Learning Spaces: Course Management Systems
If you've taken an online course, you've probably used a course management system. Course management systems, also known as a virtual learning environment consists of a software system that helps teachers manage course administration. Although generally associated with distance learning, they are often used to supplement blended or face-to-face courses.
These large scale systems often including email, forums, blogs, virtual conferencing, wikis, profiles, resources, testing tools, and data storage options. Some also provide gradebooks, student tracking systems, and other course management tools.
The advantage of a course management system is that all the learning and communication tools are in one place and generally use a shared navigation system. This makes it easy to enter and use the resources. On the other hand, this can also be a disadvantage. There may be some tools you don't need. Or, you may not like the features of particular tools. For example, you might like the forum tool, but hate the wiki option.
Read Learning Management Systems in Collaborative Learning Environments.
Hardware and Software
Many of the tools discussed in previous learning spaces sections are embedded in course management systems. Increasingly, schools and libraries are seeking open source software and free tools for course management. For example, many universities are using Moodle or Sakai.
Course Management Software
In some cases, you'll want to install course management software on your own network or web server. The advantage to installing your own software is that you have total control. This is also a disadvantage because you're also responsible for any problems.
In some cases, you'll want the system available through the Internet so learners can access resources from school, library, or home settings. However, you may wish to run an Intranet system that is only accessible from computers in your building.
- ANGEL Learning (commercial) - popular in K12; purchase and install on your server
- Moodle (free, open source)
- easy to install; great tool providing a wide range of options including email, forums, wiki, testing, and more. - Sakai Project (free, open source) - high-end system with many options. Used primarily by large universities for producing their own systems such as CourseTools (Michigan) CourseWorks (Stanford), Oncourse (Indiana University), and Stellar (MIT).
- Think.com (free, non-profit, no ads) - From the sponsors of ThinkQuest, Think.com provides a free system where teachers can create and manage student accounts for services including email, blogs, interactive tools, and multimedia projects. There's tools for creating webpages, uploading media files, and discussing on forums. The password access makes it protected. It's also aligned with ISTE standards.
Web-based Commercial Systems
- Blackboard - most popular system for all levels and fields
- WebCT - now owned by Blackboard
Read Blackboard vs. Moodle: A Comparison of Satisfaction with Online Teaching and Learning Tools by Kathy Munoz and Joan Van Duzer (February 2005).
Listen to EdTechTalk: 21st Century Learning as they discussion Moodle in the classroom.
Course Management Systems in Learning
Explore the resources at From Takeoff to Landing: Strategies for Successful Online Courses by Annette Lamb.
According to Bob King, many problems can be solved using a single problem-solving algorithm. Read his short article How to Succeed in Online and Hybrid Course. He suggests (1) thinking about the problem, (2) taking about the issue, (3) researching the problem, (4) summarizing and taking action.
Links to the materials in this section can be found in the navigation bar on the left side of this page. Continue to the 
Learning Spaces: Desktop Spaces page.