Learning management system (LMS) Modules

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Learning

Management System

(LMS)

LMS is a learning management system. It is a tool for e-learning. It is provides effective learning environment through user friendly modules.

By Wasim Akram 10

Mohammad Tayyab 07 Sajid Saeed 67 Arsalan Hussain 66

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Introduction

Learning management system (LMS) is software that provides a virtual learning environment. It enables management and delivery of learning content, training and resource to the students or its members. LMS are web based to facilitate anytime, anywhere access to the learning content and administration. LMS are built on friendly platforms for easy-to-use, easy-to-manage.

LMS includes interactive online courses, assessment tests, system administration, batch assignment and detailed reporting. LMS usually allows:

 self-services (e.g. student self registration, self enrolment )

 notification services (e.g. event notification, quiz notifications )

 automate administration (e.g. monitor student participation, student accounts)

 System management (courses, content, students, instructors)

 Upload and deliver learning content.

 Virtual live classes.

 Collaborative learning (e.g. application sharing, group discussions)

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Modules

In general standardized or independent unit is called module. When users launch LMS they encounter a series of tabbed pages called modules. These tabbed pages/modules contain different units of LMS. Different LMS have different numbers of modules. But they all can be generalized as follows:

1. Home module

This is the home page of a LMS. Students, instructors and administrators use this module to view lists of courses, notifications, progress reports and schedules. It includes a welcome area, sign up or Registration area and help option. It also includes:

 Prerequisites for registration

 Samples or Demos of e-learning environment

 Newsletter subscription

 Chat rooms

 Features from instructors and administrators

 Resource library

2. Student Catalog Module:

Here courses are listed. Students browse through courses and using self-service function of LMS, enroll in courses. In some LMS (e.g. Athena) it is not a separate module but a part of home module.

3. Course Management and Certification

Administrators use this to manage courses. Instructors use this module to know what courses are assigned to whom and to see their class lists. It also manages certifications of students. Certification is an essential part and learning institution. Certification requires a thorough analysis of program,

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student performance and some other factors. Different LMS uses different criteria and protocols for certification.

4. Administrator Module:

In this module administrators can view information, manage programs. Administer can also customize the roles and privileges of users so that users can be restricted in there own circle. This limits what a user can see and do in the system. Administrators can control data regarding student’s records, and can also perform different transactions to the database e.g. add, edit, delete, and update student records. Report services are managed here.

5. Resource Module:

This module helps course developers in developing effective courses and course outlines and equipments needed for courses that are listed in student catalog module.

6. Setting Modules:

This module is used by server and system administrators to manage and organize system services and for setting server configuration.

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LMS MODEL

The LMS model in fig [1] shows how data flows between different components of LMS. This helps us in designing a LMS.

[1]_{Figure [1]} _{LMS Model}

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E-R Diagram

E-R Diagram shows the type of relationship between the entities. It is an essential step towards developing a database management system. Since LMS is like a DBMS that is purely dedicated to learning purpose, so here is E-R Diagram for a LMS.

[1]_{Figure [2]} _{E-R Diagram for LMS}

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Abstract Data Model

The Abstract data model shows the data structure and their organization in general. It does not specify certain data but it models the data types, their relationships, and their organization in a sys tem. The following figure shows an abstract data model of an LMS using objects. If the LMS is to be designed using RDBMS then these objects can easily be converted into tables, the attributes will be used as columns. Primary and foreign keys are also defined which can be used to relate tables.

[1]_{Figure [3]} _{ABSTRACT DATA MODEL OF A LMS}

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Mock ups

The mock ups show us the external view of LMS that how it will appear to the users. Below we have shown our mockups for each module discussed above. These are drawn using paint software.

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Conclusion

LMS is getting a place in market. The users want quality, flexibility and relaxation, so does the LMS provide. It provides digital content management and integration. Easy Curriculum mapping is one its key point over the traditional way of learning. Now days a number companies are providing LMS systems to consumers. Open source LMS are also introduced. But according to Epic white paper “Open Source Learning Management Systems”[2]“the big ERP players have failed to achieve their forecast success and customers have low satisfactions. So I searched LMSs from different companies and finally created my own view of an LMS which I have discussed above. I have merged different qualities from different LMSs so as to make a much better and effective system. It is easy to use, user friendly, includes must-have features for each user and most importantly it includes all the features that a user wish to e.g. a time table as “My Course” , chatting with friends, “create assignment” in home module for student.

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Appendix a:

Open source learning / selecting an open source LMS

LMS Version Link ATutor 1.5.5 http://www.ATutor.ca/ Claroline 1.8.6 http://www.claroline.net/ Docebo 3.0.6 http://www.docebo.org/ Dokeos 1.8.4 http://www.dokeos.com/ dotLRN 2.3.1 http://dotlrn.openacs.org/ Ilias 3.8.3 http://www.ilias.de/ Interact 2.3.1 http://www.interactole.org/ KEWL.NextGen 1.3.1 http://kngforge.uwc.ac.za/ Metacoon 1.9.5 http://www.metacoon.de/ Moodle 1.8.2 http://moodle.org/ OLAT 5.2.2 http://www.olat.org/ Open Elms 5.0 http://www.openelms.org/ Sakai 2.4.1 http://www.sakaiproject.org/

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Appendix B:

Figure[10] [Original image] e-learning model by Barry Williams ,

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References

I. URL

http://community.flexiblelearning.net.au/TeachingTrainingLearners/content/ article_4840.htm

II. URL http://www.icmgworld.com/corp/ces/ces.lms.asp

III. IBM Lotus LMS [WWW Page], URL

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/lotus/library/ls-LMS_Admin_Tour/index.html#icomments

IV. URLhttp://hajelasoftware.com/hspl.htm

V. URLhttp://stepinside.slamstudio.com/?p=11

VI. Database answers, URL

http://www.databaseanswers.org/data_models/e_learning/index.htm

VII. Athena LMS, URLhttp://www.athenalms.com/modules.aspx

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