Introduction
Learning management systems (LMS) are efficient and beneficial for an educational organization to adopt to optimize many aspects of administration, learning delivery, and reporting which are an essential part of its functioning. To determine the best LMS, it can be helpful to conduct a thorough analysis using such techniques as SWOT. This report will seek to analyze and compare open-access and proprietary types of LMS for the public educational setting.
Open-Access LMS
Moodle is one of the most popular open-source learning platforms. It is a robust and integrated system that focuses on creating a learning environment. The system is designed to create virtual classrooms viable for both teaching and learning processes through a variety of interactive tools, fostering collaboration, and communication between students and instructors. The system is relatively flexible and can be customized to the needs of the organization, such as scaling to include thousands of users and additional administrative functionalities. Furthermore, Moodle offers data security and user privacy, with security controls available to system administrators (Moodle, n.d.).
SWOT
- Strengths: Moodle is highly integrated and adaptive. It offers security and privacy options. Allows creating virtual classrooms and a variety of materials and activities targeted at learning processes.
- Weaknesses: The platform offers few administrative options. Some of the additional features are hidden behind a paid subscription. May not be suitable for all learning styles and distracting for students when conducting online lessons. Few options to develop a custom interface or options for the school district as the platform is open-sourced and public.
- Opportunities: The system can be expanded to include a large number of courses, students, and instructors within one integrated platform. A strong developer community is available for problem resolution and the creation of plugins and improvements that can introduce new features.
- Threats: Implementing such a large system as Moodle is complex, requiring time, resources, training, and integration with existing databases. As an open-source platform, it may undergo specific changes, not be readily accepted by educators, and be outperformed by other LMS systems. However, transitioning away from Moodle will be problematic in any case.
Proprietary LMS
Blackboard is a leading proprietary LMS for all levels of education. It offers a highly secure and extensive learning environment that includes everything from virtual classrooms with personalized teaching to communication and administration aspects. It can be combined with student databases, offers mobile applications, includes a mass notification system. Blackboard can also be modified to an extent to create custom interfaces or features that a school district requires, including adding unique branding (Blackboard, n.d.).
SWOT
- Strengths: Blackboard offers a high quality of code and structure as a propriety intellectual platform. It is readily integrated with student information systems and other administrative protocols. It offers product and service innovation as well as customized support for its clients.
- Weaknesses: There are high initial and upkeep costs. Dependence on internet connection and software for learning which may be subject to failure and requires additional infrastructure from the district.
- Opportunities: Reform the district educational system to a highly efficient, technological platform that will fulfill all educational and administrative needs. This creates a potential for positive impacts and financial savings in the future as classes and materials can become optimized.
- Threats: Potential the platform will not be accepted by students and educators. The potential for cheating or distractions while learning. Threats to teacher jobs in online education (Hande, 2014).
Comparison and Selection
Both Moodle and Blackboard are comprehensive LMS platforms that offer a variety of benefits. As an open cost LMS, Moodle is freely distributed and offers few initial costs. However, to scale it to the levels of a whole district with tens of thousands of users, will require additional payment, which strongly negates the significant advantage it holds over Blackboard.
According to Rafi, Samsudin, and Hanafi (2015), open access LMS platforms are meant for small organizations or a limited number of members due to lower risk and can be challenging to implement on a large scale. The Moodle platform is a helpful tool in online interactive studies which can be combined with traditional classroom pedagogy, but it lacks the in-depth enhancement and complete digitalization of the learning process. Commercial LMS is more suited for organizations that do not directly work in the technology field and will require external support staff for management since open-source LMS inherently requires contribution and internal management of the system (Ülker & Yilmaz, 2016).
Studies conducted to determine the preference of users between Blackboard and Moodle indicate that although performance and efficiency remain similar, Blackboard presents a more intuitive, satisfactory, and flexible usage. However, the usability of Blackboard can be improved by adopting cloud technology and enhance engagement through interactivity features (Aydin, Darwish, & Selvi, 2016). For the school district discussed in the previous assignment, it would be fitting to select the proprietary Blackboard LMS platform.
It offers extensively more features in addition to learning, such as security, communication, and the administration that the school district requires to be integrated within its central technological infrastructure. Blackboard administers significant support and guidance for its clients as well as an individual approach to optimize or customize interfaces. Its proprietary status ensures long-term cooperation with the district and provides numerous development opportunities.
Conclusion
Both Blackboard and Moodle offer extensive LMS services, with each having its benefits and weaknesses dependent on their proprietary and open-source status. A side-by-side comparison using SWOT is beneficial in determining the most efficient system. Blackboard is more fitting for comprehensive integration with school district requirements and administrative databases. It offers features that justify its initial and management costs in the long-term for the district.
References
Aydin, B., Darwish, M. M., & Selvi, E. (2016). The state-of-the-art matrix analysis for usability of learning management systems. Computers in Education Journal, 48-60. Web.
Blackboard. (n.d.). Blackboard for K-12. Web.
Hande S. (2014). Strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats of blended learning: students’ perceptions. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research, 4(3), 336-339. Web.
Moodle. (n.d.). About Moodle. Web.
Rafi, A., Samsudin, K., & Hanafi, H. F. (2015). Differences in perceived benefit, use, and learner satisfaction between open source LMS and proprietary LMS. In B. Gradinarova (Ed.), E-learning. Web.
Ülker, D., & Yilmaz, Y. (2016). Learning management systems and comparison of open source learning management systems and proprietary learning management systems. Journal of Systems Integration, 7(2), 18-24. Web.