LMS, CMS, LCMS: the confusion among them

Abstract

With the huge development in educational technologies, most educational organizations and institutes have implemented at least one of several e-learning platforms to enhance teaching, learning, and management activities. Popular e-learning platforms include Learning Management Systems (LMS), Course Management System (CMS), and Learning Content Management System (LCMS). Even though these e-learning platforms have been widely implemented among educational organizations, the terminologies used to refer to these e-learning platforms are often misunderstood and misused in the literature, leading to confusion. This review paper aims to clarify this confusion between these platforms technologies by looking to their origins, definitions and basic functions. A comparison of all these platforms has been presented and discussed in detail based on the literature review. This paper also discusses some critical issues that should be considered prior to implementing any of these e-learning platforms along with the advantages and the barriers associated with them. The results of this study provide institutions with the information they need about these e-learning platforms to meet specific aims and objectives.