Learning Management Systems

Key takeaways from the readings/videos:

This week, I learned a lot about LMS, or Learning Management Systems. Learning Management systems are web based systems, where a teacher or business owner/manager or other professional can gather all their learning materials in one place, making them available to all learners. Learning Management Systems can be adapted for a diverse group of learners depending on learners grade, profession, job position, and more. They can be used by any number of organizations, including schools to large corporations. Administraters can post files or links to be viewed, or assign work or tests. Or, administrators can assign a series of materials called a learning path. 

Corporations can also use LMS in the following ways

1) Corporate training budget can be reduced by conducting training online

-       Less $ on Classroom rentals

-       Less $ on Transport and accomodations

-       Less $ on Instructors salaries

-       Less $ on Learning materials

2) Small businesses can assign training that gives rewards and new rankings. 

- For instance, in the iSpring Blog, it gives the example of an administrator assigning training and giving rewards and new rankings for people that pass the training.

- Thus, this gives workers insentives to complete trainings, as it creates a competitive environment for workers to measure themselves against other workers from the same company. 

For Schools, I also got to look and compare three possible LMS and see the best available features for each LMS

For Canvas, 

- I thought the List View Option was  very sensible. It organizes content in a list of upcoming assignments and learning goals and shows a student what is coming up in all classes.

-     A student   Can also easily view grades from list view

- Canvas also has a practical Opportunity Alerts Menu, which displays all missing assignments. Icons over every assignment on list view shows if assignments are missing, late, or have an activity with it.

- Finally, Canvas has a   Recent Activity View – can recent posts from the teacher, unread discussion posts, etc.

For Schoology - 

- Free!!

- Practical Calendar on the Right with upcoming Assignments

- Practical Grading System and Grade Recording Sytem

- It also includes a Forum to work with other teachers in the same field OR has a forum for teacher to teacher communication

- Schoology also has a social media interface to it, helping students find familiar and enjoyable features such as "liking" or "thumbs up" for assignments or comments.

For Google Classroom - 

- Includes an Easy User interface to add students in multiple ways

- Works easily and compatibly with Google Software like Google Docs

- Can produce 2 types of questions(Short Answer or Multiple Choice) very easily and efficiently

- Perfect for Exit Ticket Assignments

How can your new learning impact your current work or help you in the near future?

Currently I use Schoology, but I now know that I don't use half of the available features on it. For instance, I did not know that I could view student's work on the LMS and add comments to it without downloading the assignment. I also did not know I could communicate with other teachers that teach my exact subject through Schoology. This will allow me to ask many teachers who teach my exact subject what strategies they are using for distance learning. Finally, I have not tried the "Gradebook function" and will implement this on for the final 10 weeks of school, which is the last quarter.