There are two separate issues here, creating content for online learning, and managing the online learning process. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) like BlackBoard and WebCT only support the management part, such as registering students, controlling access to courses, maintaining online test scores, etc. They provide a web interface for creating multi-choice and other tests, but no support for creating online learning materials, other than allowing you to upload HTML pages (and other formats).
I was quite amazed when I discovered this, especially considering the prices they charge, but apparently the market need they satisfy is for automating the administrative aspects of the learning process, rather than the pedagogical or content issues. Companies like Pearson Education (http://www.booksites.net/) sell pre-packaged content for various academic courses like engineering, medicine, etc. These courses often slot into LMSs like WebCT/BlackBoard. Companies like SkillSoft (www.skillsoft.com) develop more business-oriented materials, and often put together custom courses for large corporates (e.g. Company Pension Plan). Plug: We have developed software for Pearson Education to enable them to author online learning materials, including text, tests, and multi-media (Flash, videos, etc.) in MS-Word, and convert to HTML and XML. They then upload this to their own online BlackBoard-based LMS www.coursecompass.com. At 20:00 31/12/2002, Austin, Darrel wrote:
We're currently researching various CMS solutions for our org. We've recently added a secondary need...online training/courseware/testing. Has anyone worked with a product that offers the delivery of training content along side of their CMS? Specifically, we need the following: - media presentations (video, flash, etc.) - text documentation - Testing I'm not necessarily looking for a CMS with those features, rather I was wondering if there is a class of products that fall into a 'Traning Management System' classification that potentially integrates into a larger CMS.
-- Eoin Campbell, Technical Director, XML Workshop Ltd, 10 Greenmount Industrial Estate, Harolds Cross, Dublin 12, IRELAND. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: +353 1 4547811; Fax: +353 1 4731626 Web: http://www.xmlw.ie/ -- http://cms-list.org/ a wish for peace in the new year.
