Is your LMS LTI-compliant? With the growing acceptance of the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standard, and the 2.0Â version on the horizon, LMS platforms are becoming more fluid, with content flowing in and out via many third-party tools. LTI provides an open, standard way for third-party tools to connect to any LMS (Learning Management Systems); and a wide range of outside software can be implemented. Also, as an open standard, it avoids vendor lock-in. This means that if a school migrates to another LMS, existing third-party tools that are LTI-compliant will continue to work with the new system without needing to tinker any further. Samples of third-party applications that are sitting out on the cloud include the video capture program Panopto; the digital storytelling and collaboration app VoiceThread, the anti-plagiarism software known as Turnitin, and an asynchronous learning tool called YouSeeU that can be used for online student presentations and discussions. The Canvas LMS is leading the LTI charge. It maintains an LTI directory of compliant applications at edu-apps.org, listing over 125 apps. Included are familiar names like YouTube, Khan Academy, Twitter, WordPress, McGraw Hill Campus, CourseSmart, Ted Ed, Wikipedia and DropBox. Some apps require an administrator to install them, but others are designed for a user to plug into the LMS themselves. A list of both platforms and tools that are certified to be LTI-compliant is maintained at www.imsglobal.org/lti/. Some large institutions, like the University of Michigan and Western Governors University, are already building according to LTI standards.
It is obvious that digital resources are a huge improvement. Many teachers are already using digital resources in their classes, especially images and videos. This infographic shows the benefits. See more graphics at elearninginfographics.com.
It is no longer enough to train your employees to do their jobs more effectively. A successful learning and development program should encourage the growth of the organization while establishing a culture of continuous learning. The $60 billion corporate learning industry is technologically outdated. This year we will see how some leading organizations start to implement new, advanced technologies and platforms such as Open EdX and Canvas. Learning in the workplace is going to change dramatically.
The one guaranteed constant in education technology is change, and that change is definitely accelerating. Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) into classroom programs. Tablets are less expensive devices and are seen as a better option than traditional laptops. Learning is increasingly becoming mobile and sites are implementing responsive designs to accommodate all forms of technology. Social media as a teaching and learning tool. When combined with meaningful engagement, social media technology can be a powerful tool to reinforce learning and establish effective communication skills. Digital Badges. They serve to validate the importance of after-school programs and other informal learning opportunities. Open Educational Resources (OER). They will soon be widely used in K-12. iPads' growth. Learning has become increasingly interactive and can happen anytime, anywhere. Learning analytics. They can help instructors identify struggling students; they can boost course and college completion. Learning Management Systems (LMS) for blended and online learning continue to gain a stronghold, mainly when it is about creating flipped classrooms. It results in improved student performance. Gamification of education. Effectively designed games can stimulate large gains in productivity and creativity among learners, because they impact positively on problem solving skills, motivation and engagement.
Blended learning is a new educational model with great potential. It personalizes education for students and improves outcomes. Coursera, the leading MOOC platform with over 5 million enrolled students and $85 million raised, offers a MOOC on blended learning. It includes best practices from real schools using these models.
