on-campus shopping using their ID cards (Blackboard
TM ,
2012).
• Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle): It is an open-source and a free CMS
designed to help instructors in creating effective online
teaching and learning environments (Moodle, 2010).
Moodle is considered to be a high-value educational tool
in higher education. It affords instructors the tools to
promote and manage online learning. These tools include
many features such as the delivery of lessons, forums,
tests, modules, and surveys. As an open-source, Moodle
has had excellent success after Blackboard
TM .
• Desire2Learn
TM : It was introduced in 1999. It provided
an e-learning environment for HEIs, K-12 schools, businesses, and government. The Desire2Learn
TM provided
six different platforms: Learning Environment, Learning
Repository, ePortfolio, Analytics, Mobile, and Capture.
• Sakai
TM : It was introduced by a special grant given in
2004 by the Mellon Foundation when the University of
Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University, Indiana University, University of Berkeley,
and Stanford University started constructing a common
Courseware Management System.
3.4 Mobile Learning Management Systems
The growing acceptance of m-devices is one of the major
reasons that LMS providers have included the compatibility
of mobile devices in designing and developing their main
product. Some companies made efforts in the design and
development of LMS for a mobile platform. The firms that
have released a mobile version of LMS include:
• Moodle Mobile (MOMO): This open-source LMS
includes Moodle Mobile (MOMO) features such as
communications, forums, resources, mobile community,
mobile offline learning objects (MLOs), and mobile
blogging.
• Blackboard Mobile Learn
TM provides an interactive
learning environment compatible with the mobile platform. Blackboard Mobile Learn
TM enables teachers and
students to get access to their content resources and
courses on a variety of m-devices. Blackboard
TM introduced mobile-learning applications on June 15, 2010
compatible with the majority of the mobile platforms such
as Touch
TM , Android
TM
, iPhone
TM , iPod, Blackberry
TM ,
and iPad
TM (Blackboard
TM website, 2010).
• Desire2Learn 2GO
TM was a mobile learning application, presented by Desire2Learn in July 2008 (McLeod,
2008). D2L 2GO
TM was designed for Blackberry
TM but
was also compatible with other smartphones such as the
iPhone. These learning applications help both educators
and learners to stay connected with each other anywhere
and anytime. Later, in 2011, Desire2Learn
TM launched
Desire2Learn Campus Life
TM that enabled users to collaborate, communicate, and share information (Desire2Learn Campus Life, 2011).
3.5 Open-Source and Commercial LMS
Many open-source and commercial LMSs are available in
the market. The term ‘open-source’ means that individuals
are allowed to use the program, study it, modify it, and
redistribute copies free of charge (Nagy, 2016). The most
popular open-source systems are MOODLE, CANVAS,
Blackboard, and Electronic Educational Environment
(EEE) LMS. Moodle is an open-source software that was
developed as a Ph.D. research project in 1999 at the Curtin
University of Technology in Western Australia by Martin
Dougiamas. Other open-source LMSs include ATutor,
developed by the University of Toronto; ClassWeb, developed by the University of California, Los Angeles; Moodle,
developed by Martin Dougiamas, Australia; Caroline,
developed by the Université Catholique de Louvain; LONCAPA, developed by the Michigan State University, and
Coursework, developed by the Stanford University. In the
case of ‘commercial LMS’, a license should be purchased to
use the product. Examples of commercial software include
Blackboard Inc., Apex Learning and ANGEL Learning
(Nagy, 2016).
3.6 Web-Based LMS Versus Installed LMS
Software
One of the differences between ‘web-based LMS’ software and the ‘installed LMS’ software is that in installed
LMS model, we have to install vendor-created LMS on one
of the servers. It has to be maintained by some IT expert in
our institution. It comes with a setup fee and maintenance
arrangements. However, modern web-based online learning
management systems are also available. One of the advantages of web-based LMS is that the pricing for web-based
LMS is a fraction of the installed LMS. Also, the LMS
vendors maintain the software and keep improving and
developing their online LMS software. There are no huge
setup fees needed. The monthly costs are also much lower
than the installed LMS. There are two different views in the
web-based LMS. It can be software as a service (SaaS) or
you host the LMS software yourself. In the case of ‘software
as a service’ (SaaS) model, a third party hosts the LMS
applications and makes LMS available to institutions over
3.3 A Historical Perspective on Learning Management Systems
15
TM ,
2012).
• Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle): It is an open-source and a free CMS
designed to help instructors in creating effective online
teaching and learning environments (Moodle, 2010).
Moodle is considered to be a high-value educational tool
in higher education. It affords instructors the tools to
promote and manage online learning. These tools include
many features such as the delivery of lessons, forums,
tests, modules, and surveys. As an open-source, Moodle
has had excellent success after Blackboard
TM .
• Desire2Learn
TM : It was introduced in 1999. It provided
an e-learning environment for HEIs, K-12 schools, businesses, and government. The Desire2Learn
TM provided
six different platforms: Learning Environment, Learning
Repository, ePortfolio, Analytics, Mobile, and Capture.
• Sakai
TM : It was introduced by a special grant given in
2004 by the Mellon Foundation when the University of
Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University, Indiana University, University of Berkeley,
and Stanford University started constructing a common
Courseware Management System.
3.4 Mobile Learning Management Systems
The growing acceptance of m-devices is one of the major
reasons that LMS providers have included the compatibility
of mobile devices in designing and developing their main
product. Some companies made efforts in the design and
development of LMS for a mobile platform. The firms that
have released a mobile version of LMS include:
• Moodle Mobile (MOMO): This open-source LMS
includes Moodle Mobile (MOMO) features such as
communications, forums, resources, mobile community,
mobile offline learning objects (MLOs), and mobile
blogging.
• Blackboard Mobile Learn
TM provides an interactive
learning environment compatible with the mobile platform. Blackboard Mobile Learn
TM enables teachers and
students to get access to their content resources and
courses on a variety of m-devices. Blackboard
TM introduced mobile-learning applications on June 15, 2010
compatible with the majority of the mobile platforms such
as Touch
TM , Android
TM
, iPhone
TM , iPod, Blackberry
TM ,
and iPad
TM (Blackboard
TM website, 2010).
• Desire2Learn 2GO
TM was a mobile learning application, presented by Desire2Learn in July 2008 (McLeod,
2008). D2L 2GO
TM was designed for Blackberry
TM but
was also compatible with other smartphones such as the
iPhone. These learning applications help both educators
and learners to stay connected with each other anywhere
and anytime. Later, in 2011, Desire2Learn
TM launched
Desire2Learn Campus Life
TM that enabled users to collaborate, communicate, and share information (Desire2Learn Campus Life, 2011).
3.5 Open-Source and Commercial LMS
Many open-source and commercial LMSs are available in
the market. The term ‘open-source’ means that individuals
are allowed to use the program, study it, modify it, and
redistribute copies free of charge (Nagy, 2016). The most
popular open-source systems are MOODLE, CANVAS,
Blackboard, and Electronic Educational Environment
(EEE) LMS. Moodle is an open-source software that was
developed as a Ph.D. research project in 1999 at the Curtin
University of Technology in Western Australia by Martin
Dougiamas. Other open-source LMSs include ATutor,
developed by the University of Toronto; ClassWeb, developed by the University of California, Los Angeles; Moodle,
developed by Martin Dougiamas, Australia; Caroline,
developed by the Université Catholique de Louvain; LONCAPA, developed by the Michigan State University, and
Coursework, developed by the Stanford University. In the
case of ‘commercial LMS’, a license should be purchased to
use the product. Examples of commercial software include
Blackboard Inc., Apex Learning and ANGEL Learning
(Nagy, 2016).
3.6 Web-Based LMS Versus Installed LMS
Software
One of the differences between ‘web-based LMS’ software and the ‘installed LMS’ software is that in installed
LMS model, we have to install vendor-created LMS on one
of the servers. It has to be maintained by some IT expert in
our institution. It comes with a setup fee and maintenance
arrangements. However, modern web-based online learning
management systems are also available. One of the advantages of web-based LMS is that the pricing for web-based
LMS is a fraction of the installed LMS. Also, the LMS
vendors maintain the software and keep improving and
developing their online LMS software. There are no huge
setup fees needed. The monthly costs are also much lower
than the installed LMS. There are two different views in the
web-based LMS. It can be software as a service (SaaS) or
you host the LMS software yourself. In the case of ‘software
as a service’ (SaaS) model, a third party hosts the LMS
applications and makes LMS available to institutions over
3.3 A Historical Perspective on Learning Management Systems
15