e-Learning kit: Learning environments

If you are looking for ideas on how and where to host your content you will find them here, from virtual learning environments (VLEs) to broadcasting sites. VLEs have the following set of elements in common, but they can also be gained from a combination of applications (McPherson & Nunes, 2004):

• Presentation tool: Used to create the look and feel of the course/program.
• Student tools: A selection of tools for communication, collaboration, evaluation, etc.
• Administrative tools: Used for delivering materials and tracking usage and progress.

On this page: LMS, CMS, hypermedia, wikis, blogs, hosts, social media, web conferencing, virtual worlds.

Learning management system (LMS)

If you are in an institution with a learning management system (LMS), you can take advantage of all of the features. They are often used to simply load lecture materials into a file folder structure but with much imagination, and a strong grasp of the LMS options, they can be used to support active learning (Littlejohn, 2006). Visit the EduTech Wiki LMS page or Wikipedia for a comprehensive list.

• McGill myCourses uses Desire2Learn.
• LON-CAPA: Open source full-featured course management, learning content management, and assessment system.
• Canvas: Download and set up your own installation or create a Free-for-Teacher account.
  • ​Review the table of feature availability for Free-for-Teacher accounts.
  • Canvas Network (powered by the Canvas LMS): Take an open course or offer your own on the network.
• Moodle: Download and set up your own installation or use a free hosting option below.
  • MoodleCloud: Free hosting from Moodle, with ads.
  • Learn Moodle: Take the official learn Moodle MOOC.
• Sakai: Download and set up your own installation or use one of their commercial affiliates.
  • More about these options
• Open edX: Install Open edX on an Ubuntu machine.
• Google Classroom:  Everyone can now use Classroom with a personal Google Account. A Classroom app is available for mobile devices.
• Google Course Builder: Still usable but in 2013 Google announced that instead of continuing to develop Course Builder, they would partner with edX.
• LibGuides
  • Example from ECU Libraries: Biology IL tutorial (Webb & Hoover, 2015) 
  • Example from Bloomsburg University: General Library Research Tutorial (Yelinek et al., 2010)
  • Classroom Assessment Techniques: CAT Basics and Tools for Librarians: Great resource with instructions for using polls and forms.

Content management system (CMS)

• McGill Web Management System is built on Drupal content management software.
• Joomla: Popular multilingual CMS.
• Textpattern: Can be used for anything from blogs to more complex sites.
• UDL Curriculum Toolkit: Open source Java-based web application designed to support the creation of interactive, multimedia curriculum according the principles of Universal Design for Learning.

Hypermedia (web pages)

• Options: Google Sites, Omeka, Jekyll.
  • IHE blog post: Stand out from the (Wordpress) crowd with a static website.
• MERLOT Content Builder: Create and share webpages and multi-page websites.
• WAVE: Web accessibility evaluation tool.

Wikis

Wikis are a great way to collaboratively create content with a group. Of course, you have to be willing to give up some control.

• Options: tiki, MediaWiki, PBworks (Wikispaces Classroom has closed).
• Compare different wikis using WikiMatrix.

Blogs

• WordPress (WordPress.org)
  • Blogs.mcgill.ca guide
  • More than 50,000 plugins. For example, add social networking with the BuddyPress plugin.
  • WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
• Edublogs (powered by WordPress)
• Blogger
• Tumblr 

Host videos and other learning objects

• Video @ McGill: Microsoft Stream video channel for Office 365.
• YouTube: Has instructions on how to create a channel.
• Vimeo: Video sharing website and app.
• Screencast.com: Host videos, images, and documents (2 GB of storage with free account).
• Internet Archive: See LION TV as example and explore available help.
• iTunes U Course Manager
  • Public courses need permission from your institution but it is possible to create private courses.
  • Much of the content previous posted on iTunes U was migrated to Apple Podcasts in 2017.
  • McGill Apple Podcasts
• SlideShare: Host presentation slides.
• Google Drive: Share folders and documents.
• Medium for Publishers: Publishing platform.
• Xerte: Does more than just host; Create learning objects with this tool and integrate them with videos or other resources like Padlet, Google docs, etc (recommended by JISC).

Social media

A Facebook group can be used as an LMS, posting announcements and resources and having discussions, but it requires additional applications to share files in different formats, such as Google Docs, and perhaps a survey tool (Wang et al., 2012). Manca and Ranieri also wrote a literature review on the use of Facebook as a learning environment (2013).

Web conferencing

• Zoom
  • Currently being supported at McGill.
• Skype
  • Skype for Business @ McGill: Instructors can create a session at any time (maximum of 250 connections) and distribute recordings. Has screen sharing and PowerPoint presentation functionalities.
• Adobe Connect: Web conferencing software that can function as a library-based LMS and interacts with Adobe Captivate (Germek, 2012).
  • It costs $ but is supported at McGill (45 participants at one time).
• More on web conferencing in the building community technologies.

Virtual worlds

Three-dimensional worlds offer an immersive learning experience but require some dedication and lots of imagination.

• Second Life: McGill Library, like many others, once had an island in Second Life (I myself had an avatar librarian that sat at a virtual reference desk waiting for someone (anyone) to visit).
• OpenSimulator: Create your own world.

Bottom of the page bonus: Free Software Directory (in case you have not yet explored this site)

See the full bibliography for works consulted.

Germek, G. (2012). Empowered library eLearning: Capturing assessment and reporting with ease, efficiency, and effectiveness. Reference Services Review, 40(1), 90-102.​

Littlejohn, A., Cook, J., Campbell, L., Sclater, N., Currier, S., & Davis, H. "Managing educational resources" In Conole, G., & Oliver, M. (2006). Contemporary perspectives in e-learning research: Themes, methods and impact on practice. Hoboken: T&F.

Manca, S., & Ranieri, M. (2013). Is it a tool suitable for learning? A critical review of the literature on Facebook as a technology‐enhanced learning environment. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29(6), 487-504.

McPherson, M., & Nunes, M. B. (2004). Developing innovation in online learning: An action research framework. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

Wang, Q., Woo, H. L., Quek, C. L., Yang, Y., & Liu, M. (2012). Using the Facebook group as a learning management system: An exploratory study. British Journal of Educational Technology, 43(3), 428-438.

Webb, K. K., & Hoover, J. (2015). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the academic library: A methodology for mapping multiple means of representation in library tutorials. College & Research Libraries, 76(4), 537-553.

Yelinek, K., Neyer, L., Bressler, D., Coffta, M., & Magolis, D. (2010). Using LibGuides for an information literacy tutorial: Tutorial 2.0. College & Research Libraries News, 71(7), 352-355.