Abstract
This chapter explains what course management systems (CMS) are, lists the features of the most popular CMS, describes the advantages and disadvantages of CMS, reviews the literature on the effectiveness of learning with CMS communication tools, and discusses the future of CMS. It discusses how CMS have become an important means of computer mediated communication in higher education. CMS are not only used for distance education courses, but for traditional courses as well. Increasingly, many teaching faculty are integrating CMS to enhance communication in the traditional class making it a hybrid course. CMS provide instructors the ability to enable various modes of communication to simulate the same experience as a real classroom. The author hopes that this chapter will provide information about what CMS can do now, and what they will perceivably do in the future.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Distance Education (Learning): Off-campus teaching and learning.
Networked Learning Environment: See course management systems.
Hybrid Course: A course that blends physical meetings with online learning.
Online Course: A course delivered via the Internet.
Whiteboard: a CMS tool that is an electronic workspace for drawing, capturing notes, viewing PowerPoint slides.
Virtual Learning Environment: See course management systems.
Networked Learning Environment: See course management systems.
Traditional Course: A course that physically meets at the same time and place.
Course Management Systems: A software package that facilitates learning in a Web-based environment by providing a set of educational and administrative tools.
Online Course: A course delivered via the Internet.
Hybrid Course: A course that blends physical meetings with online learning.
Distance Education (Learning): Off-campus teaching and learning.
Traditional Course: A course that physically meets at the same time and place.
Whiteboard: a CMS tool that is an electronic workspace for drawing, capturing notes, viewing PowerPoint slides.
Virtual Learning Environment: See course management systems.
Course Management Systems: A software package that facilitates learning in a Web-based environment by providing a set of educational and administrative tools.