08 May 2023
Recent years have witnessed a marked increase in online learning, wherein schools and higher education institutes incorporated digital learning tools. Consequently, it improved the teaching methodologies and enhanced learning habits; therefore, implementing hybrid classroom sessions became possible.
However, technical glitches, connectivity issues in the middle of an online class, and scalability issues are significant obstacles to online education. On top of that, the timely distribution of learning content and accessibility of resources is crucial; therefore, institutes require robust LMS software to streamline all institutional administrative data.
But what is LMS software, and what are its major functions? Let us find out:
What is an LMS Software?
An LMS stands for learning management system and is the perfect companion and facilitator of online education. It enables institutes and educators to create, design, and develop online training modules and courses and distribute them.
Besides, it is a SaaS (Software as a Service) product that simplifies content delivery, documentation, and administrative activities.
Furthermore, the system has multiple features, allowing teachers to create multimedia content and enrich their instructional processes. In effect, it will help fulfil one of the main criteria of NEP 2020, which encourages interactive teaching and learning sessions.
Also, it will lead to the usage of a variety of resources in the classes, increasing the learners’ interest.
Types of LMS Software Deployments
When looking at the types of LMS Software Deployments, there are three different ways in which LMS Software can be deployed. It all depends on the needs and preferences of the organisation. Based on that, The three main types of LMS software deployments are:
1. Types of LMS Software Deployments :
In On-premise deployment, the LMS software is installed and hosted on the organisation’s own servers. This gives the organizations more control over the data, security, and customisation of the software. However, this also requires more technical expertise, maintenance and upfront costs.
2. Cloud-based :
If the LMS Software is hosted on a third-party server and accessed via the internet, then it is Cloud-based deployment. Again, this means that the organization has lesser control over the data, security, and customization of the LMS software.
3. Hybrid:
Deployment of LMS software which is a combination of On-Premise and Cloud-Based deployment is called Hybrid Deployment. By giving the best of both, the advantages of both types of deployment can be leveraged. But this also means that the organisation has to deal with the challenges of both types of documents.
2. Best LMS Software Integrations
A great thing about LMS is that it can be integrated with various other tools and platforms to enhance its functionality and efficiency. Here are some of the best LMS software integrations:
How Does an LMS Software Function?
A learning management system or LMS software has two vital parts: the admin interface and the learner interface; the former relates to the teacher who creates, manages, and shares content.
On the other hand, the learner interface refers to students enrolled in a particular course or programme. Moreover, the technical function of the LMS software works in the following manner:
- Design Course:The first step involves the teacher or instructor designing the online course depending on the curriculum and students’ understanding levels.
- Course Creation: In the next step, the teacher creates the content, such as videos, explainers, slides, quizzes, and assessments, that will help students learn.
- Learner Registration: Students register themselves and get access to the LMS.
- Content Delivery: Students log in, review the course materials, and periodically complete the given assignments and assessments.
- Feedback and Evaluation:The teacher evaluates the assessments and classwork and provides immediate feedback to the students.
- Reporting: The system generates reports of students’ performance and progress.
Best LMS Software Integrations
A great thing about LMS is that it can be integrated with various other tools and platforms to enhance its functionality and efficiency. Here are some of the best LMS software integrations:
Content Management System (CMS):
CMS is a tool that helps create, manage, and deliver digital content. By integrating Learning Management System with CMS, not only can the content creation and delivery process be streamlined, but the learning process can also be made more engaging and interactive.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools:
Customer Relationship Management tools are tools that help organisations manage and improve relationships with customers and prospects. With CRM-integrated LMS software, customer loyalty, retention, and satisfaction can be increased, and more leads and sales can be generated.
Human Resources Information System (HRIS):
Managing and optimising the human resources functions of an organisation can be easily done with the help of HRIS. Integrating the Learning Management System with HRIS can help automate and simplify the employee training and development process, as well as track and measure the performance and outcomes of the training.
Who are the Primary Users of LMS Software?
The education and business sectors use online LMS software to automate most of their administrative activities. Furthermore, the Indian LMS market size was valued at USD 490 million in 2021. Additionally, experts indicate that it will reach USD 2,931 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 21.66 percent during the forecast period (2022 to 2030).
Hence, the report highlights the system’s continuous growth and the impact that it will have on various sectors. However, when it comes to the education sector, the stakeholders responsible for using the system are as follows:
Administrators, Teachers and Employers
The essential institutional tasks, such as scheduling exams, making lesson plans, creating course and curriculum content, etc., are time-consuming. However, with an LMS Software, it becomes easy for teachers to streamline all such tasks, allowing them to concentrate on the teaching process.
The admin staff uses the tool to organise crucial organisational tasks like maintaining digital receipts or records of financial transactions. Also, generating audit reports in sync with student fees and institutional expenses becomes easy.
Moreover, institute heads or employers can track staff attendance with the help of the attendance management system.
Students, Learners, Trainers and Employees
Students, learners, trainers, and employees belong to the learners' interface group that accesses the software to learn. Furthermore, the best LMS software helps instructors understand individual learning needs and generate suitable content. As a result, students can learn at their own pace and master a concept or skill in their own time.
Nevertheless, it is notable to point out that the system is not just beneficial for educational institutes; it is the best tool for anyone who wants to provide online courses. For instance, non-governmental organisations, small-scale, large-scale, and medium-scale organisations, start-ups, independent tutors, etc.
LMS vs. LXP: Understanding the Key Differences
|
LMS |
LXP |
| Main Purpose |
- Manage and Deliver Structured Learning Content and Courses
|
- Enable and support self-directed and personalized learning experiences
|
| Key Features |
- Course creation and management
- Learner enrollment and tracking
- Assessment and feedback,
- Reporting and analytics
|
- Content aggregation and curation
- Learner profiles and recommendations
- Social learning and collaboration
- Gamification and badges
|
| Strengths |
- Provides a centralised and organised way of delivering learning content
- Supports compliance and certification requirements
- Enables data-driven decision-making
|
- Learner-centric and engaging way of accessing learning content
- Supports informal and social learning
- Personalised and adaptive learning experiences
|
| Weakness |
- Can be rigid and inflexible
- May not support informal and social learning
- May not offer personalised and adaptive learning experiences
|
- Can be overwhelming and confusing
- May not align with organizational goals and standards
- May not offer sufficient assessment and feedback
|
Different Types of LMS Softwares
Cloud-based LMS: A third-party company makes the cloud-based LMS that users can access on the basis of a particular subscription. Furthermore, this LMS platform is cloud-hosted, allowing individuals to use it right away without installing anything on their computers or web servers. Also, it is easier to use as the vendor provides adequate services regarding installation, system updates, and regular monitoring.
Open-source LMS: It has open-source code, allowing users to access and modify it according to individual needs. However, additional assistance from IT staff is essential to complete the installation and customisation processes.
SaaS LMS: It refers to a Software as a Service (SaaS) product that relies on the internet instead of computers. Besides, the provider’s server hosts the LMS and does not require the user to install anything on the PC or hard drive. Also, institutes can choose the provider, get a free trial, and choose a pricing option according to their requirements.
Self-hosted LMS: It is a web application that requires the user to download it from the LMS provider’s website. Also, they can get it in the form of a disc; institutes need to install, manage, configure, and maintain a self-hosted LMS by themselves.
Why is LMS the Most In-demand Software?
1. High Student Retention
Students dropping out of school after continued days of absence is concerning, and finding a solution is difficult. That is where LMS comes in and plays a vital role in tracking student attention; it helps to check at-risk students. Therefore, it alerts teachers to take mitigative actions and maintain high student retention.
2. High Storage and Scalability
A software that has a smooth functioning in the last few months but struggles when student enrollment increases proves to be ineffective. Therefore, an LMS software with high storage and scalability is preferred, as it helps store ever-evolving data. Additionally, the system won’t exhibit any issues with the growth of student activity.
3. Data Security
The system's biggest advantage lies in the security mechanism that ensures institutional data protection from online hacking activities. In fact, the best LMS software in India uses advanced encryption methods and role-based login access. Hence, institutes do not encounter loss of data, unauthorised access, or misuse.
4. Tracking of Student Activity
LMS software enables teachers to track student activity; for instance, they can check the total time taken to complete an assignment or task. Additionally, they can track their progress from the term’s beginning to the end, helping them determine the progress of their learning outcomes.
5. Customisable
The software has features that help teachers customise learning plans according to student's skills and knowledge levels. Consequently, teachers can create content pertaining to the needs of the students and help them improve.
Characteristics of the Best LMS Software
Different Learning Management System have different quality and functionality. Here are some characteristics that can be focused on to identify the best LMS software:
- User-friendliness: A good Learning Management System should be easy for both the learners and the administrators to use. A simple interface with clear navigation and helpful guidance is ideal and user-friendly.
- Customisability: Every organization has unique needs and preferences. The LMS software should be customisable to cater to these requirements. It should allow for customization of the content, design, features, settings, and branding.
- Scalability: The LMS software must be flexible enough to adapt to the organization's expansion and modifications. It should be able to handle large numbers of users courses, content, data, etc., without compromising performance or quality.
- Feature Range: The Learning Management System should be also offer a range of feature that supports various aspects of learning management. It should include features such as course creation and management, learner enrollment and tracking, assessment and feedback, reporting and analytics, etc.
- Integration Capabilities: It should be able to integrate with other tools and platforms that enhance its functionality and efficiency.
- Customer Support: Reliable and responsive customer support should be provided by the LMS software to maintain healthy customer relations.
In Conclusion,
It is unthinkable to envision education without the help of technological tools, plus they have been instrumental in improving student learning conditions. In fact, LMS software has become the most-demanded system as it provides many advantages. For instance, data storage and security, smooth student activity and progress tracking, etc.
Gurudev Somani,
Academic Consultant