This article is based on a question posed in the General Forum on 12 September 2003. It includes a summary of suggestions provided by members. Many thanks to all who contributed.
I am interested to hear from people who have experienced and tested learning management systems that work successfully and that can be recommended to small RTOs. It would be very useful to hear whether people have found any freeware/shareware that have proven to be useful, not too complex to learn and implement and are free or at least not too costly. What works well? What could be recommended? Would appreciate your suggestions.
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Responses from the group:
The link below provides a good review of several open source course ware tools. Rob Reynolds gives an overview of the various reasons people might have for a system and then gives his top ratings - he does point out that you do need good technical support, as people have mentioned in this forum.
http://prace.vic.edu.au/pd/flex/dox/Reynolds-print-xplana-Open_Source_Courseware.html
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I would look for the following features:
- integrated with student management system
- integrated security/access levels for each trainer
- assessment drop box
- Web Forum/chat
- assessment tool for online assessment
- reliable authentication
- various methods of assessment (quiz, practical test, live exam, etc)
- results/progress tracking system
- accessible from anywhere (for external trainers)
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Some time ago I used to use varieties freeware cobbled together to do the sorts of things I wanted but now
- there is less of it around,
- the advertising is really intrusive
- it does not necessarily meet the accountability requirements of an RTO.
- it deos not make a nice, neat all in one "LMS".
The list of features in the last post covers much of the ground for a quite sophisticated LMS - is this is what is the minimum these days or a wish list? I'd add a few more details about content management and content authoring ( for example being able to create role plays, other forms of interactivity, or to modify existing content).
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I'm from a small rural RTO who could definately not afford one of the 'big three' learning management systems and who also doesn't have a web server so I think that leaves out some of the open source solutions.
- I have been participating in the Advancing Online ACE project funded by BACE in NSW and delivering a unit through the TAFEVC as part of that project.
- I am also facilitating a Learnscope Project using mc2 http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/ an online community site which is funded by the Victorian Government
- It seems that we are skilling up tutors and centres to be more flexible but they do not have the resources, financial or technological, to take the skills they have to the next level. In my ideal world NSW should have facilities like these available so that even small rural RTO's could provide online learning.
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If the small RTOs have students in Victoria they are eligible to access the TAFEVC for free, http://www.tafevc.com.au along with all the wonderful professional development networking support provided by Kathy and Sandip and others. If not http://moodle.com.au is getting better.
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Freely available tools on the web like Quick Topic www.quicktopic.com can be used and evidence backed up if RTOs already have student management systems and don't need the courseware type model. There's also peer to peer like Groove, www.groove.net which is not of the web, but still uses the internet! It lets students really start to collaborate, but some teachers and web lovers find it difficult to make the transition!
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Another LMS to seriously consider is TLM Version 4. This one is due out real soon. You can find information about that at: http://www.thelearningmanager.com/
This website offers links to some other useful evaluation tools and articles about a variety of new and upcoming LMS. Try: http://www.edutools.info/course/index.jsp
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Whilst the big commercial systems are robust and offer institutions (mainly large ones) a wealth of management and delivery tools, their initial costs, IT requirements, system resources, system administration plus ongoing maintenance and training would put these systems are well beyond the reach of most if not all small RTO's. Costs will vary considerably depending upon what and how one intends to deploy a system. That applies to both small and large LMS'. Qualified IT support is also a must.
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Vendors of the large commercial LMS' sometimes make a distinction between "educational" facilities (tafe and universities) and private RTOs- with the latter costing a lot more. If we were an "institution" we would be able to afford a commercial LMS. Contact them for a price.
Be aware that "open source does not = free" . You may find the costs of implementing your lms are significant. We also have a Microsoft Certified Engineer and networking person, and an educational multimedia developer embedded in our business.
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For people evaluating new systems, there is a range of CMS / LMS on offer, pre-installed at http://www.opensourcecms.com/ - you can trial them before you install for yourself
