Course Management Systems

I think we can take it for granted at this point that most of what we can distance learning is really not as much concerned with distance as much as time; the students use the systems for convenience in time more than space. It also seems clear to me that most of the claims for distance learning that were so common during the Internet boom of the mid to late nineties were clearly overstated. The traditional college is a community of learners that serves multiple functions, including but not limited to socialization of the eighteen year old sub-urban spawn of the middle class, research on everything from art to zoology, economic development and, strangely enough, the provision of gladiatorial services such as basketball and football to alumni and others while generating programming for ESPN and the networks. While the primary function is the expansion of knowledge it is not the sole or even the most popular function as can be seen during the most aptly named March Madness period or any Sugar, Rose or whatever Bowl.

So, what is the role of a course management system? What do they do? More to follow.