LMS, MOOC & Mobile Learning (eLearning tools)

Technology has evolved at a mindboggling pace in the past few years and it plays a very vital role in our lives in this 21^st century. Be it education, research, training, or job - one can’t think of thriving without the help of technology.  I have attempted to throw light on some key tools/resources in learning space made possible by technology. These tools/resources play even a more vital role for HR personnel by making knowledge management tasks easier.

LMS- Learning Management Systems (LMS) are software applications designed for the management of training and educational programs. LMS combines the administration and documentation of learning initiatives, content development tools, virtual learning, social learning, online testing and assessment functionality to achieve a single goal: improving employee development while cutting costs and risks.

         It’s very difficult to run a successful business if employees aren’t continuously learning, and an LMS ensures that a business is constantly growing while allowing the employees to connect and learn from each other in new ways. A Learning Management System is also known as "Course Management System", "Pedagogical Platform", and “E-Learning Platform.

MOOC-A massive open online course (MOOC) is a free Web-based distance learning program that is designed for the participation of large numbers of students. MOOCs do not always offer academic credits; they also provide education that may include certification, employment or further studies. Here, are some key online resources:-

•    Udemy is a marketplace for online courses. The platform currently offers over 13,000 courses, with more than 2 million students and 7,000 instructors
•     Udacity is the outgrowth of free computer science classes offered in 2011 through Stanford University. It has 9 full courses & 24 free courseware and around 90,000 students enrolled in the initial two classes as of March 2012.
•    Codecademy is an online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in six different languages. As of June 2012, the site had over 5 million users who had completed over 100 million exercises.

Mobile Learning-Mobile learning is defined as "learning across multiple contexts, through social and content interactions, using personal electronic devices". Best part of this is that learners can learn anywhere and at any time. M-learning technologies include computers, MP3 players, notebooks, mobile phones and tablets. M-learning also brings strong portability by replacing books and notes with small devices. For instance, SMILE, the Stanford Mobile Inquiry Learning Environment, is a learning management system that allows students to create, share, answer, and evaluate questions in a collaborative manner through the use of cell phones.

All these learning tools enhance employees’ skill and engage employees in an appropriate way to grasp more accurate or advanced knowledge through advanced technology.