Open-source learning management systems (LMS) are often the easiest to use and have a wealth of support documentation, but they require hosting the system and providing technical support. While LMS provide standardized interfaces, instant feedback, and convenience for educators, they can be restrictive and technology-driven. Vendor lock-in is also a problem if the LMS is switched. However, LMS allow copyrighted content behind passwords and communication tools. Downsides include lack of control, support, and access to student information if the vendor shuts down.

1. Pros and cons of open-source LMSsLearning Management Systems

2. While all learning management systems “claim” to be easy to use, open source systems are often times some of the easiest to learn to use. In addition, because there is limited support, many times there is a wealth of “how to” documents and support tutorials provided to assist in course development.Pro: Ease of Use

3. A learning management system can provide When the same learning management systems is used across courses/subjects, there is a minimal amount of time spent orientation students to the online environment of their course.Pro: Common Interface

4. A learning management system can provide instant feedback to a student. If a student is practicing for a test, he can enter responses to questions, and the system can immediately tell him whether he got a question correct, and the potential reasons for a wrong answer. The student can also get his grade for a homework assignment or a test as soon as he finishes the task.Pro: Instant Results

5. Because the learning management system can easily grade true-or-false and multiple-choice questions, it reduces the time the professor needs for grading. The learning management system can also store important documents such as the course syllabus, so a student who loses her copy does not have to ask the professor for another copy.Pro: Educator Convenience

6. A learning management system restricts academic sharing. In many courses, only the current students can see the links to papers, discussions in course forums, and responses from the professor, unlike a web page the professor posts that the public can visit. The course closes at the end of the semester, so students can't go back and refresh their knowledge.Pro: Academic Discussion

7. Setting up a learning management system is expensive. Proprietary learning management systems often cost the school a license fee each year. If the school uses an open learning management system, it will have to purchase computer equipment to host the system, and it may need to hire extra information technology employees to keep the system functioning and provide technical support to teachers.Pro: Cost

8. A learning management system offers several types of communication tools. The system can host its own web forum, mail service and chat client. Using the learning management system ensures that each student can easily access all of these tools without installing additional software programs, and that all students are using compatible communications methods.Pro: Learning Tools

9. Vendor lock-in is a problem with learning management systems. A course module that operates on one vendor's learning management system may not function on another's. If teachers and students get used to using one learning management system, they may complain if the school decides to switch to another one.Pro: Lock-In

10. There is a lot of really great content that is “off limits” on unprotected Internet spaces such as web pages. However, many copyright laws allow for resources to be used in education as long as they are behind a password protected system such as an LMSPro: copyright

11. can be restrictive in many ways

12. often the tools don’t work how you want them to

13. the navigation and look and feel is usually somewhat predetermined

14. sometimes it leads to the technology driving the learning rather than how it should be with the learning driving the technology

15. sometimes makes it hard to share

16. limited support, if any

17. Advertisements displayed in the LMSCons