Using GoogleApps as a Free #LMS

Source: http://edtechvoice.com/


If you had fun with my discussion in this blog entry about Cobbling Together an LMS, you’ll just love this next one. 

Paging through the new Google+ Communities, I noticed a group of college professors–working with adult learners, of course, like we are–who are using GoogleApps for Online Courses. Again, this is just something to help you look at PD from another angle.


Video (20 minutes):

Tells a story of how professors (Dr. Judah Thornewill) at University of Louisville in 2012 created and delivered a 3 credit-hour online course with no programmers using free Google Apps technologies – and kept control of the copyright. This includes 12 steps they took.


The 12 Steps are written out here: http://goo.gl/k3Dza



There’s also a Google+ Community--Using GoogleApps as a Free LMS–that discusses how to accomplish this and offers support – http://goo.gl/iGjWE
There’s no shortage of alternatives to traditional learning management systems (LMSs) like Blackboard, Desire2Learn and Moodle. What there does seem to be a shortage of is the will to use these in K-12 schools to transform learning. Thank goodness to those who have begun, or have been, trying these approaches!



Everything posted on Miguel Guhlin’s blogs/wikis are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of his employer(s) or its clients. Read Full Disclosure

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4 thoughts on “Using GoogleApps as a Free #LMS

  1. llane March 1, 2013 at 6:50 am Reply

    This is great – thanks for sharing another way to escape the LMS. The main reason I haven't used Google is that I feel funny asking people to get a Google account when they have no idea how much Google will track their every move. Perhaps if I offer some kind of warnings or tutorials?

  2. Anonymous March 1, 2013 at 6:50 am Reply

    This is great – thanks for sharing another way to escape the LMS. The main reason I haven't used Google is that I feel funny asking people to get a Google account when they have no idea how much Google will track their every move. Perhaps if I offer some kind of warnings or tutorials?

  3. verenanz March 1, 2013 at 3:42 pm Reply

    I also created an open course for adults using Google and wikispaces – #ceetopen http://openlearningonline.wikispaces.com/ but the transition to K12 is more than just about the educators. I teach in Canada and we are very Google savvy. We have legislation that prevents teachers from using cloud software that is hosted in the US. All social media use by students under 18 also needs parental consent. Parents need to know what tools their children are using and have an awareness of their digital footprint. Writing out every single tool in a social media consent form is also extremely difficult.If we could have servers provided in our provinces, I think that would help as well as a common social media consent form (that is legal) – then we would be able to consider Google as an LMS as well.If I had API's written to collect personal and private content and had them secured through a Canadian server, then I would be able to consider a plethora of open services. If someone would like to create those API's for k12 – it would be greatly appreciated!We are trying – we do have legal implications that are often out of our control in massive school districts :)Just wanted to add that we appreciate what Higher Ed is doing and we are working hard to develop options for the open k12 learning environment as well! I love the links!Verena Roberts

  4. Anonymous March 1, 2013 at 3:42 pm Reply

    I also created an open course for adults using Google and wikispaces – #ceetopen http://openlearningonline.wikispaces.com/ but the transition to K12 is more than just about the educators. I teach in Canada and we are very Google savvy. We have legislation that prevents teachers from using cloud software that is hosted in the US. All social media use by students under 18 also needs parental consent. Parents need to know what tools their children are using and have an awareness of their digital footprint. Writing out every single tool in a social media consent form is also extremely difficult.If we could have servers provided in our provinces, I think that would help as well as a common social media consent form (that is legal) – then we would be able to consider Google as an LMS as well.If I had API's written to collect personal and private content and had them secured through a Canadian server, then I would be able to consider a plethora of open services. If someone would like to create those API's for k12 – it would be greatly appreciated!We are trying – we do have legal implications that are often out of our control in massive school districts :)Just wanted to add that we appreciate what Higher Ed is doing and we are working hard to develop options for the open k12 learning environment as well! I love the links!Verena Roberts

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