Tools for Deciding on a LMS (Navigate 3.2.1)

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When an online school faces the decision of selecting a learning management system, it needs to take into account the cost, the ease of use of the system, and the tools available.

The cost of an LMS is one of the most important factors for an online school to consider when making this decision.  Some of the open source systems are free, while others can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Is this school public or private?  Does the school charge tuition?  If so, can the cost be absorbed by the tuition?  Does the school receive its funding through taxpayer dollars?  If so, is a LMS from a vendor a prudent way to use tax money?  Is there room for a pricey LMS in the school's budget?  Considering the cost of the LMS is one of the first choices the school must make.

When making this decision, the school must also consider the tools and features available through the LMS.  Is this LMS customizable for each classroom and teacher, or does every class have the exact same platform through which to deliver content and assess students?  How functional is the gradebook?  How can teachers communicate with students and parents within the LMS?  Are the tools available a good fit for the organization, or might they stand in the way of learning?

Finally, the school must consider the LMS's ease of use.  Is this platform going to be user friendly even for novice users?  Will parents and guardians be able to figure out the system easily to communicate with teachers or help students with assignments and time management?  Are students going to understand the organization and expectations of the course?  How cluttered is the page?  While it may seem silly, the design of the LMS is another characteristic to consider.  Teachers and students will be looking at the LMS on the screen for many hours, and if the design is overly busy or cluttered, it can be a distraction or create a negative experience for the user.

Canvas

The web contains many guides for online schools to refer to when making this important choice.  If I were starting an online high school today, I would use Canvas.  The tools available on Canvas are practical and not overly gimmicky, the interface is clean and pleasant, and the LMS is free.  Which would your organization choose?