SAAS EXPLOSION LEADING TO A NEW PHASE OF A LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Cloud computing is still a baby having compound eyes with omnidirectional vision. It is slowly embracing all possible sectors and eLearning technology gaining more benefit out of it. The essential characteristic of cloud computing is easy and timely access to the required information. Education has seen a lot of changes from the ancient Gurukula stage where students had to go to the master for a particular period of time to study and to complete their learning. As the time pass by the learning became central many big educational systems evolved through Schools, Colleges and Universities, to impart knowledge. These learning centers offered face-to-face learning. Even further blended learning helped student understand, innovate, and implement faster. With the advent of Learning Management Systems teaching and learning becomes effortless. A distinct stage of development in the field of LMS is Cloud-based LMS wherein time is not at all a constraint. This paper covers interesting aspects of E-learning- Cloud/SaaS LMS, different standards pertaining to LMS, and types of LMS. The authors analyze the case studies of MOODLE, BLACKBOARD and SaaS-based LMS and a comparison of SaaS vs. Installed LMS’s.