TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

How Technology is Used to Support Human Resource Development Functions

HOW TECHNOLOGY IS USED TO SUPPORT HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONS

Introduction

A learning management system (LMS) is a set of integrated software services that organizes and supports online learning, education, and training. These systems usually provide content uploading and distribution, class administration, and discussion facilities (asynchronous threaded discussion and, less commonly, synchronous or 'chat' services). Some offer additional functionality such as assessment tools for online quizzing and testing; homework submission tools for managing the collection, grading, and redistribution of homework assignments to students in an online class; and student profiling to track the progress and performance of individual students using the system. LMSs are generally obtained in the form of a comprehensive software package that presents a unified graphical user interface (GUI) and a consistent method of navigation to guide the user through the system, and delivers these services through a browser connected to the World Wide Web (Web). (Cuéllar, Delgado & Pegalajar, 2010)

Learning management systems in corporate settings may include a catalog of course offerings, along with the ability to match training opportunities with particular job requirements or professional development goals.

Alternate definitions for LMS include:

Learning Management System is a broad term that is used for a wide range of systems that organize and provide access to online learning services for students, teachers, and administrators. These services usually include access control, provision of learning content, communication tools, and organizations of user groups. (Paulsen, M. F., 2002)

LMS (learning management system): Software that automates the administration of training events. The LMS registers users, tracks courses in a catalog, and records data from learners; it also provides reports to management. An LMS is typically designed to handle courses by multiple publishers and providers. It usually doesn't include its own authoring capabilities; instead, it focuses on managing courses created by a variety of other sources. (Kaplan-Leiserson, E., 2003)

The term LMS is predominantly used in the United States; in the United Kingdom the term virtual learning environment (VLE) is roughly comparable.

Background and Related Terms

The exact meaning of LMS is imprecise. Vendors include a wide range of services that differ from one LMS software package to the next. This inexactness is further complicated by variants on the term, such as learning content management system (LCMS), managed learning environment (MLE), course management system (CMS), and content management system (CMS). (Cavus and Momani, 2009)

Course Management System/Content Management System

Two widely used and, unfortunately, functionally related software systems share the same three-letter acronym. CMS could refer to a course management system or to a content management system. Content management systems typically focus on the content itself rather than the learner. They provide ways of entering, managing, distributing, and tracking the use of defined pieces of content (documents, images, files, or any other arbitrary collection of bits). They typically concentrate their attention on the workflow associated with the life cycle of digital content from ingestion (entrance into the system), through intellectual property management, revision, access control (selective distribution), and ...