One of the key points of Web 2.0 is that it enables peer-to-peer collaboration, using the World Wide Web (WWW). As this entire blog is a school project, I think it only appropriate to discuss some of the educational software that enables schools to provide online classes.
Several different versions exist, but my experience is limited to only three of them. The most recent tool is Moodle, an open source, course management program (http://moodle.com). Moodle is free and as they say, you get what you pay for. Moodle is a decent package for performing the basics of course management, but lacks the clean look and capabilities of other software. The next is Blackboard, a commercial “Academic Suite” of tools (http://www.blackboard.com). Blackboard is a full featured suite of tools, but in the version that I had the opportunity to use, lacked good coupling between the various tools. Finally, WebTycho, a product built by the University of Maryland, University College (UMUC) (http://tychousa2.umuc.edu/help.nsf/htmlmedia/about.html). WebTycho is a full featured suite of tools, tightly integrated, and a pleasure to work with. Unfortunately, it is only available to students attending UMUC. WebTycho supports one of the larger distance education programs, with over 40,000 students.
Each of these tools provides their own unique features and limitations, but all enable people to study online and enhance their knowledge and education.
-steve
Jan said...
Steve,I liked your evaluation of the three colloborative tools with Moodle and BlackBoard being the two that I have used. You analysis of them was corrective but are very frustrating to use at times. Have you tried Webex? It is a tool that we use at work that can integrate voice, allow integrated visualization efforts, and has a white board markup capability. Here is the URL for this product: http://www.webex.com/
September 17, 2008 at 11:54 AM