Course Delivery Software

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Course Delivery Software

• By John Fredericks
• Dallas High School
• Dallas, PA 18612
• November 25th, 2003

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What we will discuss

• What are Course Management Systems (CMS)?
• Do I really need one?
• Which one?
• Where can I get more information?

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1. What are CMSs?

• Software that is accessed through a web browser.
• Housed on the educational institutions server
• Password protected
• Provide a variety of tools

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Banner
Bread Trail
Nav Bar Buttons

• Content
• Lessons
• Documents
• Surveys
• Tests
• Discussion boards and Chat
• Mostly asynchronous

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2. Do I really need one?

• Maybe not
• Lessons (via HTML pages)
• Surveys (www.freepolls.com)
• Self-Tests (Hot Potatoes software)
• Discussion Boards (www.quicktopic.com)
• Chat (many free options)
• Assignments (E-mail attachments)

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• Advantages
• Cheap or free
• Familiar web environment
• Complete control over look of site
• Disadvantages
• Too many sites (confusion for teacher and
  student)
• Requires some HTML competency
• Not password protected

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3. Which One?

• Blackboard
• Advantages
• No HTML (can easily upload Word/PPT)
• Clean, intuitive interface for students
• Easy to use (especially quizzes/surveys)
• Good for new on-line instructors

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• Blackboard
• Disadvantages
• No central file area
• Difficult (impossible?) to move files around
• Limited choices on button for nav bar
• Control board not obvious

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• WebCT
• Advantages
• More customizable
• Teacher sets the nav bar, can design a homepage
• Central file management system (folder structure)
• Can even use it as a password protected web
  server (do everything within one site)
• Drag and Drop option for files.

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• WebCT
• Disadvantages
• Difficult system for novices (an even experienced
  folk)
• Quizzes/tests difficult to create and post
• Designer needs to make a lot of choices

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• Angel
• Easy Like Blackboard
• Customizable Like WebCT

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Freeware?

• Advantages
• Free
• Open Source
• Disadvantages
• Requires php on your server
• Need a webmaster with a technical background

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Moodle (www.moodle.org)
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4. Where Can I Learn More?

• www.blackboard.com
• www.webct.com
• www.cyberlearninglabs.com
• www.moodle.org
• http//www.edutools.info