The learning management system (LMS) transformed class discussion by introducing an asynchronous forum that allows each student to participate without the time limit of a live class. But it has become a bit long in the tooth as apps have made video many students’ preferred method of communication. Video provides the voice inflections and facial expressions that convey nuance and modulate the tone of our communication, which is lost when we communicate in text. Additionally, in our “appified” world, students want to be able to communicate with one or two clicks, not tunnel through the LMS’s security features to reach the discussion function.
