Lisa Cantwell

GCU TEC-541
October 31, 2018

LMS Review and Recommendation

Part 1: Review

Key Features Moodle Blackboard Learn Canvas

Communication Tool  Discussion forum  Discussions  Audio Messages

 Chat-real time  Message tool  Video Messages
discussion  Video chat in  Chat
 Notes-personal Blackboard Collaborate  Discussions
messages  Chat  Notifications (e-mail or
 E-mail  Whiteboard text)
 Webinar  Web Conferencing

Productivity Tool  Completion progress  Dropbox  Calendar

 Assessments  Quizzes

Student Engagement Tool  Moodle Badges  Mobile App  Badges for attendance
 Gamification-Moodle  Interactive Video and behavior
games plug-in  Interactive offline  ePortfolios
 Moodle Mobile access  Groups
 Multimedia  Video web  Pages (Wiki Like
capabilities- use of conferencing pages)

© 2017. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

 videos, audio clips,  Badges  Mobile App
animation,
 Communication
Administration Tool  Attendance  Data Tracking  Gradebook
 Plagiarism tool  Gradebook  Data
 Grade Me  Safe Assign-  Plagiarism tool
 Participation progress Plagiarism tool
Couse Delivery  HTML pages (Lesson  HD Virtual Classroom  Modules
Activity)  Flipped Classroom  Asynchronous with
 Virtual classroom with  Synchronous e-learning media comments
additional plug-in (Chat or Whiteboard)  Synchronous with
 Asynchronous conferences and
 Synchronous with plug- webcam
ins

Part 2: Recommendation
This was a difficult task, trying to determine which of the learning management systems that I would recommend. After

reviewing and researching the three different learning management systems; Moodle, Blackboard Learn and Canvas, I eventually

narrowed it down to Moodle. The reason I chose Moodle is that it offers a wide variety of student engagement tools. Moodle offers

virtual classrooms with an additional add-on for an engaging experience for students. Another reason that I chose Moodle is that it

offers gamification and multimedia capabilities. The gamification applications are not included but can be added on in a plugin to

enhance students’ learning. Some of the games that can be added on are memory games, quizzes, crossword puzzles and hangman to

name a few (Top 6 plugins, 2017). These games were the deciding factor for me, because it allows teachers to create activities that
will draw the student in. With the ability to add on a variety of plugins in Moodle, this learning management system makes it an

enticing package for teachers who want to provide an alternative learning experience to the traditional online forum discussion. The

other plugin that can be added is the multimedia capabilities. The multimedia plugins that can be added to Moodle are media players,

video, audio clips and animation. These tools would be great for teachers who want to create an interactive experience for the

students. These additional plugins that Moodle offers, increases student engagement and interest (Young, 2018). Having the ability to

upload and share videos with multimedia aspects makes Moodle an appealing learning management system.

In addition to the student engagement tools, Moodle also offers the ability to be asynchronous and synchronous learning,

depending on what your needs are for your online course. If you want to be able to chat and interact with your students, then

synchronous lessons would be ideal for you. If you want your students to be able to access information while offline, then

asynchronous learning would be beneficial. Having the ability to choose these options, and the additional plugins, allows you to

customize your classroom. Not only does Moodle offer so many wonderful tools and plugins, it is a free open source platform. For

these reasons, Moodle would be a learning management system that I would want to connect with and recommend to other teachers.
 References

Top 6 plugins for gamification in Moodle. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.moodlenews.com/2017/top-6-plugins-for-

gamification-in-moodle-gamification/

Young, B. (2018). Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/learner-engagement-moodle-4-ways-increasing