Building a Seamless eLearning Department Ecosystem
I have been an instructional designer for over 15 years and have worked with many colleges and universities across North America. Higher Ed remains my absolute favorite space to be in because of the incredible amount of knowledge I get to help shape for learners. But there is one thing that I believe will enhance learning design in higher education - a learning design system that supports their internal process.
The role of Learning Design Systems (LDS) in higher education has become increasingly vital as institutions face complex challenges in maintaining course relevance, regulatory compliance, and learner engagement.
Here are several benefits that I believe makes a LDS an essential tool for academic institutions.
Image Description: An infographic conveying the intersections of student information system, learning design system, course authorware, and learning management system software applications. Each system is paired with an icon: student information with a checklist; learning design with a gear and a set of circular arrows around the gear; course authorware with media icons; and learning management with people icons demonstrating a relationship between a teacher and students.
1. The Student Information System (SIS)
The SIS acts as the backbone of the eLearning environment. It stores and manages student data, including enrollment information, academic progress, and performance analytics. By integrating with other tools, the SIS ensures accurate and up-to-date information about learners is available across the board. Without a well-functioning SIS, other systems would struggle to retrieve essential student information, making the entire learning process inefficient. Examples of SIS include PowerSchool, Blackboard SIS, and Infinite Campus.
2. Course Authorware
Course authorware refers to the tools used to create interactive and engaging educational content. These platforms enable instructional designers to build multimedia-rich courses tailored to specific learning objectives. Authorware tools are essential in developing the materials that will eventually live on the LMS. Examples of popular authorware tools include Articulate 360, Vyond, Adobe Captivate, and Camtasia. Without effective authorware, course development would be cumbersome, and the innovation in content creation would be stifled.
Articulate 360, for instance, provides a robust platform for creating interactive eLearning modules with built-in quizzes, branching scenarios, and multimedia elements. Vyond allows designers to develop animated videos to make content more engaging. Each of these tools enhances the instructional design process, ensuring that the courses delivered through the LMS are not only informative, but also captivating.
3. Learning Management System (LMS)
The LMS serves as the hub where learners access their courses, assignments, and assessments. It tracks learner progress and facilitates interaction between students and educators. For the LMS to function optimally, it must draw from the SIS for student data and from Course Authorware for the course content. The LMS provides the structure, but it’s the content created within the Learning Design System that brings it to life.. Popular examples of LMS include Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, and TalentLMS.
For instance, Canvas is widely used in higher education for its flexibility and integration capabilities, while Moodle is an open-source platform known for its adaptability. These systems enable educators to deliver content efficiently and learners to engage with it seamlessly.
4. Learning Design System (LDS)
At the heart of making these systems work together smoothly is the Learning Design System (LDS), like KnowledgeNow’s eClarity. The LDS guides the process of creating structured, engaging, and pedagogically sound courses. It not only helps instructional designers create effective learning pathways but also ensures that the design aligns with the needs of students and the goals of the course.
The LDS acts as the glue that holds the eLearning ecosystem together by streamlining course development and design, and managing all of the eLearning department’s course designs and maintenance. With a powerful system like eClarity, instructional designers are empowered to build learning solutions that are more accessible, inclusive, and engaging. The eClarity LDS ensures that all learning components—from the SIS to the LMS—are designed to work in harmony, reducing friction between systems and improving the overall learning experience.
Image Description: Three ethnically diverse individuals in an open workspace. An older women with light skin is standing next to a younger woman with medium skin. The younger woman is showing something on her computer screen. A man with medium skin is working at his computer in the foreground.
Why Integration Matters
Each part of this ecosystem relies on the others to function efficiently. The SIS feeds vital student data into both the LMS and the Course Authorware, ensuring that the learning experience is personalized and relevant. The LMS serves as the central platform where learners engage with content, while Course Authorware produces the supporting media pieces. The LDS, particularly when powered by a system like eClarity, provides the strategic framework to tie it all together, making course development faster and smoother while ensuring the quality of learning remains high.
When these systems work together, the result is an efficient, student-centered eLearning department that delivers meaningful and engaging educational experiences. The LDS is the catalyst that not only makes the systems work together more efficiently but also ensures that learners and educators get the most out of the eLearning ecosystem.
