Which tools would be most valuable in the online classroom? Which would be of least value?
Communication
Email is a necessary tool for private communications between the teacher and an individual without all learnings seeing the message. A student might need to ask a question that does not apply to everyone in the course, or the teacher might need to address an issue with a specific student.
Notification System displays or sends a message when specific items are updated in the course such as an announcement, or a discussion post. Teachers use this feature to alert them of student activities in the course. This is a nice feature but is not always necessary.
Discussion forums are one of the most valuable features in an online classroom. The interaction amongst learners provides a far richer experience in learning than when a learner goes through the content and then writes about their learning.
Instant Messaging synchronous communication, nice but not necessary. Email can be used instead if this feature is more costly.
Blogs/journals are used for learner reflections to solidify learning.
Social Profiles necessary for all participants in the course. It is far too easy for a person to discount another students' remarks when that student is unknown. A profile helps with getting to know where information is coming from. The teacher should also have a full profile sharing their background so the students/parents are comfortable with the guidance and knowledge the student will be receiving.
Calendar used to organize assignment timelines and other events.
Alert Systems are more than notifications, they are automatically sent based upon specific criteria such as a student not logging into the course for x number of days, or reminders for upcoming assessments.
Assessment
Dropbox a place for students to upload their completed assignments allowing all work to be stored inside the course. Google Drive or "Dropbox" could be used, but the work would not be in the course.
Discussions allow the teacher to extend the understanding of students, or to clarify any misconceptions. Formative assessments are generally made in discussion forums.
Quizzing/Testing features are used for pre and post assessments in an online course. Within many LMSs, the quiz or test can be set to automtically provide grades, and/or feedback to the student.
Self Assessments/Surveys are used by students as a way to check understanding prior to a formal assessment.
Integrated rubrics allow consistency and shows the student exactly what they should be learning and exactly what will be assessed. Integration is nice, but is another feature that is not necessary as rubrics can be added to the content of the course.
Gradebook shows student progress and some LMSs show feedback in the gradebook.
User/Class progressAssessment and the LMS shows login information, data, and usage patterns of students
Evaluation
Reports some LMSs allow the teacher to download progress reports.
Comments/Feedback are/is necessary to student success.
Rubrics are necessary for student success and should be used before, during and after an assignment.
Data Import some LMSs allow items to be imported into the gradebook.
Weight vs. Percentage options of weight or percentage are provided in most LMSs.
In my opinion, the necessary and most valuable tools of an LMS are: email, discussion forums, social profiles, a dropbox, and a gradebook with a comment/feedback feature. I also feel it is important to keep a record of everything within the course.
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