and disadvantages. One of its drawbacks is pertains to the quality of learning in an e-learning environment which is no guarantee for high security risk in the system. Secondly, the start-up costs for LMS including hardware, software, staffing and training, can be very expensive and costly as for the administrators especially. Aside from this, majority of the user also believed that Learning Management System is prone to viruses and hacking by the expert hackers. Thus, all the data in LMS can be easily stolen by the third party (hacker). The other glaring disadvantage of LMS is the interface which is the initial reactions to the interface is confusion for many learners. This is due to the difficulties facing by the new learner in figuring out how the interface works and where to get the information she/he needs. This confusion is based on two flaws in the LMS which are simpler tools, with the intent of performing one task seem to be easier for end users to understand and LMS’ are designed as a learning management tool, not as a learning environment tool.
Thus, I reckon this system is simple but efficient, compatible, low tech browser interface and yet it is easy to install. Essentially, most LMS platforms are attempting to shape the future of learning to fit into the structure of their systems, even though most learning today is informal and connectionist in nature.
As a teacher-to-be, it is compulsory to suite ourselves with this method. The concrete reason is LMS have brought a fruitful benefit to the education especially. It had fulfilled the education’s needs and has been implemented in the Western Education System. Thus, we have to level the bar with them in ensuring that we are not left behind from the aspect of methodology. I’m quite impress with the LMS because it will make your education process more organize and flexible. Before that, the educator or employer must master the skill, acquired knowledge and know types of software used for this efficient system. By implementing the LMS, the people should have no worry about the learning process where never you have been either at school, home or workplace. The key factor here is learning process or gaining a bountiful knowledge nowadays is portable and easily access.
“Feel free to read and share”
Muhammad Haziq Fahmi
B.Ed.TESL(SM) IPGKS-UKM
A135737
Muhammad Haziq Fahmi b. Iberahim
Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sarawak
Faculty of Education
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