LCMS: What are they for?
Describe LCMS systems and their uses.
“LCMS – Learning Content Management Systems- are true content management systems (McGee, Carmean, Jafari, pp. 209, 2005).” LCMS provide:
- An authoring tool for creating content.
- A data repository for storing content created.
- An interface for delivering content.
- Administrative tools for managing content and users.
Because the content is stored in an objective paradigm it allows the content to be used across courses and curriculum. This allows for individualization of the product. Dictionary.com defines metadata as data about data. Using a metadata repository describing different aspects of the content makes to easy find relevant content by user or author. “The delivery of the LCMS begins with a pre-assessment that targets content (Ellis, 2001).” The system then can provide content to user as a course or small chunks. This the strength of the LCMS to modulate and manipulate its content.
“A LMS's objective is to simplify the administration of learning/training programs within an organization (Nichani, 2001).” A LMS doesn’t include authoring capabilities. It manages courses created by multiple authors and sources. A CMS will allow for authoring but doesn’t allow for content to be used across the curriculum. “Its objective is to simplify the creation and administration of online content (Nichani, 2001).” The content created is designed for specific courses. The LMS can manage a community of users allowing for the user to access the appropriate content managed by the LCMS which does allow creation of content..
“According to Wikipedia.org, a content-authoring tool is a software application used to create multimedia content typically for delivery on the World Wide Web (Fine, n.d.).” The selection of course authoring software is vital to any course delivery system. The design of the content will determine the reusability of the content across the platform. This is done by creating RLO’s or Reusable Learning Objects. “A RLO to a small piece of instruction that targets a specific performance goal (Nichani, 2001)”. By complying SCORM –Shareable Courseware Object Reference Model – standards, authors of courses can create content that can be differentiated for the user. When deciding on a content-authoring software one must decide if the content created needs to be reusable or not. This will also drive your decision on what e-learning platform , CMS, LMS or LCMS to use.
Ellis, R. (2001). LCMS Roundup. Retrieved June 12, 2010 from ttp://web.archive.org/web/20071012195821/http://www.learningcircuits.org/2001/aug2001/ttools.htm
Fine, D. (n.d.) Choosing the right content-authoring tool for your e-learning
needs. Retrieved June 13, 2020 from http://www.syberworks.com/
articles/ContAuthTool.htm
McGee, P., Carmean, C., & Jafari, A. (2005) Course management systems for learning: Beyond accidental pedagogy. Retrieved from Idea Group, Inc.
Nichani, M. (2001). LCMS = LMS + CMS [RLOs]. Retrieved June 12, 2010 form http://www.elearningpost.com/articles/archives/lcms_lms_cms_rlos/
3 comments:
Response by Cedric McClain
Yes, the LCMS is essential to deliver any structured online learning. It was interesting to read LCMS is able to deliver content in small chucks by way of “reusable learning objectives” RLOs. RLOs can be developed by the use of authoring tools that are used to develop content. Also the RLOs can be stored in the repository for use in developing additional performance standards and courses. You also pointed out that content stored in the repository can be used across courses and curriculums. For example, a learning objective that covers the use of the metric system can be uses in a math class as well as science class or even a vocational class like electronics. RLOs are flexible and can used to personalize learning objectives for the individual learner. All of this is managed within the LCMS.
After reading your information I believe that I have a better understanding of what the RLOs are used for. they seem not be able to exist if the LMS or CMS are not in tack. I am not sure about all this jargon but I think the more of the class blogs I read I have a better understanding not a full understanding.
I think the key point you mentioned is deciding whether you want your content to be reusable or not. I suppose that if I were creating content, I would want it to be reusable so that I wouldn't have to create new content over and over again. I don't see how not having reusable content would be an advantage, do you?
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