Imagine historically isolated teachers suddenly being able to connect with one another, share materials, participate in joint presentations, and leverage data to improve student outcomes. That’s the goal that English Language Fellow Jolene McConnell is pursuing by introducing Albanian English teachers to their first learning management system, or LMS.
During the course of her fellowship in Albania, Jolene has been introducing her local colleagues to a learning management system called Schoology. This LMS is the first such tool most of these teachers have had access to, so it is being piloted in English-teaching workshops nationwide with the goal that teachers across Albania will be able to communicate with one another. If successful, Albania’s Institute for Educational Development will look into adapting Schoology or adopting a different LMS into its procedures to improve collaborative efforts.
What is an LMS? Learning management systems are software suites that allow teachers to communicate with students, parents, administrators, and one another on a single platform. They allow for the possibility of online teaching and give a method for distance collaboration. The teachers who are currently using these systems also prioritize them for ongoing professional-development activities. Having an English Language Fellow introduce the LMS concept makes sense: with the LMS in place, the efforts of Fellows like Jolene will be amplified for national effect.