Functionality of Loomen LMS: Croatian Educators' Perception and Experience

• Published in: Skolski Vjesnik Vol. 73; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Gemeri, Dino Gero, Knezović, Filip
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Croatian; English
• Published: Split University of Split, Faculty of Philosophy 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Learning management systems; Online instruction; Public schools; Qualitative research; Teachers; Croatia
• ISSN: 0037-654X; 1848-0756

Various shifting paradigms dictate the manner in which education systems are established, (re)organized and implemented. The emergence and rise in the popularity of learning management systems (LMSs) represent a noteworthy example of teachers' coping with the challenges of change. This study focuses on Loomen LMS, an open-source, e-learning system in which teachers, together with their students, create and manage strategies, methods and tools in order to optimize the teaching process. The objective of this research was to evaluate the functionality of Loomen LMS through the analysis of perceptions, opinions, impressions, observations and experiences of the Croatian educators who have used the platform since its implementation in public schools. This qualitative research analyzes the responses from 181 educators from both primary and secondary levels of education from each of the 21 counties in Croatia. The data was collected through a validated questionnaire survey in an online form. The results indicated that Loomen LMS was most rarely used for those features for which it was primarily designed; that there was a dif erence in several aspects of usage between the two levels of education; and that the frequency of usage was not asymmetrically proportional to the amount of educators' overall working experience. Data from this study provide new academic research evidence regarding Loomen LMS and its need for improvement in several aspects concerning its functionality