Brandon-Hall defines an LCMS as:

"A multi-user environment where learning developers can create, store, reuse, manage, and deliver, digital learning content from a central object repository."

IDC describes the following four major components that every LCMS should provide:

Learning Object Repository: A learning object repository is a central database which stores and manages learning content that has been created by multiple authors. Learning objects from this repository can be delivered individually to learners or assembled into larger learning modules or full courses.
Automated Authoring Application: An automated authoring application is used to create reusable learning objects that are managed by the repository. Templates are typically provided to authors that incorporate instructional design principles.
Dynamic Delivery Interface: A dynamic delivery interface is used to serve up learning objects based on learner profiles, pretests and/or use queries. It also typically provides user tracking, links to related sources of information and supports multiple assessment types with user feedback.
Administrative Application: An administrative application is used to manage students records, launch e-learning courses from course catalogs, track and report student progress and provide other basic administrative functions.

An LCMS is different than a Learning Management System (LMS). An LMS focuses more on the student. An LCMS focuses more on the learning content. An LMS schedules and registers students for full online and offline courses, launches e-learning courses and tracks a student's progress through a course. An LCMS manages the creation of learning content, manages the personalized delivery of learning content to students and provides more extensive tracking of the student's interaction with learning content.

LCMS Resources

Techniques and technology for the creation, management and delivery of learning content are evolving as our industry matures. We have learned much but there is still much to learn. Here are some links to online resources that we have found helpful in understanding the technological, pedagogical and business aspects of LCMS solutions.

If you know of other helpful resources, please send the links to info@lcmscouncil.org.

The Learning Content Management System: A New eLearning Market Emerges. Michael Brennan, Susan Funke and Cushing Anderson. IDC White Paper. May, 2001.

Theory and Practice: Learning Content Management Systems. Jill Funderburg Donello. LeadingWay Knowledge Systems Newsletter. July 19, 2002.

Critical Business Benefits of an LCMS. Bryan Chapman, Bandon-Hall. Presentation at Online Learning Conference, September 24, 2002.

LMS vs. LCMS. Peder Jacobsen. e-learning Magazine. June 1, 2002.

Rules of the Game: Learning Content Management Systems promise to change the way people learn online. Will they deliver?. Chris Jones. Training Magazine.

eLearning in Practice: Proprietary Knowledge and Instructional Design. Cushing Anderson and Michael Brennen. IDC White Paper. 2001

The Evolution of the Learning Content Management System. Shelley R. Robbins. Learning Circuits. April, 2002

Learning Content Management Systems. Internet Time Group

LCMS = LMS + CMS [RLOs]. Maish Nichani. elearningpost. May 2, 2001

Integration of E-Learning and Knowledge Management. Darrell Woelk and Shailesh Agarwal. E-Learn 2002 Conference. October, 2002

LCMS Roundup. Ryann K. Ellis. Learning Circuits. August, 2001