3.1.3 Tools within the LMS

The LMS that I am using during this quest has a variety of tools available. The tools I noted are:

• Homepage editing
• Announcements
• Blogs
• Calendar
• Contacts
• Course messages
• Discussion boards
• Date management
• Glossary
• Grades
• Journal
• Personal information
• Email
• Tasks
• Rubrics
• Self & Peer Assessment
• Tests, Surveys & Polls
• Wikis

In an online classroom, I believe the most valuable tools would be the classroom calendar, grades, email, discussion boards, rubrics, and tests. I cannot see online learning being successful without these important tools. On the other hand, I think the least useful tools would be self & peer assessment tools, glossary, and course messages. I can see myself sometimes using these tools, but not nearly as often as the others.