I’ve always been fascinated with Learning Management Systems. An LMS platform provides the perfect intersection between learning and technology. When Educause announced their upcoming Demo Day for LMS platforms, I was front and center. Below are my takeaways from these sessions.
D2L Brightspace: Accessibility
Accessibility. Brightspace is proud as a leader in producing accessible content for its users. Brightspace integrates with other third-party tools such as Loomi and H5P to offer options for instructors and course creators that is unique and engaging.
Blackboard: Inclusion
Blackboard focuses on an inclusive experience for learners, allowing accommodations for assignments, personalized video feedback and alternative names and pronunciations. Blackboard also offers robust integrated AI options to create course content based on your course syllabus and outcomes. Lastly, Blackboard generates AI generated discussion topics.
Instructure Canvas: Transparency
Canvas will be unveiling its new Block Editor. This will be a welcome addition to those who want control over the look and feel of their course site. The new Block Editor will feature content blocks similar to those that you would find on a blog site (e.g. WordPress). In addition, course pacing has been introduced to accommodate courses with staggered start dates. The instructor can designate the time needed to complete course content and then base due dates on the student enrollment or start date.