Learning Management Systems (LMS) &
Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS) - E-Learning an Enterprise
Application?
October 26th, 2001
By Paul Stacey
Last
years e-learning marketplace technology featured Learning Management Systems (LMS).
This year the Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS) emerge.
Acronym
alert? This column does get a bit technical with a focus on LMS and LCMS
e-learning technologies. However I'll try to keep it generally readable. Anyone
interested in e-learning should be able to forge through it.
Lets
look at what a Learning Management System is and what a Learning Content
Management System is. How are they different? How do they complement each other?
What
is an LMS?
The
value proposition of an LMS is cost efficient learning administration. An LMS
takes a centralized, organizational approach to learning. LMS software products
include a database of student records with administration and delivery
interfaces for learning. An LMS::
- schedules and registers learners into online
and offline courses
- keeps learner profile data
- launches e-learning courses
- tracks learner progress through courses
- manages classroom based learning
- provides learning administrators with the
ability to manage learning resources including labs and classrooms (resource
management)
- supports learner collaboration
- automates use of competency maps to define
career development and performance paths (skills gap analysis)
- creation of test questions and
administration of test
- performance reporting learning results
- interconnectivity with Virtual Classroom
(VC), LCMS and enterprise applications
An
LMS is for training managers, instructors, and administrators providing primary
management of learners.
What
is an LCMS?
An
LCMS provides value by compressing the time required to develop custom learning
content. An LCMS also manages and delivers personalized content shortening a
learner's time to proficiency. The net result is increased organizational
productivity.
LCMS
software products are primarily responsible for creating, managing, maintaining,
delivering, and tracking web-based content. An LCMS provides functionality such
as:
- content migration and management
- content creation tools
- workflow tools to manage content development
process
- learning object repository
- organizing reusable content
- content reuse and adaptive individualized
learning paths based on learning objects
- asynchronous collaborative learning
including discussion groups
- testing and certification
- reporting of results
- delivering content in multiple formats
(online, print, PDA, CD-ROM, etc.)
- providing content navigational controls
(look and feel)
- interconnectivity with Virtual Classroom,
LMS and enterprise applications
An
LCMS is for content developers, instructional designers, and learning managers
providing primary management of learning content.
LMS
+ LCMS = Enterprise Application?
It
is no accident the last bullet point for both an LMS and an LCMS references
interconnectivity. Despite a few shared functions LMS's and LCMS's complement
each other. An LMS and LCMS can be tightly integrated and information from the
two systems exchanged. In addition both an LMS and an LCMS can interconnect with
other enterprise applications making e-learning an integral part of the whole
enterprise
Like
Customer Relationship Management (CRM), e-learning is an enterprise application.
Enterprise application vendors such as SAP are now incorporating e-learning into
their applications. (see http://www.sap.com/education/e-learning)
It
should come as no surprise that LMS vendors have been actively adding or
acquiring LCMS capability. In June 2001 Saba http://www.saba.com
acquired Ultris, integrating it with the Saba LMS and rebranding it as Saba
Content. July 2001 KnowledgePlanet http://www.knowledgeplanet.com
acquired Peer3 and rebrands it as KnowledgePlanet Content. In April 2001
click2learn http://www.click2learn.com
acquired Intelliprep releasing Aspen Enterprise Learning Platform in September
2001 with Intelliprep functionality integrated into the platform as the Aspen
Learning Experience Server.
The
IDC white paper "The Learning Content Management System - A New eLearning
Market Segment Emerges" has an excellent diagram showing LMS-LCMS
Integration into a Learning Ecosystem. (This paper is available as a free
download from LCMS vendor Knowledge Mechanic's web site http://www.knowledgemechanics.com).
I recommend it!
LCMS
Vendors
I've
mentioned a few of the vendors above but thought many of you may want to see a
more. The following links provide opportunity for further exploration of the
LCMS field:
Summary
Its
a challenging time for a new e-learning technology to emerge. Caution,
conservatism and reduced spending are the primary business modalities of the
day. Traditionally when times get tough like this training and learning are the
first areas to be cut back, especially if they are budgeted as a corporate
overhead expense. Timeframes for Return On Investment from e-learning
initiatives have shifted from long term to short term - next 3-6 months.
But
in my view now is the time to reconsider those traditional views of training and
learning. Now is the time for use of e-learning to enhance sales. Now is the
time to leverage staff expertise for competitive advantage. If nothing else now
is the time to define a corporate e-learning strategy and have it ready for
implementation as the economic pendulum swings the other way.
Paul Stacey is Director of Corporate
Education at the Technical University of British Columbia http://www.techbc.ca,
a long time education professional in the high tech private sector, and the
Canadian Correspondent for LearningWeek Live http://www.learningweek.com
an interactive webcast from New York featuring stories about the people,
technology and business of learning. Contact: Paul
Stacey
What Do You Think? Talk Back To Paul Stacey
E-Learning: An
opinionated monthly column exploring the current use,
future potential, and commercial value of e-learning in
BC’s high tech sector.
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