LCMS and LMS: what’s the difference and why you need both
LCMS and LMS are two of the main acronyms whose meaning you need to know if you want to build and manage digital training content, with a difference. What are they exactly? In this article we will try to describe how they work and which role they play in the training process.
WHAT IS AN LCMS?
LCMS is an abbreviation for Learning Content Management System. It is a Cloud space used to store and manage learning “atoms”: texts, images, sounds, videos and any other element you want to use to build your lessons. It allows to use and re-use multimedia elements whenever needed while keeping track of any adjustment made, since every different “raw” version is saved in the system. This is probably the most important feature of an LCMS, because it values and treasures all your company’s knowledge and all the work done in time by your training team.
WHAT YOU NEED AN LMS FOR?
LMS means Learning Management System. It is not a storage, but the place where the entire learning community is managed: not only content – finalized lessons and courses -, but also trainers and learners profiles, tests, reports and any element involved in the training process. It is the place where the trainer can build classes and assign specific courses, while automatic reports on learners’ progress are generated. Therefore, when talking about digital learning, the LMS represents the most important platform to disseminate training and facilitate tutoring, linking trainers to their students and allowing distance tracking.
LCMS AND LMS: DIFFERENCE AND COMPLEMENTARITY
It is clear that both the LCMS and LMS are fundamental parts of the distance training process, even if they play very different roles.
The LCMS is more related to the back-end, in particular the creation of training materials, and does not involve learners at all. It may be linked to other tools specifically designed to edit multimedia elements, like storyboard creators or lessons builders, and to an LMS where finalized materials are exported.
On the other side, the LMS is the main tool to share content with students: it is in fact directly connected to front-end applications, either mobile or desktop, to allow learners to access and use the assigned courses and trainers to track their progress, whenever and wherever they want.
LCMS and LMS are indeed essential and complementary elements in a digital training process. This is why they represent the main two modules of the Quiddis suite: Safe and Espy. In order to make the learning experience always better, having both an LCMS and an LMS allows to use the same content in different ways, adapting it to suit specific student’s needs and therefore boosting the effectiveness of the entire training process. Do you wonder how you can do that? Find out in our next article!