SMS-LMS

Having SMS-LMS interoperability implemented in your school will allow the electronic exchange of student data between your school’s SMS and LMS applications.

The aims of this initiative are to reduce the double entry of data by schools, to allow schools to automatically create accounts, classes and groups in the LMS, and to improve access to timely, accurate and specific data for parents and students. Students, teachers, caregivers and administrators will all benefit from SMS-LMS.

One of the most exciting benefits of SMS-LMS is its ability to make a difference in how families are drawn into learning conversations. Caregivers are able to access a comprehensive set of their child’s data that has been moved from the SMS to the LMS. Data includes:

• student demographics
• caregiver and emergency contact details
• student medical and attendance details
• assessments (standardised PAT, STAR, asTTle and NCEA)
• other school created assessments and learning programmes (records of learning)

Version 2 of the SMS-LMS specification is available to all SMS and LMS vendors. The data sharing services summary table shows which vendors support this functionality. The specification has been designed to be scalable to all schools with LMS and/or extranets, and it adheres to sector standards for data definition, security, and privacy (among others).

A number of schools implemented SMS-LMS during 2009/2010 and have written learning lessons reports about the highs and lows associated with the implementation. The intention of these reports is to describe the school’s journey and to help other schools reach the same position quicker and easier.

Note: These school reports are stored as PDFs in a Google Group. The links below navigate through to a Google Groups link which need to be clicked on to access the documents.