Why another one?

Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiatives has established a new paradigm of e-learning with SCORM. (ADL) Traditional way of LMS (Learning Management System) is widely used for institutions and companies for training their employees and students in different professional content areas. LMS helps launch learning content, keep track of learner progress, and sequence learning content. Its benefit is to meet individual’s learning needs. In contrast, CMS (Content Management System) provides space to back up or archive the content such as articles, books, or pictures that are gathered professionals to share.

However, it is not flexible enough to accommodate different courses with the same content in one or the other system. It means that LMS cannot move courses from one LMS to another. It cannot reuse content nor sequence reusable content for other individualized learning strategies. Plus, unlike CMS, it does not have content libraries to store content across different LMS. Basically, it is inconvenient for administrators to utilize the content for different purposes in different times. (Introduction to SCORM, 2008) LMS focuses on learner but CMS concentrates on content.

This is why we need a new way of e-learning, LCMS (Learning Content Management System). It is combination of CMS and LMS. (Nichani, 2001) One of the exemplary models of LCMS is SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model). Because SCORM provides extra library to store the content and make it reusable, administrating different learning needs becomes possible. For example, when scientific research lab maintains three different lab courses and all courses need “eyewash procedure”. LMS cannot allow using the same module of “eyewash procedure” for all courses. Whereas, SCORM makes it possible to reuse the same content for all three different lab courses which naturally makes the administrators job more flexible and convenient. (Introduction to SCORM, 2008)


(Introduction to SCORM, 2008)


As shown in the picture above, every SCORM has a well defined set of capabilities with the same content that may fit different LMS. In a long run, SCORM make the LMS cost effective because it saves money to move the content to the other. It obviously saves time to redevelop same content for different courses and its reusability definitely makes it uniquely stronger than LMS or CMS(Content Management System). (Introduction to SCORM, 2008)



References

Nichani, M. (2001, May 02). LCMS=LMS+CMS. Elearningpost. Retrieved April 17, 2010, from http://www.elearningpost.com/articles/archives/lcms_lms_cms_rlos/

Advanced Distributed Learning, (n.d.). Who we are. Retrieved April 17, 2010 from http://www.adlnet.gov/About/Pages/Default.aspx

An introduction to SCORM 2004, 3rd edition. (2008). Retrieved April 16th, 2010, from http://projects.aadlcolab.org/scourse/2004_3rdEd/_viewer/index.html

CMS versus LMS

CMS (Course Management System) and LMS (Learning Management System) support different kinds of learning types. CMS supports online classroom type of learning whereas LMS guides individual learning when needed. In other words, CMS is more like a school setting with a set of students with specific timely assignments and progress reports such as grades from instructor just like school classroom setting but online. Class content is displayed in specific a period of time, and discussion boards enable a group of learners with instructor communicate although live discussion such as chatting or synchronous e-learning are not available.
LMS is more individualized. Learner can choose specific content they need to learn and finish the course whenever they want. Learner can enroll the course and finish the test in their own paces. In that sense, LMS embraces wider range of learner with less restriction of time. LMS is suitable for corporations or professional job training purpose. CMS and LMS are used for different purposes.



Carliner, S. (2005, November). Course Management Systems Versus Learning Management Systems. Learning Circuits. Retrieved April, 17, 2010, from http://web.archive.org/web/20070308145724/http://www.learningcircuits.org/2005/nov2005/carliner.htm

Measuring the Total Cost of e-learning

When I read that e-learning saves money, I wondered how, because it looked costly to set up softwares, and other technology equipments. Although e-learning cost more than we expect it is, it definitely saves money when compared to traditional learning type with instructor for larger institutions and corporations. Kruse (2004) calculated and compared the total cost of ILT (Instructor-led Training) and TBT (Technology Based Learning) and came up with the difference of $600,000. ILT was more costly than TBT when number of students is big. His study was conducted for three years with 800 learners. The number of students is proportionate to the cost of ILT. So, it may be less expensive to run a course with an instructor. However, the total cost of TBT is fixed regardless of number of students. This implies that the greater number of students enrolled, the more money saved with TBT. Once computers and softwares are set up, it is there for next users or learners but instructor compensation fee is paid every course. \ For larger corporation, in a long run, TBT saves money and time that is also equivalent to money.


Reference:
http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art5_2.htm