Reply To: Module 3- Learning Management Systems

<p class=”MsoNormal”><span style=”font-family: ‘Muli’,serif; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;”>The impact of LMS on the learning outcomes for students can vary. Based on my analysis this may be dependent on several factors including, but not limited to the following.</span></p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”><span style=”font-family: ‘Muli’,serif; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;”>1.The type of LMS used. <span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> </span>There are several different types of LMS each with its own pros and cons. <span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> </span>Depending on which is available to an instructor it could either enhance (positively impact) or mitigate (negatively impact) the learning outcomes of the course. <span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> </span>The review paper by Murthy <i>et al.</i><span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>2017 indicated that the top three LMS are: Moodle, Canvas and Blackboard respectively and each has pros and cons.</span></p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”><span style=”font-family: ‘Muli’,serif; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;”>2. How well the instructor/instructional designer organize the course learning content:<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span><span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> </span>If the learning content is well organized so that students can easily execute tasks, this could positively impact the learning outcome of students. If poorly organized, then this could lead to frustration of students and negatively impact learning outcomes</span></p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”><span style=”font-family: ‘Muli’,serif; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;”>3. Some LMS platforms allow easy access to student performance data. This can assist some instructors in improving/upgrading the design of their course(s) to positively impact learning outcomes.</span></p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”><span style=”font-family: ‘Muli’,serif; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;”>4. How technologically savvy students are: If students are not very knowledgeable about the use of computers or are cyberphobic this could have a negative impact on learning outcome especially if the course is entirely online. On the contrary, if students are very knowledgeable about computers,  it increases the probability that the impact of LMS use  on learning outcomes  could be a positive one.</span></p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”><span style=”font-family: ‘Muli’,serif; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; background: white;”>5. The flexibility and the self-paced nature that some courses are offered using LMS, can have a positive impact on learning outcomes. <span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> </span>This ensures that most people (each with varying schedule) successfully complete the course.</span></p>