From LMS to learning ecosystem: Enabling student success, faculty support, and institutional agility
Higher education is facing mounting pressure to improve student outcomes, empower faculty, and deliver learning experiences that align with workforce needs. In this environment, digital learning platforms are no longer optional—they are essential infrastructure. However, while learning management systems (LMS) are nearly universal, too many campuses still treat them as passive repositories rather than dynamic engines for student engagement, instructional innovation, and equity.
To truly transform outcomes, institutions must reimagine the LMS as the core of a connected learning ecosystem. This system aligns course design, faculty development, student support, and credentials into a cohesive strategy for digital success.
Anthology’s 2025 Thrive Faculty Survey, which captured insights from more than 2,500 US faculty members, reveals an urgent need for that shift. Faculty reported both high interest in new teaching methods and significant barriers to adoption. While LMS tools exist to support innovation, faculty often lack the time, training, or confidence to use them effectively. Addressing this gap is no longer optional—it is a matter of institutional strategy.