A learning management system in education typically comes with several different components that help facilitate distance learning. With that in mind, it's not surprising that online colleges and universities rely on this kind of platform to facilitate their curriculum and development. The major components of the typical LMS include the following: Communication and Collaboration: An LMS can facilitate communication between students and instructors by providing forums, chat rooms, and other tools for interaction. Winstead adds that, in addition, many LMS platforms include collaboration tools that allow students to work together on projects or assignments. "These tools can be especially beneficial for distance learners who may not have opportunities to meet in person," says Winstead. Course Content Management: Winstead says an LMS provides a "central repository" for all course-related materials, making it easy for students to access syllabi, readings, lecture notes, and other resources. "Instructors can also use the LMS to post announcements and assignments, track deadlines, and manage deadlines," he says.
Student Progress Tracking: An LMS can also help educators track student progress and activity in one place. Winstead says that, for example, most LMS platforms include activity logs that show when students log in and what they do while they are logged in. "Some LMS platforms also include quiz and assignment tools that allow instructors to track student performance on specific tasks," notes the expert.