Working with my new educational establishment’s distance learning unit is a real eye opener. They decided to design and write their own learning management software so that they could add the features they wanted to the system, and integrate it with their course materials databank that serves the needs of traditional classroom teachers as well as the delivery of courses online. This also allows them to combine different e-learning technologies relatively seamlessly, as they are intensive users of video conferencing, and they are beginning to use web broadcasting to serve their global clients.
Learning management systems are fairly complex systems, but they have had a pilot project running for 18 months now, using a simplified learning management system that allows clients access to online courses, including some simple interaction with tutors using messaging and email. They are in the middle of a major update, having designed a system that allows them to transparently access courses that are sourced outside their establishment and presented on different software, and to integrate the verification of academic standards on the software, thus allowing feedback to the student regarding progress on awards programs such as graduate and post graduate degrees.
Learning management software can influence the student’s learning experience almost as much as the quality and presentation of the learning material, so the design of this software is a major undertaking for the institution. However, they see this as being a part of the standards and quality that differentiate their online courses from other institutions, and therefore wish to be fully in control of all aspects of their products.
# posted by Mary @ 2:36 PM
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