A couple of articles discussing the limitation of Learning Management Systems (LMS):
Learning Management Systems: The wrong place to start elearning (elearnspace)
The real issue is that LMS vendors are attempting to position their tools as the center-point for elearning – removing control from the system’s end-users: instructors and learners. Unfortunately, beginning learning with an LMS is often a matter of wrong tool for wrong purposes (which results in failed elearning implementations, ineffective learning, and unnecessary expenses). Implementing an LMS as part of a holistic learning environment gives the end user flexibility and control to move in various paths (driven by learning needs, not by LMS design).
E-Learning Adventures Beyond the LMS (Parkin’s Lot)
Learning software vendors still doggedly pursue their vision of reusable learning objects that integrate via a central standards-conformant LMS. Meanwhile, trainers who really want to encourage experience-sharing and dynamic learner-created content are scrambling to understand blogging, RSS, and peer-to-peer networks.
Much the same thing I remember from the “early days” of the KM craze, when it was all about software this, technology that – technology for technology’s sake. Technology for its own sake is meaningless. It is how people can use the technology to connect to others that makes them valuable.
no straight lines 