Next-Generation Learning Management Systems (LMS)

According to the Horizon Report, 2017 Higher Education Edition, the next-generation Learning Management Systems (LMS) are virtual learning spaces that support personalization, meet universal design standards, play a large role in formative learning assessment, and are more flexible than traditional LMS. A market study done by Technavio, a leading global technology research and advisory company, suggests that the global next generation LMS market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of more than 26% during 2016-2020.

Traditionally, LMS have been focused on enabling administrative tasks rather than on learning itself. The approach of the LMS has historically been one-size-fits-all, and not sufficient to meet the needs of today’s modern learner. As a result, students and faculty members have been using external technological tools to accommodate their individual needs. These tools, however, are not always integrated easily into LMS.

In the modern learning process, there has been an increasing demand of elements such as collaboration tools, content curation, social learning, and gamification. Consequently, educational institutions face the need to change to an LMS that provides one or more of these elements, or can be easily integrated with external technologies that offer them. Therefore, there is definitely a need for ecosystems that incorporate the emerging learning approaches and focus on deepening learning.

IMS Global (a non-profit member collaborative inventing the future of educational and learning technology), has developed Learning Tool Interoperability (LTI) standards in order to allow institutions customize their virtual learning environments. This facilitates the adoption of external educational technology tools, and hence, help provide a personalized and flexible learning environment.

Evident Point is working on developing an LTI support in order to securely connect ActiveTextbook to different educational platforms while meeting IMS Global standards. With an LTI, the integration with different LMS such as Canvas and Moodle will be smooth and easy.