Learning Management Systems

 What is a Learning Management System or LMS?  Many LMS software packages started as grading systems.  Eventually, they added features allowing teachers to add assignments or communicate with parents.  I have taught in both public and private schools and adjuncted at a small college.  One thing schools have in common was they change LMS or grading software frequently—one time a month after school started.   Generally, I posted grades and saved my documents separately.  For years, I maintained copies of documents in a free LMS; the website was on the class syllabus.  I used the school’s LMS du jour just for grades.

Now I use Google Classroom because I can loads docs from Google Drive.  However, there are loads of free LMS systems available if you aren’t a Google fan.  Here are 25 free LMS.  Here are even more free LMS.  I create a Classroom for every class I teach.  At the end of the school-year, you can make a new copy (with all of the documents) and archive the class with student grades.  (Yes, I do have loads of storage in Drive.)  You can add photos as you do activities to Classroom and create a digital portfolio for each subject.  My husband and I train tax volunteers, too.  I made a Classroom just for Taxes, with training slide deck, links, and docs. Try several LMS to see which one you like.  Next make classrooms for each subject—or major project.  Take pix of assignments, tests, projects, etc.  Upload these pix to your LMS.  You can share the classroom with your on-line school—complete with work samples and grades.  Better yet, train your teen to take pix and upload them.  Just like that you have a digital portfolio.