Inside Learning Management Systems

Do you know what’s inside a Learning Management System (LMS)?  The answer can differ greatly dependent upon a number of factors.  Occasionally referred to also as Managed Learning Environments, e-Learning Systems, Course Management Systems, or Learning Marketplace, LMS’s can basically be broken down into three parts:  the look, the function, and the content/data delivery.  The first two parts, though very essential and influential, are only as good as the quality, amount, and service of the third items….the content and data clearinghouse delivery of that content.  It is this stuff behind the curtain that determines efficacy. 

 

The “look” is the most simplistic part.  Most LMS setups look pretty much like a complex web page with a moderate design element.  The “function” is the next item to examine.  Function describes the “who, what, and how” part of the LMS.  Who is our industry target….business or education?  What is it that we are trying to provide to the client?  How does the interface function in providing the link to the learning market place?  These questions must be answered very adequately in order to deliver to the client properly, but it is the learning repository of information (the database) and the effective, reliable serving of that data to the client that is of primary importance.  A learning management system that has a great look and feel that functions smoothly is only as good as the resources (the data repository) to which it has access, and the server infrastructure learning repository that provides the information.  Breakdowns in these data and data clearinghouse portions make a system feel thin and unreliable at best….useless and meaningless at worst.

 

Computer-based learning systems that focus on the quality and quantity of resources available to the client are the systems that will stand the test.  An e-learning marketplace must emphasize constant, reliable availability of content via a data clearinghouse to all that are accessing the system, whenever and however many are doing so, without downtime and slowdowns. 

 

IQity’s Learning Suite, the nation’s leading and best e-learning marketplace, is a great example of a complete system that provides all the required criteria for a quality LMS.  An up-to-date look, intelligent, simple functionality, a content/data backend without compare, and a server infrastructure with tremendous capability and bandwidth provide the total package.  Without all these pieces in place, an LMS can struggle.  Check out the extended demo of IQity’s unique learning repository environment right now and tell us what you think!  http://iq-ity.com/learning-management-system/learning-management-system-video.html