An Overview of Learning Management Systems

An Overview of Learning Management Systems

Anthony A. Piña
Copyright: © 2010 |Pages: 19
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61520-853-1.ch001
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Abstract

In this chapter, the reader is taken through a macro level view of learning management systems, with a particular emphasis on systems offered by commercial vendors. Included is a consideration of the growth of learning management systems during the past decade, the common features and tools contained within these systems, and a look at the advantages and disadvantages that learning management systems provide to institutions. In addition, the reader is presented with specific resources and options for evaluating, selecting and deploying learning management systems. A section highlighting the possible advantages and disadvantages of selecting a commercial versus an open source system is followed by a series of brief profiles of the leading vendors of commercial and open source learning management systems.
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Lms Growth

The Campus Computing Project reported in 2002 that approximately three-quarters of all colleges and universities in the U.S. had adopted an LMS and that nearly one-fifth of all college courses used an LMS (Campus Computing Project, 2002). By 2006, LMS adoption had increased to 90% (Bassett & Burdt, 2006).

Bersin & Associates, researching industry trends in North American LMS usage, note that between the years 2004 and 2006, the LMS market enjoyed a growth of 26% and generated an estimated 480 million dollars in annual revenues (O’Leonard & Bersin, 2006). Data provided by Eduventures suggests that higher education institutions may have accounted for up to one-half of LMS revenues (Bassett & Burdt, 2006). Between 2006 and 2008, growth was a more modest 10.6%, likely due to market saturation and a slowing economy; however, 2009 revenues were projected to be at least 715 million (Bersin, Howard, O’Leonard & Mallon 2009).

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