Course Management System (CMS) in Elementary Schools

1. Course Management System (CMS)in Elementary Schools Kaywana Hampson

2. "Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.“ – Rabbinical Saying-

3. What is CMS? A Course Management System is a web-based application that is “designed to manage course content and course activities” (Ioannou & Hannafin, 2008). It provides teachers and students with tools that facilitate the learning experience. Synonymous Terms: Course Management System (CMS) Learning Management System (LMS)

4. Examples of CMS Moodle Moodle is a Free web application that educators can use to create effective online learning sites. http://moodle.org/ RCampusRCampus is a comprehensive Education Management System and a collaborative learning environment. http://www.rcampus.com

5. CMS A highly-secured learning environment Why would I use a CMS? Promotes self-paced learning C M S Class resources are in a central location Use of digital resources Administer assessments & assignments online Track student’s progress Manage grade book and attendance

6. Additional Features of CMS • Password protection • Discussion forums • Embedded videos • Document uploads • Top-down e-mail • Online chat • Online quizzes • Drop Box • Wikis and Blogs • Parental communication • Glossary • e-Portfolios

7. Pedagogical Benefits of CMS Promotes Independent Learning Promotes Collaborative Learning Multimedia environment promotes the use of 21st century tools. Facilitates Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication Teacher facilitates the learning process Immediate feedback to students’ needs

8. Benefits of CMS on Students - (Young, Birtolo, & McElman, 2009) • Learning is flexibly paced – students can log on anytime and anywhere. • Engaging course materials. • Students receive individualized attention from teachers. • Students are given opportunities to become leaders. • The environment promotes social responsibility. • Students develop problem-solving, communication, and creative collaboration skills. • Students master academic concepts while using 21st century tools.

9. Questions ??? Why should we consider or use this program? The program eases the current day-to-day tasks performed by teachers giving teachers more time to focus on facilitating the learning process. CMS also supports effective reporting. Teachers are also able to store their lessons online for easy retrieval. As a life-long learner you will develop new skills. How much will it cost? As a school, It would be best to look at the open-source or free CMS available for download over the Internet and chose the one that best meets the needs of teachers and students. How difficult is it to setup? Setting up the CMS will take some time and requires very little technical knowledge; the system is user-friendly and will help you in the process.

10. Questions ??? Is our computer lab adequate? Yes, the lab is adequate to meet the technical and functional requirements. It will take some planning to have all classes scheduled for additional lab time. Will we have to put all our classes online? Having all classes online is the ultimate goal. Initially it is recommended that you try the system with one class, while adding more classes as you and your students become more comfortable. Who will train us to use the system? The school’s IT personnel will provide interactive sessions to train all teachers. Teachers, with IT assistance will then train students. Additionally, tutorial videos, and discussion boards are available online to help you through the process.

11. Questions ??? Isn’t Online Learning Distance Learning? Online learning is typically thought of as distance learning in the form of a course taught mostly on the Internet rather than in a traditional classroom. . . . Through Web-enhanced classroom education, a traditional classroom setting becomes the forum for an online learning experience. Instructors lead students in both guided and self-directed sessions, where the Internet is used to maximize the exposure to the content area they are studying. The technology is integrated into daily instruction, supplementing traditional instruction. - Hargis, J., & Schofield, K. (2007).

12. References Hargis, J., & Schofield, K. (2007). Integrating Online Learning into Elementary Classrooms. In P. Adamson, B. Adamson, & N. Clausen-Grace, et al (Eds.), What Works in K-12 Online Learning (pp. 33-47). Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education. Ioannou, A., & Hannafin, R. D. (2008a). Course management systems: Time for users to get what they need. TechTrends, 52(1), 46–50. Simonson, M. (2007). Course Management Systems. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 8(1), 8-9. Young, J., Birtolo, P., & McElman, R. (2009). Virtual success: Transforming education through online learning. Learning & Leading with Technology,36(5), 12–17.

13. Closing Thought “As educators, if we want to create a dynamic learning environment to serve future students, we must listen to what students are saying about what excites and motivates them. We must start by changing our approach to how we deliver education and instruction. We must nurture students and give them opportunities to explore, learn, and create. Education must offer students a chance to achieve their dreams”. - (Young, Birtolo, & McElman, 2009)

14. Moodle Presentation Example