LMO Week 1 Overview

Week 1 Project: LMO Overview
I have in my mind's eye a four-legged table. Each of its legs comprise the four pillars of learning management systems as described by Gibson(2010): Learning Content/Course management systems (LCMS); Learning Management Systems(LMS); Course Management Systems(CMS), and others, although these table and house metaphors do not adequately covey the relationship between the systems. To me the relationship is more like a crate which contains a package that has an equipment and other items. LCMS seems to encompass LMS which contains a CMS and others items.
Let me begin with a CMS. A Course Management System(CMS) like Blackboard or eCollege or WebCT is designed to extend the reach of a traditional teacher in terms of time and space. A CMS is an ‘internet-based software’ that handles the registration of students, track their performances and develop and do the distribution of course content according to the need of students. In Full sail Online for example, I had a challenge in one of the courses that needed repetition. Once I was through with a course I was in, i re registered automatically by the system to re do it.
each version of CMS has at least three distinguishing features: an authoring and publishing tool which allows an instructor to publish files on the CMS for students to download. Also a Virtual learning community that enables instructors and students to communicate individually or as a group, synchronously like in WIMBA sessions of Full Sail or asynchronously as in the threaded discussion. Lastly, a CMS has a data management tool that allows students to be assigned to a class rather than have the teacher do it.
A LMS is another software application that allows for the ‘administration and documentation, training and reporting of training programs’ for all elearning events and activities. Its features include centralized, automated administration, a serve your self and self guided services, assemblage and delivery of learning content rapidly, reinforce training activities on a web based design and enable re use and portability of knowledge and standards. A bank ATM is such a system. An FSO system that displays a course calender, learning path, messages and notifications, displays scores and transcripts is also such a system.
An LCMS uses an LMS to deliver its services. Ot focuses on the development, management and delivery on a larger scale or multi user system than in a than a LMS or CMS. There is the creation of re-use, store and manage of courses and content for daily or anytime use.
Comparing the two, it possible to say that an LCMS authors, developers and subject matter experts the tool to create and reuse elearning and reduce duplication while a LMS is tool for planning and delivering learning events within an organization.
PLEs are systems which help learners take control of their learning contents and be able to interact with others in a social networking environment.It is a tool that enable learners set their own goals, manage their learning and communicate with others and in the process enhance their own experience. A Google document that enables several people collaborate with each other to edit a project is one. even a second Life environment where groups of students can explore and share experiences is another type of learning environment.