LMS is a technology interface that delivers the features like student-teacher-parent coordination, academic content management and classroom management, this articles discusses the important features of LMS that you should know about.
As technology is advancing, the academic processes are being streamlined in an online way. The latest article published in Indonesian Science Education Research (Limbong et. al)[1] and various scientific studies have shown that the audio-visuals and virtual reality based classrooms are more efficient to deliver the concepts to learners[2].
Considering the advantages of audio-visual and virtual reality based learning, academicians are now trying to digitalize the way of delivering the academic content to learners, such an interface which helps the academicians to manage academic content is referred as Learning Management System (Referred as Original technology acceptance model by Davis et al. (1989)[3]. Considering the need and demand, LMSs are now evolved with addition of new features to LMS[4].
There are several different types of LMS available. The most common type of LMS is a web-based program that provides access to a wide range of facilities. One should choose the LMS based on Features of LMS that meet the niche requirements of the organization.
Article Contents
Here are 5 must have features in Learning Management System that you can consider while choosing the best LMS for your needs:
1) Hybrid Classroom
The classrooms are evolving to the next generation, as per the latest UGC norms; students can attend 40% of their academic course in online mode[5]. This makes it essential to set up a classroom that can accommodate students for offline lecture, at the same time; remote candidates should be able to attend the lecture in online mode as well.
Nevertheless, the classes conducted in the hybrid classroom can be recorded and repurposed as revision material or reference material to upcoming batches
It is not hard to set up a hybrid classroom as it does not require large infrastructure, a few essential components like the webcam, local storage, internet connection and an efficient LMS can serve the need. A person with a basic understanding of using computers can easily handle the system.
2) Attendance Management
Whether the classes are in offline mode or online; “Attendance” has always been an essential part of them. Attendance is a mandatory criteria for candidates to appear for the course examination.
In conventional classrooms; teachers/instructors spend a couple of minutes in each lecture taking attendance, by implementing LMS; you can efficiently save this time. The attendance of online attendees is automatically recorded by the software, whereas; we can integrate the biometric attendance system with LMS to mark the attendance of candidates who are physically present in the institute.
Attendance data can be efficiently stored in the LMS and can be repurposed whenever required, also, the attendance data can be exported and processed more easily.
3) Assignment submission
In most of the education systems around the globe, assignments are an essential part of course which are considered for evaluation.
An LMS can act as an interface where one the one side; the candidates can upload the assignments whereas on other side, the evaluator can check the uploaded assignments
OnScreen marking feature allows the evaluator to check the paper in online mode, give marks and comments on the answers; furthermore, these comments can be seen by the candidates in assignment review.
Assignment submission through LMS can help in
- Tracking the exact time of submission of assignment
- Evaluating the assignments in online mode itself without any print work
- Improving evaluation transparency as students can review the marking
- Processing the marks of assignment in final results
- Storing the assignments for future without occupying any physical space
4) Proctored Exam Process
One of the most important features of LMS include “Proctored Exam Support”
An advanced LMS system supports the knowledge assessment through online tests which are invigilated by the proctor making these tests reliable and malpractice free.
As part of any course, these assessments can be defined as a checkpoint for the candidates to enter in the next chapter/session. In administration point of view; below are the features to think about while choosing an LMS for this specific need-
- Supported question types by the system (As per the need of the course- MCQ/Subjective)
- Central login (Only one login credential should be acceptable over all modules of LMS including exam module)
- Exam review facility to students (Candidates can understand their mistakes and improvise the same, thus we recommend this as an essential feature)
- Exportable results (Exported results can be processed easily)
5) Course material sharing
Documents, Videos and software related to course work are often shared through third party apps which threatens the audience specificity and accessibility of the content.
As an instructor, one would essentially need to take total control over “how and with whom the course material is being shared”, LMS can help with the same.
Here are the top features under this modules to think about-
- Cloud based secure storage of the academic content
- Academic content sharing directly through cloud space without keeping files on local machine
- Audience specific content sharing
- Step wise content sharing, for example, the content of second chapter will be shared only after the candidate passes the assessment of first chapter
Thus, Learning management system can help your organization achieve a number of objectives including online training, assessment, and student data management. It is crucial to choose the right LMS for your needs. You should be able to customize and expand the platform according to the needs of your learners.
Advanced LMS are no longer limited to video content sharing but are an essential part of the “new era of classrooms- The hybrid classrooms”
