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For a long time I've been looking for my ideal Learner Support System. It may well exist in the guise of an "Enterprise" system - but I want one that I can understand.
Here's what it needs to do:
- It needs to be as simple to install and upgrade as Moodle;
- It needs to allow users to add content to it - whether HTML pages, Word docs, PDFs, Exe modules, Articulate presentations etc;
- Each piece of content should be individually addressable;
- The metadata about each piece of content should be fully searchable;
- Users should be able to find content by searching and sorting, by faceted classification, and through automated recommendations (other people who used this also used X);
- Users should be able to leave comments and ratings against each item of content;
- Users should be able to link up with other users with similar interests/learning needs;
- It should be able to authenticate against other systems (again, similar to Moodle's authentication plugins;
- It should allow particular groups of users to be targetted with promotions about particular content items;
Can you see where I'm heading? I'm looking at a cross between a Content Management System (which can also handle externally-built content packages), an ecommerce system (which is delivering content, without the "buying" bit), Elgg (for the social networking), and Moodle for the back-end administration and installation.
The typical organisation using it would be one that is creating a lot of content (using, say, a rapid development tool such as Articulate or Atlantic Link's Content Point). They will understand that the learner is in control, and needs to be persuaded, rather than told what to do.
Any ideas?
7 comments
That sounds a lot like a couple of LMS’ that I’ve been looking at lately. They carry a almost all of these features.
However there is one system that is perfect for you. Amazon. It has all these features and more!
Thanks Richard, I didn’t want to mention Amazon in the post - but, yes, that’s exactly what I’m looking for - but with learning resources as the end point rather than product pages.
I’d be interested to know which LMS’s have these sorts of features.
Saba’s latest version of their LMS is the one that most closely seems to suit the list of features you’re talking about - features I’ve been looking for in an LMS for the organisation I work for - however it’s costly, almost absurdly so.
Happy to talk about that privately in more detail if you like.
I’ve been looking for something more akin to a knowledge capturing/management system that allows the employee on-job knowledge and experience to be captured, retained and reused by the organisation.
If you don’t mind the links, I’ll include a link to a series of musings I’ve had myself, but feel free to remove them and use for your own reading.
http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2006/09/kowledge_retent.html
That’s more around creating a corporate Intranet based around various open source, free and/or Internet tools.
Are you looking for a particular reason, or musing on a wish list?
The problem I find with purchased LMS systems is that you are forced to take the ideas of the company who own the product, which aren’t necessarily solutions which are learner, employee or corporate focused, and you pay a premium for them.
The worst part of buying such a system is that to get the features you want you’ll end buying a load of features that you’ll never use, and paying for them too.
If Moodle could move from being an LCMS/LMS to more of a Knowledge system then you could be looking at a lot of these features included.
Richard,
Thanks for the link. I agree with all you’re saying, especially that social networking / blogging tools, eg. Elgg, are the way to go. Although providing the tools is only half the problem. The other half is to develop a culture whereby senior management are seen to share knowledge (ie. provide an example), the organisation is clear on the benefits, and the “workers” are given permission to blog/share.
I think Saba is probably outside of what I’m looking for… I don’t have a particular job in mind, but there have been many instances in the past two years when I’ve said to clients, “what you need is a system that does …” and then given that vision - but I’ve not had anything I could recommend.
I can’t see Moodle going that way. It’s generally not good at handling content except within a “course” context. To make it work the way we want would require a complete change of direction that treated courses as smaller elements of the whole. I tend to recommend that people use Moodle alongside a Content Management System, which can then allow access to content from outside of a course context.
I’m not so sure that the sharing has to happen with the senior management. Yes, the culture change has to be approved, endorsed and encouraged at that level, but I do believe the most use will happen at a lower level than senior management - no offence but do they really have the knowledge that runs the company, or does that belong with the actual workers?
I think the real hurdle is encouraging, empowering and providing reward for those workers to actually share their knowledge. The sharing, hosting of wikis, running of blogs, discussion groups, etc. These all have to be rewarded some tangible way. Not just in an electronic thank you, it must tie into employee development and reward.
The problem is that most organisations of a certain size are too scared to do any of these things, and all the associated software and terminology screams Internet, unsecure, and reputational risk.
I agree with what you’re saying on Moodle.
A strong taxonomy and search engine coupled with an Intranet of blogs, wikis, discussion forums, document sharing and personal profiles, and then Moodle in the background would supply everything required for an organisation. It just needs bringing together.
I agree that senior managers don’t necessarily have the knowledge to share - but they need to be setting an example… Look at Don Ledingham (Head of Education at East Lothian). His blog sets a shining example of what’s possible, with tangible benefits. http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog
East Lothian now appears to be at the centre of a sea change in the way Scottish teachers are sharing their experiences.
That’s a great example of senior management leading by example, however will that sustain knowledge transfer/management within the workplace? It’ll surely endorse it and kick start it.
It’s a good move in the right direction, now we need more organisations to see the light.
