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Venn Diagram: LMS vs LCMS (CPLP-LS p.419-430 )

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Venn Diagram: LMS vs LCMS (CPLP-LS p.419-430 )

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Learning Support Systems (6.3.2.3 CPLP-LS p. 431)

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Learning Support Systems (6.3.2.3 CPLP-LS p. 431)

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Ready access, any time, anywhere.

Learner-orientation

Self-directed learning resources

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Collaborative Learning Software (6.3.2 CPLP-LS p. 430)

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Collaborative Learning Software (6.3.2 CPLP-LS p. 430)

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People learning together facilitated by technology

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Red = Guiding Principle
Yellow = Important point or definition
Blue = Resources
Green = Actions
Purple = Questions

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Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS) (6.3.1.3 CPLP-LS p, 428)

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Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS) (6.3.1.3 CPLP-LS p, 428)

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Manages content. Concentrates on online learning content usually as learning objects (LOs).
LOs - self contained chunks of instructional material with a learning objective, learning content, and an evaluation tool.

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Learning Management Systems (LMS) (6.3.1 (CPLP-LS p, 426)

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Learning Management Systems (LMS) (6.3.1 (CPLP-LS p, 426)

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Manages learners. A single point of access to disparate learning sources. Automates learning and identifies people.

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Learning Information Systems (6.3 CPLP Learning System (LS), p. 426)

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Learning Information Systems (6.3 CPLP Learning System (LS), p. 426)

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A reservoir of information storage and retrieval systems.
Function: To generate rosters, certificates, and registration reports. To access self-paced materials, reference documents, and job aids.

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A comparison by Elucidat

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The learning technologies market is fast-growing and full of innovative products. With so many options and acronyms (LCMS, LMS, CMS ...), it can be tricky to work out exactly what you need and which products can deliver it. One of the least understood learning technologies is Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS). We're here to give you the lowdown - and explain the differences between LCMS vs LMS.

What is a Learning Content Management System (LCMS)?

First thing's first: an LCMS stands for Learning Content Management System. It's a platform that allows you to create, manage, host and track digital learning content. You can think of it like a one-stop-shop for elearning, from creation to delivery. Some technologies that you think of primarily as authoring tools may actually tick all the LCMS boxes; Elucidat is a good example of this.

What's the difference between an LCMS and LMS?

There is a bit of crossover between an Learning Content Management System (LCMS) and Learning Management System (LMS), and it doesn't help that their names are similar too. Both allow you to host and deliver digital learning, and both are SCORM compatible. But there are important differences between the two. The main difference between LCMS vs LMS is where they specialize...

Type of learning

As we've seen, an LCMS specializes in digital learning content, whereas an LMS is a platform that allows you to manage a wider range of learning experiences. Elearning is one of them, but an LMS also manages more traditional forms of learning and training such as scheduling face-to-face workshops, facilitating learner conversations through social forums and sharing resources.

LMSs, like Docebo, Cornerstone or Administrate, would enable you to combine these different learning experiences into a blended learning path, such as:

Other LMSs go broader still, adding HR management into the mix - though this isn't a universal feature of LMSs.

Content creation

Though LMSs allow you to manage more learning experiences, they don't allow you to actually create those learning experiences. You would use a separate authoring tool to build your elearning, download it as a SCORM file, then upload that file to the LMS to manage and deliver the elearning. An LCMS specializes in facilitating creation and delivery in the same place.

This focus on content creation might make you wonder how elearning authoring tools fit into the picture - are authoring tools and LCMSs one and the same? The lines are certainly becoming blurred; Elucidat, for example, started life as an authoring tool, but over time has developed a much broader set of features to enable collaboration, hosting and delivery, which now puts it firmly in the LCMS camp.
The general rule is that all LCMSs allow you to author content, but not all authoring tools are LCMSs.
In addition, because LCMSs focus on digital learning, they can track those learning experiences in much more detail than the pass/fail or complete/incomplete that an LMS provides for all of its learning experiences. With an LCMS, you can expect detailed analytics that take into account things like how long a learner spent in a module, which device they were using, which pages they visited most and how they answered specific questions.
A snapshot of part of Elucidat's Analytics dashboard.
Is an LCMS right for me?

As always, the right technology depends on your specific needs. Here are three sets of requirements that would be best suited to different technologies:
LCMS only

The majority of learning is digital

You create your digital learning in-house

You don't want to pay for two separate tools to create and deliver your elearning

You want efficient workflows to decrease the amount of time spent authoring elearning

You want detailed analytics on how learners interact with your modules

You would like the option to track using xAPI rather than SCORM

A secure log-in is enough

LMS only

You deliver a lot of traditional, offline learning

You create blended learning pathways that need to be tracked

You already have a separate authoring tool for your elearning, or you outsource elearning creation to agencies

Basic SCORM tracking is enough

You need learners to have their own central profiles to access their learning

Integrated LMS and LCMS

You have a real mix of learning interventions

You want a central place for learners to have a profile and access all their learning...

...but you don't want to compromise on data and analytics.

You're using an out-of-date or inefficient authoring tool and are ready to make a change

You would like the option to track using xAPI rather than SCORM

5 features the best LCMSs have

If you've decided that an LCMS is the right fit for your requirements, which features should you look for in your new tool? The best LCMSs will offer these features to help you create, manage and deliver your digital elearning content efficiently and scalably:

1. Modern, responsive design

With the ever-increasing take up of mobile learning, your LCMS must allow you to create content for all devices. The best LCMSs will do the hard work for you, automatically optimizing your content for different screen sizes then letting you make additional, device-specific tweaks if you choose.

2. Efficient workflows

The joy of cloud-based LCMSs is the ability to store and reuse pages, snippets or even whole modules, allowing you to work quickly and consistently. Look out for these other workflows to help you work efficiently:

Visual themes or styles that can be swapped easily to rebrand

Asset libraries to store images and videos and enable swift replacement

Master and child course management

Collaboration and review features that allow team members to work on projects together

3. Translation workflows

If you are designing learning for a global audience, you'll know how painful translation and localization can be. But it doesn't need to be. The best LCMSs offer workflows that simplify translation and allow you to create multi-sco modules that wrap all your language variations up in one. For example, Elucidat has a simple export/import solution, which means you can go from a master module in one language to a multi-sco package in many languages - in just a few clicks.

4. Published files and learner logins

All LCMSs will enable you to publish your courses as a SCORM file, but some go further and offer URL links, xAPI integrations, password or domain protected log-ins or offline releases. Consider your user journey and technology stack, and make sure your LCMS will integrate how it needs to.

5. Analytics

Data is the key to continuously refining and improving your digital learning. I know this, you know this - make sure your LCMS knows this too and can deliver the goods! With a great LCMS data dashboard, you'll be able to see so much more than who passed or failed.

Reviewing LCMSs

An LCMS can be an integral part of your learning technologies stack, or can step up to the plate and be your single system for content creation and delivery. With LMSs still prioritizing traditional methods of content delivery and many struggling to keep up with the cloud-based, data-driven expectations of today, an LCMS is a convincing alternative.

We'd always advocate getting a demo and, if possible, a free trial so you can review the LCMSs available.

Get started with a free trial of Elucidat to test our LCMS features out for yourself.

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LCMS vs. LMS: A Guide to Learning Content Management Systems

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The learning technologies market is fast-growing and full of innovative products. With so many options and acronyms (LCMS, LMS, CMS ...), it can be tricky to work out exactly what you need and which products can deliver it. One of the least understood learning technologies is Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS).

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Social Learning vs. Collaborative Learning

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Social Learning vs. Collaborative Learning

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Is there a difference, if so what ?

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A great illustration of how social learning works.
(click link below)