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LAMS
Below are two viewlets demonstrating the ease of using LAMS.
- Viewlet one, shows a LAMS sequence being created by a convenor
- Viewlet two, shows a different sequence being accessed and completed by a student
LAMS (Learning Activity Management System), is a tool for designing, managing and delivering online collaborative learning activities. It provides unit convenors with an easy to use drag and drop authoring environment for creating sequences of learning activities. These activities can include a range of individual tasks, small group work and whole class activities based on both content and collaboration.
Adapted from LAMS International http://www.lamsinternational.com/
LAMS is an open source software with a large support community. Users are encouraged to develop learning sequences which are reusable and share them with colleagues. You can find advice, support and reusable learning sequences at http://lamscommunity.org . You will initially need to register.
How
You can obtain a 30 day trial of LAMS by registering at http://lamsdemo.melcoe.mq.edu.au/demoserver/web/register.php. [viewed 12-7-06]
There is a LAMS community at http://www.lamscommunity.org. The community has Discussion forums for new users, Higher Education & Training, a FAQ section and a catalogue of LAMS sequences that have been provided by existing users. These sequences are available for any community member to download and use or adapt for their own teaching.
Any LAMS sequence can be linked from within your WebCT unit. Students can engage with these sequences without needing a second login.
Here is a more detailed viewlet on how to create a LAMS sequence, http://lamsfoundation.org/CD/html/resources/author/.
If you want to include a LAMS sequence within your WebCT unit you will need to discuss this with your CFL Educational Developer cfl-educ@mq.edu.au.
Why
Using LAMS allows convenors to concentrate on designing or creating students’ learning process. Convenors can structure the activities students participate in to gain the required skills and attributes. Convenors can decide how and when students will interact with content, how and when they will interact with their peers and if, how and when they will interact with the unit convenor.
Separating the learning activity design from the content enables the course convenor to reuse successful activities with different content. This could save time and improve the pedagogy.
Once a LAMS sequence has been created and the convenor has found it to be successful, it can be reused with different subject matter. Convenors can also swap or download new sequences from the LAMS community http://lamscommunity.org.
LAMS sequences will allow you to structure linear interactions between students, content and peers. Whilst WebCT allows you to add Discussions, Chat and Quizzes as tools for use when students desire, LAMS sequences offer unique ways students can interact in a more supported structure. When students interact using the LAMS tools they could:
- Answer Multiple Choice Questions
- Answer Surveys
- Vote
- Write in a Journal
- Chat
- Share Resources
- Submit Files
More Viewlets
This viewlet shows LAMS from a student’s perspective
http://lamsfoundation.org/CD/html/resources/learnermonitor/ [viewed 12-7-06]
This viewlet demonstrates LAMS from the authoring (convenors) viewpoint and shows the LAMS Community
http://lamsfoundation.org/CD/html/resources/author/ [viewed 12-7-06]
This is a brief demonstration of how to create a sequence in LAMS
(You will need to click the next button in the bottom left corner)
http://lamsinternational.com/documents/1.0/winks/authoring/ [viewed 12-7-06]
This viewlet introduces the theory behind LAMS
http://lamsfoundation.org/CD/html/resources/overview/ [viewed 12-7-06]
Useful References
Dalziel. J. (2003) Implementing Learning Design: The Learning Activity Management System (LAMS). Paper presented at the ASCILITE Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education 2003 Conference.
http://www.melcoe.mq.edu.au/documents/ASCILITE2003%20Dalziel%20Final.pdf
[viewed 12-7-06]
Evaluation of LAMS (Learning Activity Management System) by JISC (Joint Information Systems Committee) 2005
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/LAMS%20Final%20Report.pdf
[viewed 12-7-06]
LAMS Foundation
A not-for-profit organisation that manages research and development into LAMS and the the theory behind its development.
http://lamsfoundation.org
LAMS homepage at Maquarie University
http://www.melcoe.mq.edu.au/projects/LAMS@MQ/index.htm [viewed 12-7-06]