LMS is a learning management system .This is a precise definition and also the literal translation of the break-up of the acronym: Learning Management System .
It is a software that, more than supporting the learning process , hosts an online course.The program, usually accessed via the cloud, supports several content formats: text, image, audio, video, tests, among others.
With the LMS, a user can take a course (either training, extension, technical, undergraduate or graduate ) without leaving home.Or leaving, but being in the place you want, as long as you have access to the internet and a device that allows you to access the system .
Learning management systems lms training are mainly used by educational institutions to offer students the possibility of taking distance courses , which are increasingly common around the world.
But also for professionals who want to earn extra income by creating an online course in which they teach their knowledge to users.
In recent years, the use of the LMS has been more frequent by large companies looking for more economical and efficient ways to train their employees .
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What Is An LMS Platform?
LMS is therefore a category of software that hosts online courses . The LMS platform is the software itself, developed by a particular company.
For example, if we talk about an operating system, it is a program that manages all the resources of a computer or other electronic device.Within this category, there are several operating systems such as Windows, macOS and Linux.
It’s the same thing with LMS platforms: there are several software, produced by different technology companies, vying for consumer preference.
Typically, the platform allows you to configure various levels of access between users who are enabled for a course.
These levels are basically divided into two large groups:
- Educators and managers: prepare courses, host the content, manage the list of students and permissions, evaluate the activities carried out, answer questions, etc.
- Students: have access to content, progress as they consume it, and complete hands-on activities to gain approval.
It is also common for the platform to enable students to interact with each other and with teachers , through chat, forum, conferences, video recording and audio.
There are LMS platforms that support live videos, which brings classes closer to traditional teaching carried out in the classroom.
Most of the time, however, the content is recorded and written in advance, so that the student can consult it on the day and at the time he wants.In addition to this flexibility in terms of schedules, the distance learning modality with the LMS allows great mobility .
That’s because many platforms have apps for tablets and smartphones, so you don’t have to be on your computer to study.
What Is An E-Learning Platform?
The word e-learning comes from electronic learning , or electronic learning .At first, it leads to the understanding that it is a broader term than LMS, as it can characterize any 100% distance learning method.
However, it is understood that when we talk about e-learning, we are not referring to an English class via Skype, for example.
And yes to a distance learning that obeys a methodology .Thus, there is not much difference, mainly because the platforms used in e-learning are generally considered LMS .
In short: e-learning platform and LMS platform are practically synonymous.
According to her, in a video published on the platform’s website , representatives of Pasadena City College and Sierra College stated that, with Canvas, they were able to change their focus.
Without having to focus so much effort on training professionals to use the tool, they were able to focus on how to teach better online .
That is, thanks to the easy usability of Canvas, the main concern of universities has become more conceptual, so that the learning experience is better and better – precisely the objective of the Online Education Initiative.
The number of institutions worldwide using the Canvas platform jumped from 3,000 to 4,000 worldwide and became a leader in deployments in the United States for the first time in 2018.
What Is Distance Learning Or Distance Learning?
You must have seen somewhere the offer of a course in the EaD modality, right?This acronym simply means distance learning, which is what we have been talking about so far: the possibility of studying without leaving your home .
It is a teaching modality that has been growing gradually, along with the popularization of internet access and mobile devices, in addition to the increase in connection speed.
The first software used in distance learning was quite simple.
Teachers just shared materials for reading, made themselves available to ask questions and applied tasks.
To supply the dynamism of a traditional class, it was common to have, once a month, a face-to-face class.
This mixed model between distance and face-to-face learning is called blended learning by some .
As it has a limited universe of possibilities, this type of distance learning was more applied in course subjects than in an entire course.
As streaming technology evolved and it became easier to produce and share videos, this scenario changed.
It was observing this movement that technology companies developed LMS systems , which are fundamental for offering a course in the distance learning modality.
As they are complete platforms and thanks to the fact that new generations of students are already born acculturated to digital , universities have expanded the offer of distance education courses.
What Is AVA?
In the universe of platforms used in distance learning, you may come across the acronym AVA.
It means Virtual Learning Environment , and is also used in the Spanish language – Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizaje.
Some say that it is just the equivalent term in Portuguese for LMS, but the truth is that the term Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) also exists, which is, in literal translation, the same thing as AVA.
As there is no set of official rules that define what an LMS is and what an AVA is, it is very difficult to establish the differences, as the two systems can be, in fact, very similar.
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