Strengths and Weaknesses of the LMS and the PLE
LMS Strengths LMS Weaknesses Simple, consistent, and structured As widely implemented, time-bound (courses disappear at the end of the semester) Integration with student information systems (SISs), with student rosters automatically populated in courses Teacher, rather than student, centric Private and secure (FERPA compliant) Courses walled off from each other and from the wider web, negating the potential of the network effect Simple and inexpensive to train and support (compared to supporting multiple tools) Limited opportunities for students to "own" and manage their learning experiences within and across courses Tight tool integration (such as quiz scores populated in gradebooks) Rigid, non-modular tools Supports sophisticated content structuring (sequencing, branching, adaptive release) Interoperability challenges and difficulties26 PLE Strengths PLE Weaknesses Almost limitless variety and functionality of tools, customizable and adaptable in multiple configurations and variations Complex and difficult to create for inexperienced students and faculty members Inexpensive — often composed of free and open source tools Potential security and data exposure problems (FERPA issues abound) No artificial time boundaries: remains "on" before, during, and after matriculation Limited institutional control over data Open to interaction, sharing, and connection without regard to official registration in programs or courses or particular institutions Absent or unenforceable service-level agreements; no ability to predict or resolve web application performance issues, outages, or even disappearance Student-centric (each student selects and uses the tools that make sense for their particular needs and circumstances) Lacks centrally managed and aggregated group rosters (such as class rolls) Learning content and conversations are compilable via simple technologies like RSS Difficult and potentially expensive to provide support for multiple tools and their integrations with each other and with institutional systems
via educause.edu
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