Difference Between LSM, LCSM, and Learning Objects

I responded to Mousumi Ghosh’s blog at http://mousumi-randomideas.blogspot.com/2009/01/difference-between-lms-and-lcms.html

Mousumi, I like your description of the difference between LSM and LCMS. You are not alone in your confusion over the two terms. I think the similarity in abbreviation with only a “C” to distinguish the two is part-and-parcel the reason for much of the confusion. It may be better to have called LCMS a “course design system,” or “CDS” to better differentiate it from the Learning Management System, or LMS. As an instructional designer yourself, this may have made a bigger distinction to you than most.

I agree with you that creating, maintaining, reusing, and delivering learning material is more of the nuts and bolts of teachers. I also agree with you that LMS delivers the learning material in the form of online modules within an organization. Online modules, for me, would have fallen under the category of learning objects within Learning Course Management Systems.

I would have said the primary users of the LMS would be administrators versus the learners. But, it is possible that learners are primary users of LMS and administrators and teachers are secondary users of LMS. I definitely agree with you that course developers and subject matter experts are the primary users of LCMS. LMS do actually track student interaction and performance. But, I think LMS are forums along with LCMS for content authors to collaborate. I agree with you that LCMS is a software package with an intended mission of reusing e-learning content to reduce duplicated development efforts.

However, I believe this is also a LMS mission. As an instructional designer, your position brings you into the realm of course creation, maintenance, reusing, and delivering learning material. But, you do have concerns about LMS planning, delivering, and managing your learning events and instruction within your Hyderabad Central University. Do you collaborate with those assigned the duties of the LMS or are these technically-separate specialty events? Is management of course content considered a higher priority than creation of course content at your facility, or does management and creation of course content carry equal weight in priority status? Does it cost more to manage course content than to create course content?

Reference

Ghosh, M. (2009). Difference between LMS and LCMS. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://mousumi-randomideas.blogspot.com/2009/01/difference-between-lms-and-lcms.html