This is in response to Damon Roth's request on this list on a comparison of
Blackboard and Web CT course management software. Many schools are in this
situation of choosing software packages. There are several other options
beyond these two - FirstClass, TopClass, Web-Course-in-a-Box (yes!),
eSocrates, JonesKnowledge, CourseInfo. And additionally there are a number
of free Web site services from Yahoo, HungaryMinds, and other learning
portals. The Asynchronous Learning Network (aln.org) is an association of
education technology professionals and their site carries comparisons of
over 40 such software packages.
I want to take this opportunity to raise a larger question. Buying a piece
of software does not ensure successful online learning, or the creation of
online learning comunities. Too many schools are rushing to buy software
tools thinking that will get their faculty to go online successfully. But
faculty have many other concerns than just finding a software tool.
In our experience what is needed is first a clear vision of an online
pedagogy that is different from the one in practice at most institutions. I
have articulated one such alternative - as the "online learning community".
You can see detalis in a recent paper in the Journal of Management
Education.
www.esocrates.com/LearningResources/ClassroomOLCJME.html
Equally or even more important is "instructor support" in the form of
training on online facilitation, instructional support services, student
preparation, learning content, Web-cast events, etc. Just getting a Web
site for each course in my view is useless if you cannot do value added
education with that site. Good online learning is less about having
courses online, and more about understanding and exploiting new types of
virtual learning moments. Creative and innovative faculty can accomplish
much in terms of creatin gnew learning opportunities for their students
with simple and functional Web sites. See Charlie Wankel's (manager of
this list) online courses in this regard. As he indicated in an earlier
email on this list, it isnot the site features alone, it is what he does
with them that makes online learning very interesting.
Damon, as you assess software tools, get your colleagues to think about
what it is that you want to accomplish in an online learning environment.
You will quickly come to the conclusion that software packages may be
marginally different from each other, but in the big picture of things
these technical differences do not matter. Most packages do the the same
thing, perhaps a little differently. In a year from now all packages will
give you similar site features. Its a bit like long distance telephone
services. Many vendors, many variations in packages and prices, but the
quality of communications depends more on what you say into the phone, than
on your long distance carrier!
Paul Shrivastava