This is an easy to read article on LMS. I particularily like Cecilie Murray take on Why use an LMS?
Working part time as an elearning Resource Officer for Catholic Education Melbourne, my role is to train teachers how to use our LMS called myclasses (Thursday/Frdays). When our LMS is "forced" upon teachers usually by leadership it tends not to be seen as a tool to enhance, extend and compliment learning already taking place in a teachers classrooms. Why is important before teachers start using an LMS in their classrooms as opposed to just another thing to manage!!! From experience teachers need to see the value otherwise it is not used effectively e.g not just for instance, an access to resources. True use of an LMS should also encourage collaboration, creativity and higher-order thinking.
"The most important question for any school to consider is ‘Why do we want a learning management system?’ The clearer the school is about this, the more effective the decision will be, and the more likely it is to gain commitment from all users, particularly teachers.
Learning management systems are most effective when the needs of the learner and teacher are clearly understood within a learning culture, and where they form the core from which all other activities and developments evolve. Just having a system is not the answer. The key to success with all educational technologies is to enhance the confidence and commitment of learners, teachers, leaders and other users with adequate training, technical support and professional development. "
http://www.vitta.org.au/pubs/infonet/view.php?id=190
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I agree that there needs to be a clear idea on what it is the school community wants from an LMS. I have multiple experiences from schools where the decision has been made to have an LMS mainly it seems for the sake of having one. That is there is no expectations or clear guidelines on how the system will be used by all members of the school community. As such the system is left as a place where a couple of IT teachers have placed some online resources and some students have used as a chat forum on popular issues, such as bands/formal dresses/parties etc. It is clear that teachers know that we have the system but are reluctant to use it because their is little support in how to create and maintain a valid education tool.
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