Success and Failure Aspects of LMS in E-Learning Systems

Abstract

Learning management systems (LMS) and their associated
tools have created value for higher education institutions worldwide
by improving content deliverability, accessibility, and retrievability.
Nevertheless, many studies have criticised these systems for their
teacher-centred approaches, which limit opportunities for social and informal
learning. After several decades of institutions using LMS, this research
aims to discuss the success and failure aspects of these LMS from
various perspectives, including structure, content, and support for emerging
technologies. Based on a thematic literature review and analysis, success
and failure aspects are organised and verified by LMS experts.
Alongside the aspects identified from the literature, these experts also
noted several additional aspects of success and failure in LMS. The analysis
results overall indicated the success aspects of LMS relate to seven
key factors: single sign-on, learning management, content management,
integration, security, tracking, and group management. Similarly, the
failure aspects could be classified into eight factors: content creation and
sharing, communicative features, structure, learning engagement, assessment,
user interfaces, social and informal learning, and mobile features.
The implications of the research for education institutions, instructors,
developers, and system providers, as well as the resulting directions for
future research, are thus also discussed to help increasing the chances of
developing additional theoretical and practical insights.