Dive Brief:

• Edsby, a custom-built learning management system developer, has released a new checklist to help administrators determine if the LMS is meeting the needs of their school or district.
• Learning management systems increasingly play a central role in school operations and instruction.
• Among the five signs, issued via infographic, that an LMS is outdated are a lack of social capabilities, the inability to seamlessly integrate with other solutions, "one-size-fits-all" design, unnecessary additional work for teachers, and a look that "reminds you of the year 2000."

Dive Insight:

Many schools currently use a variety of widely available learning management systems, but some experts and developers have begun to push schools toward custom-built options like Edsby. The company, of course, proposes to solve the issues put forward in its graphic, but whether a school opts to use its offerings, the checklist is useful for evaluating a school or district's existing LMS.

Some of the suggestions may go beyond what an administrator might typically be looking for, as well. For example, the argument for social components rests on the need to mimic "popular social media channels" to provide familiarity to students, teachers, and parents, but for many, the traditional classroom discussion board may still serve its purpose well.