A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of electronic educational technology (also called e-learning) education courses or training programs.
LMSs range from systems for managing training and educational records to software for distributing online or blended/hybrid college courses over the Internet with features for online collaboration. Colleges, universities, school districts, and schools use LMSs to deliver online courses and augment on-campus courses.
LMS Functionality
- Course Content Delivery
- Student Registration and Administration
- Training Event Management (i.e., scheduling, tracking)
- Curriculum and Certification Management
- Skills and Competencies Management
- Skill Gap Analysis
- Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Assessing and resulting
- Reporting
- Training Record Management
- Courseware Authoring
- Resource Management
- Virtual Organizations
- Performance Management System Integration
Typical features are:
- Course Management, e.g. lists of courses, registration, credit information and syllabus, pre-requisites
- Teaching Materials, i.e. courseware
- Self-assessment quizzes
- Lessons tools: Authoring for contents (structured XML or HTML) and quizzing/testing (e.g. Java Script generators) or alternatively ability to import standard IMS or SCORM packages developed with an external tool (e.g. Dreamweaver).
- Asynchronous Communication: email, forums
- Synchronous Communication: chat, whiteboard, teleconferencing,
- Student tools: Home page, self tests, bookmarks, progress tracking.
- Student Management Tools: progress tracking, on-line grading (assessment).
- Learner feedback: course evaluation surveys, test evaluation surveys etc.