Building an effective learning management system

Abstract

The designer of a subject was involved in creating a learning management system for use by 1400 students, in several countries with varying delivery modes, educational requirements and different technology infrastructures. The learning management system described currently consists of a CD-Rom, a Web site and a textbook. The product is utilised not only by the learner, but also as a support to the facilitators of the learning. Database concepts need to be adopted to ensure that the subject stored resources acquire the attributes of a relational database. A number of advantages are provided by way of storing educational components in a Web site as reusable objects. The system is a work in progress. There will be a resultant reduction in the redundancy of knowledge components of the subject and an improvement in the production time for online courses. This paper will discuss the process involved in the development of this learning management system. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.