Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:1719] Re: LMS Comparisons
From: Albert Ip (albert@DLS.au.com)
Date: Sat 26 May 2001 - 01:52:10 MEST
From: "Albert Ip" <albert@DLS.au.com> Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:1719] Re: LMS Comparisons Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 09:52:10 +1000
Hi IFETers,
I am deeply concerned with the following online comparisons of LMS products.
Firstly, they are totally out of date.
http://www.marshall.edu/it/cit/webct/compare/comparison.html was last
updated on October 1,
1999
http://www.marshall.edu/it/cit/webct/compare/benchmarktest.html is not dated
other than a
copyright date of 1997 and
http://www.mrc.twsu.edu/mrc/im/websystems.htm as noted by Suzanne Skublics
was updated more than a year ago.
Given today's rate of development, such outdated comparison is completely
useless.
Secondly, I have contacted Jerry, Avilar's CEO (producer of WebMentor) (who
is my personal friend as well as a business associate). Webmentor is among
the product in the comparison at
http://www.marshall.edu/it/cit/webct/compare/comparison.html. According to
Jerry, Marshall University has never contacted Avilar to request any
information nor product evaluation (or demo) and he doubted very much the
accuracy and the source of information on which the comparison chart was
based. My personal experience with WebMentor also indicated the vastly
unjustified rating given to WebMentor. I am not in a position to say how
other products' vendors feel about the accuracy of the information. In
fact, months ago, Avilar attempted to contact the web page owner with the
intention to clarify the information and provide demo for proper evaluation
and hence improve the accuracy of the information. There was no response.
Avilar is currently considering their legal options.
According to Jerry, a recent Brandon Hall report is the most current.
However, Jerry also questions the validity of recommendation in the report
as Brandon Hall would not have the hand-on experience in using any LMS.
It seems to me that this group (IFETS) is in a good position to clear the
muddy water.
My personal feeling is that LMS is a necessary evil in any institution
chasing a digital agenda. A proper understanding of the issue is more than
just the price. I will elaborate in a later posting.
cheers
Albert
Disclaimer: my company represents WebMentor in Australia and New Zealand.
----- Original Message -----
From: "S Skublics" <sskublics@online-learning.com>
To: <ifets-discussion@catfish.valdosta.edu>
Sent: Friday, 25 May 2001 6:47
Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:1703] Re: LMS Comparisons
> John,
>
> Here are 3 online comparisons of many of the current products. They do not
> include current prices.
>
> This matrix compares 20 different products and includes: Developmental
> Features, Instructor Tools, Instructional Features, Student Tools,
Technical
> Support, Administrator Tools, Administrative features, Software Costs and
> Hardware costs
> http://www.marshall.edu/it/cit/webct/compare/comparison.html
>
> Comparison of Online Course Delivery Software Products
> This matrix compares 5 products and rates them from 1-5 on performance
> http://www.marshall.edu/it/cit/webct/compare/benchmarktest.html
>
> Independent Study conducted by Wichita State University
> This matrix compares 5 products on a variety of topics
> Updated 1/26/00 http://www.mrc.twsu.edu/mrc/im/websystems.htm
>
>
> Suzanne Skublics
> VP, Education Technology
> Online-Learning.com
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