The tools ofelearning today contain many types of platforms. The modules vary according to their functionalities. The LCMS is one of the pillars of Digital learning. Let's take a look at the definition, concept and functionalities.
The links between LMS and LCMS
The LMS and the LCMS are two different but closely linked platforms.
- The LMS : this English acronym stands for Learning Management System. In other words, it is a online learning support system. This platform facilitates the management of content and the process related to training. We speak here of a system to refer to the software used.</li>
- The LCMS: it combines the CMS or Content Management System and the LMS. LCMS is the abbreviation for Learning Content Management System:
- Learning : it is used to create educational content for e-learning.
- Content : this includes all work media, including texts, audio files, videos, images or others.
- Management : it manages all the data in order to be better organized internally.
- System : this is the software put in place.
By definition, it is a program for creating educational content. In other words, The LCMS is focused on the content part of the training. In general, it rules out the possibility of sending invitations, monitoring progress or awarding certificates, except in exceptional cases.
The main differences:
Both the LMS and the LCMS work in the world of digital learning. Like the LMS, the LCM supports teacher training within an organization. In principle, it has pretty much the same functionalities as an LMS. The difference is in terms of practicality. LCMS is generally used in creating and organizing content for online learning.
- The LMS is focused on the transmission of all kinds of learning content. LCMS, for their part, extend their field of application to the creation of training content. They share a few things in common with other creative solutions. Both have a content management system that allows administrators to develop and manage data. They have a platform with multiple users to optimize interaction between participants and exchange tools. One stocktaking is also available to list all learning materials.
Why would you need an LCMS?
The LMS manages all the activities inherent to the development organization. It acts mainly at the professional and personal level, for companies or organizations, and especially for employees. This can be a tedious task if you do them yourself.
You can do without another content management system if you have an LCMS. Content creation and management are an integral part of the activities of the online educational platform. You will no longer need to obtain software to transmit your training or your online materials.
LCMS can offer you more privileges. Like LMSs, they help you reduce the time spent on management and enrollment. They give you the opportunity to focus on other tasks. In this way, you can reduce your human resources and related costs. Better content creation is ensured.
LCMS users
The instructional designer is the first to be concerned with the use of LCMS. Indeed, it is up to him to create content in the system. The functionalities of the LCMS allow developers to create content. They can be customized to fit the needs of learners, according to content managers and groups who want unique learning elements. These types of commercial issues, which are sometimes difficult to solve, can easily be resolved through the use of an LCMS. Even if there are other technologies that have the same functionality, make sure that the power of instructional design remains important.
The LCMS and the authoring tool
The apprentices Digital Learning Managers are often faced with a dilemma that is sometimes difficult to solve: choose between the LCMS and an authoring tool. Many argue that the LCMS is an improved authoring tool.
Before answering this problem, it is important to recall the sources of each of these programs. The creators of the authoring tools aimed to provide a solution to trainers who wanted to create internal content. In a way, they wanted to do without computer skills. The objective of the authoring tool is thus to reduce the internal process. The famous triptych composed of the trainer, the computer scientist and the graphic designer is replaced by the trainer. The removal of the computer scientist worked perfectly, because the authoring tool skilfully takes on this role. As far as the graphic designer is concerned, eliminating him from the equation is more or less questionable. Indeed, to obtain a professional result, the company sometimes uses freelancers. In some cases, it uses a creation portal. This one mainly concerns e-learning modules.
In a way, author tools have accelerated the democratization of e-learning production. However, some questions then arose, in particular those concerning the management, harmonization and evolution of this entire educational subject. Many question whether cooperation with more conventional training materials, such as PowerPoint slideshows, is really necessary. In entities where online training has quickly become established, managing this type of problem has become more and more difficult.
The publishers of e-learning techniques have thus created new products, namely software that makes it possible to create content as an amateur tool. The organizational dimension is also an important parameter.
Some argue that the LCMS definition is nothing more than an LMS that has an authoring tool. Rather, it is an authoring tool with collaborative management functionality. The LCMS is more like an application focused on the training team. Today, there are LCMS that incorporate more functionalities than managing creative projects. Some try to combine those addressed to face-to-face training.
