LMS Alternatives

Colgate's Moodle learning management system (LMS) isn't the only way to work with a class. An LMS is designed to provide management, control, content, and educational features in a single platform, but some of its features will be lacking in comparison to other tools. For example, Moodle provides a built-in wiki activity, but one that doesn't provide all the features and usability of MediaWiki (WikiPedia's software) or PBWorks (a free, on-line wiki service). Furthermore, the LMS control features create "silos" based on courses and semesters which are sometimes counterproductive to an individual's educational process. So why not try something else?

One basic trade-off when deciding to use an alternative to Moodle is functionality versus management and control. With an LMS you know that you can add content and conduct activities with access and participation limited to your students. That control is built into the system, and we provide the enrollments so you need not manage the participants. But if you are willing to take on more of that management role, there are tremendous collaborative features available in Google Docs, Google Sites, PBWorks, Blogger, and other "cloud" platforms that might improve your interactions with students.

Another trade-off with these alternatives is the consistency provided by a standard LMS. When you use another, better tool, your students will not necessarily be familiar with the features and use of that software. They may require some specialized support, much of which will fall on you.

With all this in mind, ITS is working on tools which make it easier for a professor to manage external resources. For instance, we soon hope to be able to easily create Google Groups for your classes; Groups can be used to make sharing of Google resources, such as Docs and Sites, much simpler for professor and student. Also in the planning stages are tools to let you create class lists which can make it easier for you to share other on-line resources with your current students. In the support area, we may be able to create specialized student documentation or instruction for alternatives to Moodle (e.g., we already have some basic instructions for using Google Docs for class assignments).

Instructional technologists are happy to work with you on creating and managing collaborative environments outside the LMS. Alternatives to Moodle might include:

• document submission, markup, and return using Google Docs
• class writing and response using Blogger
• collaborative knowledge creation and exchange using Google Sites or wikis
• creation of a simple, collaborative class web presence using Google Sites

...dan wheeler
lead instructional technologist
moodle system administrator