Learning Management System

DavieJ
(@daviej)

13 years, 10 months ago

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has experience working with WordPress as a Learning Management System (LMS).

We recently picked up a client and have been researching the best path to take with an LMS system. We have taken an in depth look at a few options thus far: JoomlaLMS, BuddyPress Courseware and Moodle.

BuddyPress Courseware – I’d love to be able to use this since I love working in WordPress. It’s my go to CMS. Sadly, there seems to be some functionality lacking that the client would really need. The client is eager to be on WordPress too (he recognizes the superior system that it is) but the functionality that it is lacking are: dynamic quizzes, glossary, exportable progress reports, and student progression in a linear fashion (buddypress seems to just present everything.) We’d love to find a solution in wordpress that meets these needs.

Moodle – great as an LMS but limited in much more than that. Client ruled it out.

JoomlaLMS – This seems to have most/all the features and is the option the client has essentially had to choose for that reason alone. Neither us, nor the client, are infused to be working in Joomla and given that the LMS isn’t open source it will be limited going forward. If we can’t find something that fills the functionality though we are stuck with this option.

At the moment, we’re about to start development into Joomla, but before we do I thought I’d take one last stop here on the forums for advise. If anyone has any suggestions for how we could satisfy the clients needs in WordPress that fulfills the functionality in courseware and makes up for the few things missing.

I’d really appreciate any input before I have to commit the headache that is Joomla!

Thanks!

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

@mercime
(@mercime)

13 years, 10 months ago

Some thoughts:

1. Hire the BP Courseware Developer Stas if available

2. Hire a BuddyPress/WP developer

nickzee
(@nickzee)

13 years, 7 months ago

DavieJ I have a similar client. Did you come up with a solution?

Thank you!
Nick

tallhat
(@tallhat)

13 years, 4 months ago

i’m looking into this too at the moment.
this is probably too late but it seems that 2013 is going to see some better wordpress LMS options: e.g.
http://www.lucidway.com/wordpress-lms-2/
http://www.learndash.com/ – not released yet (as of 9 Jan 2013) but looks interesting

so neither of those help *at the moment* but are ones to watch.
for now, the other option i’ve been looking at is ‘SCORM Cloud’ and its WP integration:
http://scorm.com/scorm-solved/scorm-cloud-features/app-integrations/ – this may solve the LMS functionality in terms of tracking/reporting/user registrations etc. but i don’t think it’s actually a course/quiz constructor – that would need to be done some other way.

Brian Dusablon
(@teamduce)

13 years, 4 months ago

Rustici (SCORM.com) has a solid solution in their SCORMCloud plugin, but to clarify you do have to pay for SCORMCloud. But it is very reasonably priced.

It really depends on what kind of training, courses and content we’re talking about as to what the best solution is.

WooThemes just launched Sensei, but it’s a very basic course builder and has no SCORM integration, so if you’re using an authoring tool, you’ll be limited to publish as a video.

These WordPress options do have some great features, though, if you’re looking to just get some content published in a course format, but that could also be accomplished pretty simply with some custom post types.

tallhat
(@tallhat)

13 years, 3 months ago

learndash v1 seems to have launched now, and there is some roadmap info e.g. articulate storyline integration at some point. http://www.learndash.com/

claudio.erba
(@claudioerba)

13 years, 2 months ago

In My hopinion the best way is using the Cloud – Plugin – API approach and interface the CMS WordPress with an LMS (Learning management system).

The focus of an LMS is related to standard Compliancy, Reporting, Training organization and content delivery (that’s where the CMS lack features)

With the integration approach you will obtain the top features of the TOP cms with the vertical features of an LMS (Like standard compliancy, dedicated reports, learning curricula organization and so on…).

Usually the benefits of integrations are:
-> Single sign on
-> Course display in wordpress pages/blocks
-> Course catalog displayed in wordpress as well

In Docebo we followed this approach and released a plugin to interface WordPress with our Docebo LMS. If you would like to check the philosophy behind the integration and test it for free you can do it here:

You can check how we do it here:

http://www.docebo.com/2013/02/22/docebo-elearning-platform-wordpress-integration-lms/

I hope this helps 🙂
Claudio

ColorWP
(@colorwp)

13 years, 2 months ago

I agree with Claudio here. The Docebo WordPress plugin provides a very nice and functional integration between the blogging CMS and the LMS.