Next Generation

Next-generation course management systems (CMS) are likely to take advantage of today’s applications’ structural and pedagogical limitations, supporting student and inter-collegiate collaboration. They should also be influenced by developments in social software and pre-existing information-sharing projects. CMS will reach out to the larger world to integrate with global informatics initiatives.

Conceptualizing a New CMS Design

This chapter discusses the characteristics and requirements for the Next Generation of Course Management System (CMS). The chapter begins with a survey of the current CMS systems elaborating on understanding the current CMS user interface design, understanding the next generation of CMS users, and understanding the forthcoming models for future courses and degree programs. The chapter concludes with painting a picture of the next generation of CMS software environment being characterized as offering smart services, featuring advanced controls, and offering comprehensive software environment.

CMS Portfolios for Learning and Evaluation

In the chapter we discuss how higher education can support learning and evaluation by use of portfolios as an integrated functionality in course management systems (CMS). A theoretical rationale for a portfolio approach in support of deeper learning is provided by a brief outline of relevant aspects of constructivist theory of learning and its process-oriented focus on formative evaluation in a group context, as opposed to the traditional emphasis on summative evaluation in terms of final exams. The use of portfolios as a method to realize such a focus is explained, along with visualisations of an instantiation of the associated CMS functionality.

Frameworks for CMS Design and Evaluation

In recent years, institutions of higher education have been migrating to the Web for instruction in record numbers. While Web-based course management systems (CMS) offer many exciting possibilities for instructors and students, their efficacy in terms of teaching and learning has not been thoroughly evaluated. This chapter explores the inherent capabilities and limitations of five models of conceptual frameworks for the design of CMS. The chapter concludes with a discussion of CMS evaluation instruments, advice for instructors transitioning to CMS, and a call for more research in this growing area.

Libraries, Information, and Course Management Systems

Content owned or licensed by academic libraries, such as electronic journals, art image databases, and digital videos, provides a means to enhance curricula and allow for deeper learning by students. Lack of interoperability between library systems and course management systems (CMS) limits the use of library content within CMS. Learning environments, CMS, and institutional repositories must all interoperate since content can be used in many ways in both research and learning. Librarians can also add value to CMS if their virtual services — such as reference and information literacy — are integrated into the CMS. The content of CMS raises many policy issues which must be addressed by institutions.

Over the Rainbow

Next generation course management systems must represent a convergence of the needs and perspectives of all of those who are engaged in the teaching and learning experience. To represent these points of view, we imagine one scenario in which four roles are enacted: instructional designer, traditional student, non-traditional student, and faculty member. This chapter draws on research and theory to illustrate the convergence between content-, learning-, and knowledge- management systems as well as processes managed by both learner and instructor.

The CMS as Shapeshifter, Catalyst, and Engaging Learning Tool

Content management systems (CMS) have been purposed for different tasks on our campuses and are in danger of becoming all things to all people. In our discussion we re-evaluate those aspects of a CMS that appear to make the greatest impact on teaching and learning. While a CMS may do duty as a vessel for containing and interacting with content, we see its greatest appeal and persuasion in its availability to all learners and teachers and its potential to transform itself according to a user’s need. By separately analyzing common uses and current applications of a CMS, we identify the tools and components of a CMS that offer the most promise in the future.

Putting Course Management Systems Behind Us

The course management systems developed in the mid-to-late 90s helped get instructors online and partially automated course administration services in ways that saved time and effort. But the course administration function is not central to the deeper problems of providing more universal access to learning and making learning more effective. Furthermore, service-oriented architectures are starting to dominate the information technology infrastructure landscape. This chapter discusses the author’s personal history with developing a course management system and speculates how the functionality needed to support online learning is being taken apart and might be put back together.

The Use of Database-Driven Web Pages to Increase the Functionality of Current Online Learning Technology

Online learning and course management systems are central to learning universities and colleges, and a model that blends face-to-face learning with distance education can combine benefits of the rich human learning relationships with the benefits of flexibility of where and when students learn. A large number of universities and colleges are adopting a blended model of learning. In the past, online interactions between learners generally have taken the form of text-based discussion forums, and while these have been used with great success in many courses, there are other interactions that have been difficult or impossible to undertake online. Database-driven Web sites were developed to make these interactions possible. Database-driven Web pages or collaborative, user-produced, Internet documents (CUPIDs) represent an innovation in online learning that allows learners to add, remove and edit the content of a Web page and/or upload files. As the data are input via Web forms, no programming skills are required. The data from the forms are processed by the database and the Web page is then rebuilt by the database. In this way, the database constructs or “drives” the Web page. CUPIDs have been used to facilitate a range of online interactions between learners in subjects at the University of Wollongong. The subjects all employ a model that blends face-to-face and online components. As well, learners may be distributed geographically between the five campuses of the university. The examples are: a Collaborative Online Glossary (COG); a Collaborative Online Reporting (COR); an Online Student Collected and Annotated Resources (OSCAR); as well as, a Collaborative Online Movie Review (COMR). By fostering new types of online interactions, CUPIDs provide greater functionality to online collaboration and open the door to a host of activities that are new to collaboration, online or otherwise and hence have a place in online learning of the future.

Pushing the Envelope

This chapter describes how course management systems (CMS) can be utilized to support learner-centered practices and meaningful learning in distributed or online learning environments. Specifically, the chapter provides: (1) a pedagogically-oriented classification of the features and components of CMS enabling the online course developer to comprehensively understand the pedagogical potential of a CMS; and (2) a framework that explicitly demonstrates how to design authentic learning tasks using the features and components of CMS to create course designs and distributed learning interactions that engage students in meaningful learning.