Language Learning & Technology

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CMS, LMS, Joomla, MOODLE, and Google CLASSROOM

In the context of technology enhanced learning we should know the difference between a CMS and an LMS and consider which one is right for our requirements. CMS stands for Content Management System while LMS stands for Learning Management System.

This site has been created with the Joomla platform, version 3.9, that is often considered a CMS although with some extensions can become an LMS.

JOOMLA and MOODLE

We can consider the potential of Joomla and the differences between Joomla and another successful platform, Moodle, to present and share news, knowledge and learning contents. Joomla! is a free and open source Content Management System for the creation of interactive and multilingual websites, online communities, portals, blogs and eCommerce applications. It can serve more for presenting content while Moodle, an open source Learning Management System, can be customised for any course or teaching method and can be a student-centered educational environment.

Generally speaking, the main difference between a CMS (Content Management System) like Joomla, Drupal or Wordpress and an LMS (Learning Management System) like Moodle is that the former presents and allows you to develop content for a website, but does not allow you to evaluate the work that it is done on the website and does not have a record and a cumulative total for the test scores made by students during the course. A Learning Management System in more centered on interaction and allows you to plan, implement and assess a specific learning process. 

To present an online course with an assessment system you need to use Moodle or another LMS, while if you want to have more flexibility in terms of functionality within the site, easier page styling, more robust modules than social networking, more effective contact management, it is necessary to use a CMS.

In one school it is possible to use an LMS, such as Moodle, for online learning and another CMS, such as Joomla, for ease of use and to support presentation and administrative functions. Moodle provides quizzes and the ability to rate them and maintains student documentation, while Joomla was designed to be primarily a presentation system, although there are new features that extend the system to support more CRM, e-Commerce and LMS. 

GOOGLE CLASSROOM

In 2020 and 2021, the school world has had to adapt quickly to the challenges arising from the pandemic, with the consequent affirmation of distance learning and integrated digital teaching. Google, with its suite of free tools, has helped millions of students and educators around the world to learn and teach remotely. It has also taken up the challenges and feedback and evolved itself in the new Google Workspace for Education version, which includes all the products used so far (Classroom, Meet, Drive, Calendar, etc.) but with renewed image and features. 

Google Classroom has now become one of the most used free Learning Management Systems. It can be utilized by eLearning professionals, educators, online facilitators, content creators thanks to the possibility of working paperless in one cloud-based location. You can also save copies of documents organized in personalized Google Drive folders. Rather than having to install an LMS locally or signing up for a Learning Management System (LMS) provider, users can simply access the Google Classroom app and begin sharing assignments and eLearning materials.