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Online Learning Toolkit

This toolkit was developed to provide resources and tools for librarians who are engaged in online learning efforts at their institution, whether in full course management systems or as stand-alone tools to incorporate into web pages or instruction sessio

Course/CMS

Course Ware Feature Highlights

The following are various course management systems or tools. There are many other methods used on campuses to "package" online learning. See some reviews and comparisons at: EduTools. Follow the links below for more information. $ indicates a solution that requires subscription, purchase, etc.

Commercial Course Management Systems ($)

  • Web CT/Vista see Blackboard
  • Canvas by Instructure see Canvas
  • Angel Learning
  • Desire2Learn
  • Course Mill Learning Management System

Open Source/Free Course Management Systems ($ and Free options)

  • Moodle A free web application that educators can use to create effective online learning sites.
  • Sakai An open learning management system, research collaboration system, and ePortfolio solution.
  • Udutu An online service that allows users to create and manage online e-learning courses.

Other Resources

  • Trivantis Coursemill More suitable for corporate training environments, Coursemill is a commercial Learning Management System. (Free trial available) $
  • Quia (Quintessential Instructional Archive)Provides a variety of online activities, tests and web page creation. Focused on K-12. (Free 30-day trial) $
  • SoftChalk Lesson Builder] Web-based content authoring software. (Free 30-day trial) $
  • LibGuides: Although not a course management system, many librarians are creating these web 2.0 guides and linking to them from within their course management systems. (Free Trial Available) $
Common Features

For Integration Examples see: Integration

Generic Collaboration Tools. Most of the course management systems presented in this toolbox have the following collaboration tools available (whether inherent in the system or as an open source add on):

  • Announcements
  • Email
  • Chat Room
  • Blogs, Journals, Wikis
  • Forums, Threaded Discussion, Message Center
  • Groups
  • News/RSS
  • Virtual Classroom (real-time chat/whiteboard)
  • Integration of Social Networking tools

Teaching Tools. Course Management tools offer a variety of tools to enhance online teaching. Some of them include:

  • Provides discussion forums.
  • Discussion management (statistics on posts, edit, delete, etc)
  • File uploading available.
  • Real-time chat
  • Whiteboard
  • Assignment options (creating, posting, uploading, grading, tracking) Lori
  • Accessibility compliance
  • Assignments, Grade book, Module Editor, QTI (Question and Test Interoperability specification )Authoring and Assessment, Section Management, Syllabus.

Portfolio Tools. Course Management systems vary in their ability to be used as portfolio tools. Below are some possibilities:

  • Forms, Evaluations, Glossary, Matrices, Layouts, Templates, Reports, Wizards.

EduTools: Course Management Systems Comparison Tool: EduTools provides reviews and comparisons of a range of features in over 50 course management systems/learning management systems. EduTools was created by WCET (Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications). It compares information such as: learner tools, productivity tools, student involement tools, support tools, curriculum design, system operability and content operability.

Bibliography

Freeman, S. & Field, D. (2004). Student perceptions of web-based supplemental instruction. Journal of Technology Studies, 30 (4), 25-31. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JOTS/v30/v30n4/pdf/freeman.pdf