Learning Management Systems: Building the Infrastructure for Instructional Delivery and

Other Learning Innovations

Learning management systems. Infrastructure. Instructional delivery. Learning innovations. Such

big words in the world of education. But in our world, education is just another small piece that
completes a larger picture of our world. In our world where around 7 billion people roaming
around the planet, diversity of systems is not an uncommon norm. Systems in every culture
exists because these systems serve as our torch so that we can see what must be seen, understand
what must be understood, and gain what must be gained. Systems are created to light the
pathways of unsearchable truths. In education, systems exist to enlighten the minds and the
hearts of every educator to be guided in their journey to deliver learning to our stakeholders.
One of the systems created in the education sector is the learning management system (LMS).
What exactly is learning management system?

Learning means delivery of education.

Management means an organization of how learning is delivered.
System is a computer network platform.

MANAGEM E
NT

SYST
EM

Learning
management
system is a
software
program
which helps
educators
manage and
deliver
elearning to
students.
That
includes
monitoring,
tracking,
assessing,
and
evaluating elearning.

The popularity of using technology, soft wares, web applications, and even social networking
sites and integrating them as educational tools has been increasingly expanding every minute of
the day. Educators continue to explore more possibilities of creating or building online teaching
platforms to provide all people the education they need to conquer the world. Such famous
applications which can be converted into a teaching tool are Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and
etc.
Given the resources like cloud-based applications, social networking sites, and other soft wares,
knowledgeable teacher can now create platforms or technology infrastructure for instructional
delivery. But there are more important factors to consider in creating infrastructure for learning
in which these factors are interconnected components of a larger scale of complexities. For
schools, universities, and colleges who are offering online education, or distance education, or
blended learning, they must understand how the entire system works and delivered. And how
these systems are interconnected to other services which are also essential in safeguarding
quality and effective learning must be given equal attention as well. Such interconnected of
components is shown below.

It can be gleaned from the image that the centrality of the learning management system in the
delivery of the curriculum makes it the brain and heart of a new learning innovation and a new

platform for instructional delivery. It is the key to realize all that is related and connected to the
curriculum.

Lets begin with the learning outcomes which include the content and the pedagogy. The content
is what the students are supposed to learn, gain, and achieve. The pedagogy is how the content is
effectively learned, gained, or achieved.
Next is the courseware development team which creates the instructional design, does the
editing, visual design, multimedia, templates, guidelines, look and feel, and copyright. These
considerations on the aesthetic of the LMS are closely connected to the curriculum, the content,
and the pedagogy. The curriculum, being the core of learning, can be delivered via learning
management system. The curriculum that is delivery online must still connive to the mission,
vision, goals, and objectives of the school offering such online education.
The question on where resources should come from must also be included in the LMS. There
must also be a library which serves as the center of digital resources and the on-line gateway of
limitless learning resources. The LMS must be connected or offer other learning object
repositories. However, it must be kept in mind that not all sources are reliable. Not all sources
are credible. Not all sources are real. In this connection, other repositories must be reviewed,
thoroughly analyzed, and strictly filtered before introducing them to our students.
In case of queries, there must also be services like advising, registry, helpdesk, exams, etc. In this
part of the LMS, it is vital that someone is closely monitoring the feedback, the queries of the
clients because it contributes to the effectiveness of the system the abruptness of answers to
queries. Customer satisfaction must also be considered because the students are our customers.
They are the one whom our services are made. Students can be discouraged in cases where
delayed responses are encountered. Inversely, students satisfaction can also be traced to the
immediate feedback given by the LMS.

Learning management systems must benefit students not only on the aspect of learning but also
on the side of social networking. This means that part of the learning management system should
consider the inclusion of students working collaboratively or interactively engaged in some
activities like debate, discussion forums, or video conferencing. This could be possible with the
use of cloud-based applications like Moodle, Edmodo, Blackboard, Google Classroom, and
WebCT. Such situation can only be realized with a secured server. One that is protected. One that
is a fast internet provider.
Students can connect to the LMS by simply logging in to the users portal in which once
authenticated students can have access to all related services of the LMS, and such portal can
also be linked to online resources and services.
Quality assurance is another consideration. Quality assurance can be achieved by quality
assessment process. Such assessment process may include evaluation on the effectiveness of the
system, performance of the students, learning outcomes, instructional delivery, and even
aesthetic value of the LMS. Based on the results of the assessment, actions will be framed,
adjustments will be done, and corrective measures will be taken.

Overall, the choice of LMS depends largely on the needs the needs of the curriculum, the needs

of the students, the needs of the school, and the needs of the society. Next is the availability of
qualified staff and instructors. Another is the implications on the conduct of learning
management system. Finally, the factors on the development of a system, operability, and
reusability of online content must be kept in mind.