Educause recently published “7 Things You Should Know about LMS Alternatives” that reflects many of my practices with and values about using WordPress as an alternative learning management system (LMS). You can find this quick read as a PDF here: http://bit.ly/7thingsLMS
On how instructor use of an alternative LMS may impact the traditional LMS:
By going outside the LMS to use tools that allow for more student engagement, more effective collaboration, and more active learning in general, instructors could establish new expectations for the LMS.
The impression I got after reading that article is that there is a certain level of self-directedness and comfort with technology required to cobble together one’s own alternative LMS. For faculty who are comfortable modding existing tools, it’s great. What do you say to the technophobic faculty who would rather stick with Blackboard because it’s comfortable and “does everything I need”?
Hi Ted-
Thanks for stopping by.
To the technophobic or technologically timid faculty I would say this: “That’s perfectly fine.” But, I would expect that the instructional technologists and librarians on campus have explored valid and feasible options outside of the traditional LMS and have made attempts to educate their faculty on these alternatives.
I wonder, though, if such a faculty member really does understand what they need and what is lost in their online teaching components by sticking with what they know. Open dialogues should be had about the limitations – and opportunities – of the traditional LMS in comparison with outside possibilities.
Thanks,
~Kyle~