A Comparison Of Authoring Tools And LMS

Aug 21, 2023

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The world is moving towards e-learning, and authoring tools and Learning Management Systems (LMS) are becoming more common. These two technologies make e-learning courses possible by allowing instructional designers to create content and deliver it to learners online.

A popular comparison, most users all over the world are divided on Adobe Captivate vs Articulate Storyline when it comes to training, authoring, and learning programs. In this article, we will compare authoring tools with LMS.

What are Authoring Tools?

Authoring tools are software programs used by instructional designers to create different parts of an e-learning course, such as quizzes, assessments, simulations, interactive elements, and multimedia elements, within a single platform.

Authoring tools can be of two kinds:

1. Standalone: Standalone authoring tools enable developers to build content that can run on any device or learning system that supports industry standards like SCORM, AICC, or xAPI.
2. Integrated Authoring Tools: There is another type of integrated authoring tool in which you can design your entire site around these sorts of customizations with widgets or shortcodes if you’re using one particular type of CMS (content management system).

What Is An LMS?

An LMS is an enterprise-level software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and execution of e-learning courses online. These systems provide educators a way to develop training classes once and offer them across multiple devices like computers and mobile phones.

Learning Management Systems differ on the basis of hosting and licensing:

1. Cloud-based vs. Self-hosted: Data and functionality in cloud-based systems are available through a server hosted by their provider. In the case of the latter, they are hosted on their own web server.
2. Open Source vs. Proprietary: Open source means that its source code is accessible, whereas proprietary software doesn’t share its coding because it has been developed under specific licenses for internal teams only.

Comparison Between Authoring Tool And LMS

Many educational institutions worldwide consider combining the benefits provided by both software solutions - ATs for building the material and LMS platforms for delivering it.

1. Functionality: Authoring tools can be used to create e-learning content and multimedia elements, while LMSs are used to manage, deliver, track, and monitor those assets.
2. Ease of Use: Authoring tools can be relatively easy to use thanks to modern drag-and-drop interfaces that require no coding experience to operate them effectively. LMS systems generally have a bit more significant learning curve mainly because they are built with advanced functionality initially intended for corporate office training needs.
3. Integration & Compatibility: Due to the standardized API protocols integrated with most popular authoring tools, ATs can present digital material anywhere online. Courses taught on different learning management systems can be integrated easily since no additional support SCORM or xAPI standards are required.
   In contrast, while almost every learning management system supports standard modules like SCORM and xAPI, the integration technologies may not always function seamlessly when used in tandem with in-game elements. This can lead to conflicting codes, requiring intensive effort from the IT teams responsible for developing computer networks that manage requests within their enterprise institutions through VPNs.
4. Pricing considerations: Most AT vendors market numerous products with varying pricing plans consisting of personal editions suitable for independent consultants. Licensing options such as subscription fees are comparatively cheaper than the yearly enterprise-level monthly payment agreements often offered by most LMS providers. Owing to the large number of features delivered, these are usually high-cost solutions.
5. Reporting capabilities: The reporting module within an LMS platform is one of its vital characteristics. The system competently aggregates data outlining each skill acquisition, helping institutional employers discover gaps and appropriate remedy measures. Despite offering several courses, the platform presents inclusive statistics and displays live earnings to help executives make informed decisions on education investments. This showcases classroom successes and failures tracked into graphs comparing expected success rates before training commencement till its conclusion. These statistical reports enhance motivation among learners, positively impacting students and ultimately creating an improvement culture.
6. Scalability: Scalability is the ability of the LMS platform to support varied volumes of electronically enrollable learners across longer periods of time. Conversely, ATs are limited to programs created by them characterized by particular instructional objectives delivered within a preset period defined following initial course creation phases. This makes it harder for organizations to extend their education budgets, add extra students when required, or expand existing courses.

Conclusion

Both authoring tools and LMS platforms have their own functionality, ease-of-use considerations, and use cases for administering e-learning courses online effectively. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for all digital learning challenges faced daily by pupils, at-home learning modes are being adopted at increased rates. Blended models of e-teaching involve software-based educating methodologies to help tackle consolidation issues and manage data along with teaching-learning assessments that delimit any significant exposure risks. This enables better, more controlled outcomes beyond standardization, focusing on a smarter and more systematic process of guiding the achievement of educational goals online.

Organizations must analyze their options comprehensively to understand practical implementation scenarios and plan organizational learning strategies accordingly. They must also be aligned with institutional goals moving into new chapters of the educational sector, taking into account scalability, flexibility, and cost.