Learning management systems (LMS) are powerful tools for online education, but they can also be used to enhance assessment and feedback practices in any learning environment. In this article, you will learn how to use LMS features to design, deliver, and evaluate assignments, as well as to provide timely and constructive feedback to your students.
There are many LMS options available, each with different strengths and limitations. Before you decide which one to use, you should consider your learning objectives, your students' needs and preferences, and your technical and pedagogical skills. Some of the most popular LMS platforms are Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, and Google Classroom. You can compare their features and reviews online, or try them out for free or with a trial period.
The LMS you use is generally a choice made at the institutional level. It is important to get stakeholder input before making a decision to adopt a particular LMS because many people will be using that system --and that will require a proper training schedule as well as the understanding that moving from one LMS to another is a time consuming endeavor.
Whatever platform you choose; keep it simple. Doing so will help learners avoid information overload. Remember, the learning focus should be on the content, not the platform itself.
You always have to know your students first. Being able to know and understand, the platform is going to be key, whether digital or structures in a classroom. I completely agree that the focus should be on the learning and not the tool, but that can only happen when everyone is comfortable with the tool No matter what the platform, an initial investment in becoming familiar with it is key. Therefore, I would say it needs to be user friendly, intuitive and universal. I think it’s always good to be exploring new tools, and how they can apply to different content, topics and users .
The selection of a learning management system platform is usually made by the institution. I have had the opportunity to work with Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, and Google Classroom. Of the four, Moodle was the first one I used when it was still relatively new, and, at the time, it had a bit of a learning curve for users. Since then, I have felt comfortable using Moodle. Blackboard was the second platform I was introduced to and it was easy to use and to engage learners. Nowadays, I mostly work on Canvas and Google Classroom. I think both are great platforms, though Google Classroom is a friendlier option for younger students.
Once you have chosen your LMS, you can use its tools to create and manage assignments for your students. You can choose from different types of assignments, such as quizzes, essays, projects, or portfolios. You can also set the due dates, submission methods, grading criteria, and rubrics. You should design your assignments to align with your learning outcomes, to be clear and engaging, and to offer opportunities for differentiation and scaffolding.
It is important to create assignments that are varied and appeal to different learning styles. Assignments and assessments should include text, video, voice, and options for learners to show what they have learned. One of the problems with assignments and assessments posted on the LMS is often due to poor design rather than poor platform performance. Clear directives, deadlines, and exemplars are best practices when creating assignments and assessments for any LMS.
After you have designed your assignments, you can use your LMS to deliver them to your students and monitor their progress. You can use the LMS features to communicate the instructions, expectations, and deadlines, as well as to provide additional resources and support. You can also use the LMS analytics and reports to track your students' engagement, completion, and performance. You can use this data to identify and address any issues or gaps in learning.
There are different ways to deliver assignments on the LMS. For example, you can differentiate by posting assignments to the whole group, a small group, or even individual students. Sharing resources is also simple and these platforms often afford opportunities to share links, videos, documents, slide decks, and any digital format to help students learn the content, practice, and review skills. One of the most helpful features for teachers is the analytics section and reports as it helps monitor student interaction. Learning about student participation, timely assignment submission, and attendance is important as it may help identify students who may be at risk and provide needed assistance in a timely manner.
The final step is to use your LMS to evaluate your students' work and provide feedback. You can use the LMS tools to grade and annotate your students' submissions, as well as to generate and share feedback reports. You should provide feedback that is timely, constructive, specific, and actionable. You should also encourage your students to reflect on their feedback and use it to improve their learning.
One of the features I like about LMS is the opportunity to provide feedback in writing, using a recorded video, or voice. Students need detailed feedback so they can understand what they are doing well and what they need to work on. Using voice messages is helpful as teachers do not have to spend a lot of time writing, but can still offer detailed feedback. When writing feedback, some platforms allow teachers to save basic phrases and messages that can then be developed and tailored for individual students.
Another way to use your LMS for assessment and feedback is to involve your students in the process. You can use the LMS features to enable peer and self-assessment activities, such as peer review, peer feedback, self-grading, or self-reflection. These activities can help your students develop their critical thinking, collaboration, and metacognition skills, as well as to gain different perspectives and insights on their work.
Creating discussion boards where you post a topic and learners respond to you, and eachother, as an ongoing assignment is the golden standard for ensuring learners are collaborative producers and not just consumers.
Self-corrections and peer evaluations are probably the most beneficial for students as they learn from one another or, have the opportunity to review their own work. When using the self-assessment option, I think it is important to provide a rubric or clear guidelines so students can match their work with the expectations. When using peer feedback, you need to train your students on best practices and exemplars for sharing peer feedback. We should never assume that our students know how complete an activity. We should always guide them in the process.
Finally, you should use your LMS to review and revise your assessment and feedback practices regularly. You can use the LMS feedback and surveys to collect your students' opinions and suggestions on your assignments and feedback. You can also use the LMS data and analytics to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of your practices on your students' learning outcomes and satisfaction. You should use this information to make adjustments and improvements as needed.
One of the features that help in my own practice, is analyzing engagement with different types of content. I can determine the effectiveness of the content shared with my students when I look at the data for each module, section, etc. This helps me identify what I need to update, upgrade, or modify my content and my teaching practice.