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Results
of the Demonstration Evaluations
BlackBoard - December 13, 2005
We collected 8 comment sheets and according to the scores,
Blackboard had 206 highlighted positive features and 43 features didn’t meet
respondents’ needs.
Comments/Concerns
Have many features as building blocks that should be
included
When it works, it works well
Grade book doesn’t change much, to satisfy the committee’s request
Email is useful, have to log in and, no grammar check
Several features that the committee is interested in are available in Academic
Suite
Have features in discussion to see all posts by students
Easy to integrate with SIS, with an additional cost
Task force is looking into podcasting and blogging
Learning Object Repository in Full Academic Suite
Assignment features are easy to use
The Backpack allows students to work offline and run several features (with an
additional purchase)
Doesn’t support Mozilla, Firefox and Safari
Can select different with foreign language pack
Able to handle Multi campus
ADA compliance tools
Doesn’t include SCORM player
Desire2Learn - January 17th 2006
We collected 12 comment sheets and according to the scores
between all the comments, Desire2Learn had 624 highlighted positive features and
5 features didn’t meet respondents’ needs.
Comments/Concerns
Supports any browser the OS supports, MAC doesn’t support
Safari. FireFox and IE are use often. Netscape can be used with MAC’s
Plagiarism Checking is coming
No conversion to PDF
Latest SCORM compliance
Good support
Blogging is coming available
CSV file for bulk user management
Constantly working with user on upgrades
Intergrades with SIS, single sign on available
Able to tailor organization and roles
Integration with Merlot
Can add guest student (not in SIS) so the instructor can act as a student
Transaction logging
Should not lose functionality between Blackboard and WebCT when using Desire 2
Learn
Full language support
Currently running HTML and Java, moving to full .NET
Content sensitive help is available for Quizzes only
D2L believes tools to drive pedagogy
Email can be setup for external or internal use (IMAP)
IMing
The price will not increase
Can switch roles to view as other roles
How To articles are available
User conferences are held often
Allows customize branding easily for each campus to course level
System check at course level
Drop box allows folder structure
Load balance and cluster capable
Great Product
By comparison to Blackboard, greater degree of flexibility built into the system
Able to work with screen readers
D2L seems by far the best product I have seen so far and as a heavy user of this
technology will solve a lot of my problems
WebCT- January 24th 2006
9 comments sheets were collected from the committee.
According to the scores between all the comments, WebCT had 246 highlighted
positive features and 9 features didn’t meet respondents’ needs from a total of
963 possible.
Comments/Concerns
Plagiarism checking with added money to turn it in
No photo roster for the grade book
System database is Microsoft and Oracle compatible
SCORM is built it to the system
Tools for ADA compliant
With AES, growth, specific settings can be set like multi brands
Flexible course calendars
Extensive roles
Internal and external mail systems
Email has spelling not grammar
Can access email without logging in, through forwarding
Web conference is practical with 3rd party
Learning Object Repository with AES
June/July release of portfolio feature
Student view tab allows instructor to see what the students see
“Every click in the systems is tracked”
Selective release for content – Boolean and group feature
Some browser and OS independence, but not all
Grade book is good
Course evaluations are anonymous only
HTML editor not available in all areas
Email – not IMAP available
Tutorials available
Have to turn on/off HTML editor, rather than just show text features. Not
intuitively obviously for non-tech faculty.
Students can self select into groups
Vista support multiple authentication
Can freeze frames in grade book
Vista was built for growth
Worked with several SIS systems, even within the same Campus system
Power Links, a variety of plug in tools already ‘Out of the box’
Angel - February 7, 2006.
We collected 10 comment sheets and according to the scores
between all the comments, Angel had 429 highlighted positive features and 13
features didn’t meet respondents’ needs. Below are some of the comments from
the 10 comment sheets.
Comments/Concerns
Vendor support is flexible about what is desired
Good integration of ADA tools
Works on Windows and Macs
Course maintenance is flexible to allow selective users access
Focus on ‘common cartridge’ – interoperability form content available three
publishers
Plagiarism checking works closely with Turnitin.com
Can export calendar items to outlook
There are many robust tools and actions available; not user friendly if not
comfortable viewing html
Help guides available
Html editor includes math functions
Compatible with but does not include Skype
Can track almost everything
Portfolio feature is a separate system
Learning Object Repository is used in partner with Merlot
Interface with SIS is extra $ but available
Can view % or points per course in grade book
Provides student and Instructor helpdesk
LDAP authentication
Search for course
can create community groups
students can personalize portal
provides Meeting functionality – desktop sharing, chat, whiteboard
resolve 80% of issues within 8 business hours
Spanish total translations
Security levels can be set in testing
Offline run-time engine is in development
Timed testing can be set by the instructor
Statistics
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Angel ■ BlackBoard
- 10 comment sheets - 8
comment sheets
- Positive: 429 (40%) - Positive
206 (24%)
- Negative: 13 (1.2% -
Negative: 43 (5%)
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WebCT ■ Desire2Learn
- 9 comment sheets - 12
comment sheets
- Positive: 246 (26%) - Positive
624 (49%)
- Negative: 9 (.95%) -
Negative: 5 (.4%)
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