Management Systems Land - Is There a Free Choice That’s Worthy? by Keith Royer

Use Moodle...use Blackboard...use Schoology...use Google Classroom...use Edmodo, and the list goes on and on. There are so many learning management systems (for now we’ll group everything into that category), that it becomes overwhelming. Most educators don’t usually have a say in what a district adopts as their “official” LMS. What educators do have a choice with, is choosing one that’s free. Free to use, free to create, and free to operate.

When choosing an LMS for a classroom, there are many things you should take into consideration (and look no further than the article, from eLearning Industry, that highlights good tips when choosing an LMS). Yes, it takes time to “play around” with the free LMSs that are out there, but within a few minutes you should be able to see how user-friendly the LMS is, and really, that’s the key. Google Classroom and Edmodo both offer a decent LMS for free, depending on your needs.

Google Classroom is an easy integration if your district already adopts Google Apps for Ed (GAFE). The downfall, you can use it if you’re not part of GAFE. It seamlessly integrates with Google Drive, YouTube, or any file you have stored on your computer. It is basic, and does not have a lot of features. You can add questions, posts, and create assignments. There is a page for resources to be stored as well. The most beneficial tool is being able to automatically make copies of a Google Doc for each student with the click of one button. It also organizes and stores all the Docs for you, with student names, no extra work required. That in itself makes it worth using, if for nothing else.

Below is a brief introduction to Google Classroom (link here).

Edmodo is another free LMS (paid subscription is available). It is laid out more like a Facebook for school use. You can post polls, quizzes, and assignments. There is a news feed where students can communicate in that Facebook-style online world. You can add all kinds of files types to your class, so students can view files they need for class. It is a little more full-featured than Google Classroom, and works really well for some subjects. It is a great place for any type of English-related class, allowing for easy discussion online. It is easy to navigate, but for some non-tech savvy teachers, can get a bit overwhelming.

Below is a brief introduction to Edmodo (link here).

If you’re looking for a LMS to help save time and paper, there are plenty out there to choose from. If you don’t like your district’s LMS, see what’s out there for free. Look for the features you want, and go with the one that makes that the easiest. Who knows, maybe you’ll stumble upon something new and have something to share with the rest of your teachers!