From the course: Learning Brightspace by D2L

What is a course management system? - Desire2Learn Tutorial

From the course: Learning Brightspace by D2L

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What is a course management system?

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- [Instructor] So what is a course management system? A course management system, also known as a CMS, is a software platform, usually web-based, that facilitates and simplifies common classroom activities. It provides a single point of access for things like grading, attendance, communication, and distributing materials, all of which is designed to streamline classroom administration. When I taught without a course management system, my work environment often looked like this, full of clutter and files. Paper-based systems are time-consuming and inefficient, taking away from lecture prep, lesson planning, or providing student feedback. A well-run CMS, however, makes all those common tasks easier and not just for the teacher. It also helps the students. Students just don't have to master material, after all; they need to track deadlines, organize assignment sheets, and manage detailed notes. And a CMS can help them with all those tasks. In other words, everything you need to know about a course management system is really right there in the name. It is an electronic system that teachers and students can use to manage their courses and to keep them running smoothly. A CMS consolidates all the fragmented elements of both teaching and taking a class into a centralized, web-based point and creates exciting new opportunities for communicating and understanding content. You can do things with a CMS that would be impossible in traditional classrooms. And that really brings me back to the main point. I don't use a CMS because it makes my teaching easier; I use one because it makes my teaching better.

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