LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS OVERVIEW
Learning Management Systems (LMS) enable asynchronous forms of collaboration and communication even in the context of remote teaching and consulting. To this end, JGU uses the JGU LMS, the JGU Reader and Ilias. *
All three essentially have the same basic functions.
The basic functions are:
- Uploading and downloading one’s own text modules, files, and links
- Communication between teaching staff and participants via forums
- Simple (learning) activities
- Unlimited group size
- Teaching staff can control participation and approvals
- Data is stored on JGU servers
Depending on the actual consulting or teaching-learning scenario, one application is better suited than the other. For example, the options are:
- Only managing participants (JGU Reader)
- Exclusively providing files (JGU Reader)
- Integration of other applications in a project or course with various activities and forms of exchange (JGU LMS)
- Working with small groups (e.g. within one course) and large groups (e.g. in parallel attendance courses) (JGU LMS)
- Use of e-examinations for which one must be present (Ilias)
- Use of online tests (< 50 persons: JGU LMS; > 50 persons: Ilias)
Learning management systems offer simple tools for interactive and collaborative work. They go beyond a simple PDF library and are particularly suitable for guided, but self-organized student work.
These guiding questions can be useful for a pedagogically helpful "translation" of your course, which was initially planned with physical attendance in mind. The questions and your answers can be saved as PDF files at the end of the course and used for further preparation. For further advice and support, please contact digitale-Lehre@uni-mainz.de.
*JOGU-StINe is not used at JGU as an LMS in the strict sense, so it is not listed here. You can find more information here. Questions regarding JOGU-StINe should be directed to the CampusNet competence team.
- Video instructions: Getting started: JGU-LMS (in German only)
- PDF instruction: BigBlueButton in the JGU-LMS (in German only)
- Technical Information about the JGU-LMS
- Instructions on how to use a course (via Moodle) (in German only).
- The JGU LMS is very well suited for courses based on communication and collaboration.
It can be used in a browser (https://lms.uni-mainz.de) or via app to implement the wide range of learning activities, file exchanges, and communication tools. Videos can be easily recorded with the JGU video platform and integrated into your LMS course. For a web conference, the integrated conference application BigBlueButton can be used.
For each course created in JOGU-STiNe, an LMS course is automatically generated before the lecture period and both teaching staff and participants are imported.
Additionally, teaching staff can have further courses created (research colloquium, learning workshop, project coordination).
Teaching staff registered in JOGU-STiNe are granted editing rights for these courses. As of April 16, students who are registered in JOGU-STiNe for the course in question are automatically enrolled in the assigned LMS courses.
If necessary, the teacher can use a special tool to set an earlier registration date for LMS courses. The automatic transfer takes about three hours after the change. Students who are displayed in JOGU-STiNe with “pending” enrollment are only transferred after the “pending” status has ended.
In addition to learning activities, the JGU LMS also enables verification of documents to be submitted, e.g. for term papers with a fixed submission date. In accordance with the Corona Statutes, tests for the verification of higher levels of competence can be processed in the LMS for groups of up to 50 persons. Further information on take-home exams and their implementation with ILIAS and the JGU LMS can be found here.
JGU LMS FAQ
Q: Do you have tips for a (pedagogical) layout in an LMS?
A: You will be working a lot with the participants in this environment. Don't overwhelm them with files and data.
Welcome the participants in the first section with a short text, including the objectives of the course. Your office hours and contact details can also be entered here. A thematic visualization loosens up the text block.
Introduce each topic section with a short text instead of just filing documents and activities.
Include a question-answer forum as an activity in which the participants can communicate with each other and with you.
Q: I cannot add any materials or activities. What do I need to change?
A: In courses where you have editing rights, there is a red gear in the upper right corner. Click on it. Here you will find links to the basic course settings. The second item is “Enable editing”. Here you can also make adjust the settings for your course, save and restore course contents.
Q: How do I add activities?
A: Click on “Create activity or material” at the bottom of the desired section and select an activity. Clicking once will show you an explanation. Confirm your selection by clicking on “Add”. The screen for setting the selected activity will open.
Q: How do I add materials?
A: You can follow the same procedure as for the activities, and scroll down the list to your desired resource. However, another very simple option, after switching to editing, is to add a file to the target section by drag'n'drop. With your LMS course opened in the internet browser, open the folder with the desired file on your computer and drag it from the folder to your course.
Q: Can I work simultaneously (synchronously) with the participants?
A: In addition to a wide range of options for asynchronous teaching and learning, JGU LMS offers the possibility of holding a video conference at a specific time directly from the course using BigBlueButton. There is also the possibility for participants to work simultaneously on an office document (via "OnlyOffice"), and a written chat.
- Technical Information about Ilias (in German)
ILIAS is especially suitable for e-examinations with more than 50 participants.
It is used in the browser (https://ilias.uni-mainz.de/). ILIAS is a learning management system similar to JGU LMS. However, JGU LMS is supported centrally in this function.
There are three areas in ILIAS, which are always available in the header of the page: 1) your personal desk from where you can control all your learning activities; 2) the magazine, which contains all the learning content of your learning platform; and 3) your mail.
Further information on take-home exams and their implementation with ILIAS and JGU LMS can be found here.
ILIAS FAQ
Ilias has been operated by the JGU’s Data Center (ZDV) since 2003. Here you will find the most frequently asked questions for teaching staff and students (in German).
If you are still undecided which application is best suited for your courses, our Team for Digital Teaching will be happy to answer your questions.