How Content Management Systems and Learning Management Systems Differ
Content Management Systems (CMS) and Learning Management Systems (LMS) are different types of systems that have different purposes. A district may need both types of systems.
A Content Management System (CMS) is used to create a framework for the content of a web site. It makes it easy for a large number of people to contribute content to a website without needing expensive software.
Moodle is a Learning Management System (LMS). A learning management system is Internet based software that manages student enrollment, tracks student performance and records student data, and allows delivery of e-learning education courses. It is most often used to deliver online or blended/hybrid instruction.
| Content Management System | Moodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | To create a system to easily upload information to the web. The primary use is to distribute information or push information. | To create a social constructivist learning platform for e-learning. |
| Management of online courses | No | Yes |
| Performance Reporting of activities, assignments, and assessments | No | Yes |
| Supports Learner Collaboration | No | YesIncludes blogs, wikis, interactive chats, peer review systems, discussion boards |
| Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Measures student meeting of pre-defined outcomes | No | Yes |
| Organizing content | Yes | Yes |
| Creation of quiz questions and test administration | No | Yes |
| Dynamic pre-testing and adaptive learning environments | No | Yes |
| Can serve up content based on learner needs and abilities | No | Yes |
| Automate record keeping | No | Yes |
| Stores learner profile | No | Yes |
A short video explaining Moodle is available at https://www.eclass4learning.com/why-moodle/