At a recent LMS (e.g. Blackboard, WebCT, Moodle, Janson) day they discussed future directions for the company that involve integrating Web 2.0 features (such as wikis, blogs and ePortfolios) into their LMS; to focus on the student and community aspect of learning. I would expect most of the LMS companies will be working hard on how to incorporate Web 2.0 into their products.
To me the thought of a LMS with Web 2.0 evokes very strong negative feelings. But I am lucky because if I want use Web 2.0 with my students I just go ahead:
- I don’t have to shield them from the Internet (issues for some schools)
- There are no intellectual property issues (issues for some Universities)
- Web 2.0 web sites are not being blocked (issues for some TAFEs)
My thoughts
If I am going to use Web 2.0 tools to encourage collaboration and social interaction, then I want it to be on the open Internet, where my students can gain from the benefit of mass collaboration with a global audience not locked behind closed doors, in a LMS, where collaboration is limited to class members.
Web 2.0 tools for e-learning
Check out:
- Richard MacManus article e-learning: All you need to know
- Josh Catone’s article Web 2.0 Backpack: Web Apps for students
Final point
I am NOT anti LMS. The LMS I use is an important part of my e-learning program for remote students. It is just at this point in time, for my purposes, I am not interested in using Web 2.0 tools in an LMS however I can understand why this is a desired feature for others.
Sue Waters 
Leave a comment