Read the Clement-Okooboh (2012) and Kwan (2012) articles and summarize and explain how an LMS can be used to support educational processes. Both articles provide good background in this area. (Kwan (2012) uses the Commonwealth of Learning e-Learning for International Organizations (COLeLIO) as an illustrative example of using a LMS.)
Go to Blackboard (http://www.blackboard.com/) and Moodle (http://moodle.com/) websites. Explore and examine the sites and determine the capabilities of the LMS product that they offer. Each site offers an LMS solution for a variety of audiences and markets (K-12, Higher Educations, Corporate etc.). You will have to be able to compare and contrast the LMSs from both companies.
Put yourself in the role of an educator who has to recommend the purchase of an LMS for your organization. You have narrowed your choices to the final two vendors – Blackboard and Moodle. You must prepare an executive briefing to the top administrators of your school or organization. You must recommend the selection of one of the two LMSs offered by Blackboard or Moodle.
Include a matrix (table) in your that shows a comparison of the two LMS products. You may determine which criteria you wish for the comparison. This matrix should appear as either a table or an appendix.
In your executive briefing you must:
Explain how to manage educational processes within a technology-based environment.
Compare and contrast the features and functions of various Learning Management Systems (LMS).
Describe how the selected LMS is appropriate for your intended audience.
Clement-Okooboh (2012) emphasizes how an LMS can streamline teaching by providing a platform for delivering courseware, administering assignments and tests, and managing student records. This is especially vital in environments with a growing student population and a need for flexible delivery. Kwan's (2012) work, using the Commonwealth of Learning's COLeLIO model, illustrates this by showing how an LMS can be used to deliver scalable e-learning solutions to a diverse, geographically distributed audience. The core benefit is centralization, which makes it easier for institutions to offer flexible, accessible, and high-quality learning, whether through traditional, blended, or fully online models.
Comparison of Blackboard and Moodle
When comparing Blackboard and Moodle, the key distinction lies in their business models and philosophical approaches. Blackboard is a commercial, closed-source system, while Moodle is an open-source platform. This difference directly impacts their features, costs, and flexibility.
| Criterion | Blackboard | Moodle |
| Business Model | Proprietary, commercial product. | Open-source, free to download and use. |
| Pricing | Subscription-based, often with per-user or institutional fees. | Free software, but costs are incurred for hosting, support, and customization. |
| Customization | Offers a customizable open architecture but often requires paying for additional modules or services. | Highly customizable with over 2,000 community-developed plugins and a robust API. |
| User Interface | Modern, sleek, and intuitive with a strong emphasis on user experience (e.g., Ultra interface). | Functional but can have a steep learning curve for new users due to a less-polished interface. |
| Support | Comprehensive, professional support is included in the subscription. | Community-based support from forums and volunteers; professional support is available from certified partners for a fee. |
| Integrations | Strong out-of-the-box integrations with major platforms and student information systems (SIS). | Integrates with many third-party tools, but may require configuration or custom development. |
| Target Audience | K-12, Higher Education, and Corporate. Strong foothold in large universities. | K-12, Higher Education, Corporate, and community learning. Popular with institutions seeking a flexible, cost-effective solution. |
| Security & Privacy | Centralized security managed by Blackboard, with strong data privacy policies. | Security is dependent on the host provider and the system administrator. Full data control is a key feature. |
Export to Sheets
Recommendation: Moodle for K-12 Education
For our K-12 institution, I recommend the selection of Moodle.
Moodle's open-source nature aligns perfectly with our organizational goals of creating a flexible, accessible, and community-driven learning environment. It is the most appropriate choice for our intended audience of K-12 students and teachers for several key reasons:
Cost-Effectiveness: As a public school system, budget is a primary concern. While Moodle is not entirely free due to hosting and maintenance needs, it eliminates the high recurring subscription fees associated with commercial products like Blackboard. This allows us to reallocate funds to other vital areas, such as professional development for teachers or the purchase of educational technology.
Sample Answer
Executive Briefing: Recommendation for Learning Management System
To: Top Administrators From: [Your Name], Educator
The Role of an LMS in Educational Processes
Based on the research by Clement-Okooboh (2012) and Kwan (2012), a Learning Management System (LMS) is a foundational tool for managing and enriching educational processes in a technology-based environment. An LMS centralizes all aspects of a course, from instructional planning and material delivery to student progress tracking and assessment. It serves as a single, organized platform for all stakeholders—educators, students, and administrators—to interact with course content and with one another.