Assignment #9 - Learning Management Systems

-Create a page with an overview of the assignment, at least different 3 links, and a task that students complete to demonstrate their knowledge- you can do more if you want of course!

-Post link to your blog with a reflection of how you might use this as a tool in your class or learning environment

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A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of e-learning education courses or training programs.[1]

I have been using a Learning Management System  with the homeschool class I am teaching with my niece and nephew, and it has been a great help!  My own daughter's teacher uses a Wikispace with her class.  When I saw the function of that online space, I decided I would like to try it out for my class.  Because we don't have a formal classroom where I can post student work on the wall or write on the whiteboard, I have had to find ways to adapt the methods I would normally use in a traditional classroom situation.  The Wikispace provides a "location" where I can organize and administer class objectives, assignments, and discussions.

Some things I love about using a LMS:

• Endless Resources - When I'm doing lesson preparation, I find dozens of useful links, videos, and resources that I'm dying to share with my students.  
• Visual Lesson Plan - As I organize the lesson on a "page" I have a visual representation of the flow of the class.  I can determine if my lesson will have the pacing, direction, and appeal I'm aiming for.  
• Excitement of Technology - When I'm finished with my preparation, I feel relaxed and excited to share the lesson with my students.  I can't wait to have them use a new online tool or to watch their discussion boxes appear.
• Managing Resources - I can store all of the links, videos, photos, and other resources in one place as I find them. They are ready when I need them. Plus I can revise and reuse the lesson plans easily.

Some things that I don't love about using a LMS:

• There are so many great things to share, I spend time just browsing and wishing I could try everything with my students.  I need to focus focus focus!
• Having to log in to a site is a hassle.  I've had students forget their password or have trouble logging in, and it prevents them from participating fully in the class.  Login troubles are a solid excuse for a young person to not do something.  
• Nothing can replace the value face-to-face teacher-student interaction.  Some people just don't learn well from a screen.
• The spontaneity of classroom teaching feels slightly diminished.  Maybe this is an aspect where I just need more practice in the presentation, but it sometimes feels like the structure of a lesson is so "programmed" that the quirky tangents and unplanned, memorable tidbits of a "human" lesson have no place to emerge.

As I said, I've been using Wikispaces, but in our EdTech class we were introduced to haikulearning.com, a LMS for e-learning education courses.   I like many of the features on the application, including the assessment tools and the ease of managing the text boxes.  I'm sure with more time I could create a really great learning space in the future. But for now, I will repeat my mantra ("Focus focus focus").

My Haiku Class about Engineering Design Process

If access to the link is blocked, here are some screen shots.

(Here are some photos of the "hands-on" part of the lesson.)