Using a WordPress plugin as an LMS
1. Reference information (where you get it if it is a website; authors, article title, journal title, and date of publication if it is a journal article, report accordingly if it is other sources)
Bharali , K. (2020, September 6). 9 Best WordPress LMS Plugins Compared (2020). isitwp. Retrieved from https://www.isitwp.com/best-wordpress-lms-plugins-compared/
Devrix. (2020, January 18). How to Build a Learning Management System Using WordPress. Retrieved from https://devrix.com/tutorial/how-to-build-a-learning-management-system-using-wordpress/
Thakare, R.(2017, October 15). The Pros And Cons Of Using A WordPress Learning Management System. eLearning Industry. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/using-a-wordpress-learning-management-system-pros-cons
Thimpress. (2017, May 29). Top 9 best free LMS (Learning Management System) WordPress Plugins. Retrieved from https://thimpress.com/top-9-best-free-lms-learning-management-system-wordpress-plugins/
Zoe, E. (2020, February 13). LMS vs CMS: What’s the difference? Talent LMS. Retrieved from https://www.talentlms.com/blog/a-comparison-between-lms-and-cms/
2. A brief description of the case
There are multiple options to provide online courses to end users. Using a Learning Management System (LMS) allows the trainer to load various types of educational multimedia, develop quizzes and games and track user progress. An LMS makes it easier for the learner to browse for courses, pick up where they left off in a course and access a course at their convenience.
3. The purpose of the innovation
Using a WordPress LMS plugin instead of a stand-alone LMS such as Canvas or Edmodo has several advantages. Most plugins allow the course owner to customize the content as desired and make it easier for the learner to navigate. But the most important reason for using WordPress as an LMS is that you can easily store other educational materials – such as performance support aids in the same location of your course. An online course provides the learner with a larger package of information, usually introducing new concepts and workflows. Performance support gives you information at the point of need. I understand I need to edit my audio on the timeline of my video to match the screen recording, but I don’t remember how. It’s not practical or desirable to retake a course just to remember one step. But I don’t want to go to multiple places to learn an application and find support for it. Using one website for all my learning needs simplifies the process.
4. The technology and resources involved (e.g. facility, network, equipment, software, online program)?
You need to have an internet hosting account, have WordPress installed on your domain, install an LMS plugin, configure your website and configure the LMS portion. You also must create your course. You need a basic understanding of HTML/websites and basic knowledge of how an LMS works. Your students will need a computer with internet connection.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-courses/ is an example of an LMS plugin and how you can set it up on your website.
5. What prior skills and knowledge are required of students?
Your learners will need to be able to navigate a website with multiple menus in addition to the required knowledge for your particular course. Online courses require the ability to work independently and seek support if you run into issues. Students need to be informed of where to find information on the website.
6. What are students asked to accomplish exactly (product or process)?
The students are asked to enroll in the course on your WordPress LMS and complete the course. Depending on how your course is set up, learners will view videos, read articles, complete exercises, pass quizzes and post on a group forum.
Specifically, I would like to have an online course on how to use the video software Camtasia. At the end of the course, the students should know how to record a screen, add images, add audio, make edits, use screen callouts, use the media library and publish a video. I would provide a partially completed project and let them work on creating a video.
7. What are the procedures of the project (steps to teach the technology skills)?
Learners will enroll in the course on the LMS. Within the course, they will open Camtasia and take a tour of the software. They’ll learn where to store content they are working with (images, audio, screen recordings). They will learn how to use the library of intros/outros and screen callouts. Working with a template, they will create and publish a video.
8. What are the advantages of the project?
Having all the training and support content in one place will make it easier for the student to learn the course content and begin using the skills they’ve developed. If the user can go to one place for everything, they will be more satisfied with their learning experience. It is a more learner-centric experience. The end user doesn’t really understand that taking a course and support documents are two different things and might be stored in different places.
9. What are the disadvantages of the project?
Using a plugin instead of a stand-alone LMS won’t give you the depth of tools that are available in software that is specifically created for learning management. Different plugins may interact with each other on your website. You have to have a basic knowledge of website design. If you want to sell the courses you design, you’ll need other plugins that may be expensive. More complicated features of the LMS also require payment. This approach is for a smaller number of students and wouldn’t be robust enough for a large company.
10. What types of effective instructional strategies are included?
Learning software is a very hands-on activity. Users will watch videos and then practice what they viewed using a template and exercise questions. Quizzes will help them clarify the content covered in the videos.
11. What are the possibilities that innovation can be transferred to other teachers, subject content, and different school settings?
You could use this approach with pretty much any content that you want. It’s not as practical on a large scale, but you could transfer this project to other subjects and settings very easily. Just create a course for your content and enroll students.