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Communication Tools
>>  Discussion Forum
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Students can enable or disable posts to be sent to their email.
Spell-checker is available in new web browser like mozilla firefox 2.0
Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can receive posts by email as daily digests of subject lines or whole posts.
  • Students can subscribe to forum RSS feeds.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Students can enable or disable posts to be sent to their email.
  • Students can receive posts by email as daily digests of subject lines or whole posts.
  • Students can subscribe to forum RSS feeds.
  • A spell-checker is available for student and instructor responses.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Students can enable or disable posts to be sent to their email.
Students can subscribe to forums or specific forum threads to have message notifications sent to them by email.

Students can access current forum posts from anywhere within a course using a Forums sidemenu block.

Students can edit their forum posts for a specified period of time

Forum access can be limited to group members or used by a whole class


Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Students can enable or disable posts to be sent to their email.
  • Students can receive posts by email as daily digests of subject lines or whole posts.
  • Students can subscribe to forum RSS feeds.
  • A spell-checker is available for student and instructor responses.
Granular roles system enables students to be set as administrator of individual forums in a course.
Discuss
 
>>  Discussion Management
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Instructors can allow students to create discussion groups.
  • Instructors can set up moderated discussions where all posts are screened.
  • Posts may be peer reviewed by other students.
  • Instructors can view statistical summaries of discussions displaying participation which can be used to generate grades.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can allow students to create discussion groups.
  • Instructors can view statistical summaries of discussions displaying participation which can be used to generate grades.
  • Discussions can be shared across courses, departments, or any institutional unit.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors can set up moderated discussions where all posts are screened.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can allow students to create discussion groups.
  • Posts may be peer reviewed by other students.
  • Discussions can be shared across courses, departments, or any institutional unit.
Instructors can lock forums from posting and/or reading.

Instructors can attach important forum content to the beginning of the thread list.

Instructors can edit, move, and delete forum posts

Instructors can assign forum management privileges to students.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Instructors can allow students to create discussion groups.
  • Posts may be peer reviewed by other students.
  • Instructors can view statistical summaries of discussions displaying participation which can be used to generate grades.
  • Discussions can be shared across courses, departments, or any institutional unit.
The Q & A forum requires students to post their perspectives before viewing other students' postings. After the initial posting, students can view and respond to others' postings. This feature allows equal initial posting opportunity among all students, thus encouraging original and independent thinking.
Discuss
 
>>  File Exchange
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Students can submit assignments using drop boxes.
Each course space have is assignment tool
Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can submit assignments using drop boxes.
  • Students can share the contents of their personal folders with other students.
  • Administrators can define disk space limitations for each user.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Students can submit assignments using drop boxes.
  • Students can share the contents of their personal folders with other students.
  • Administrators can define disk space limitations for each user.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Students can submit assignments using drop boxes.
Administrators can define disk space limitations for each course

Course, Group, and Personal file folders

Instructors and students can comment on files

Text based files can be edited online

Administrators can enable file versioning on a course by course basis
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Students can submit assignments using drop boxes.
Students can upload files to their blog and share them with other users via the blog.
Discuss
 
>>  Internal Email
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Instructors can email the entire class at once at a single address or alias.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can use the built-in email functionality to email individuals or groups.
  • Students can use a searchable address book.
  • Instructors can email the entire class at once at a single address or alias.
  • Students can elect to forward their mail to an external address.
We do not really have an internal mailing system but we use the users own email adress. But this can be configured, mass mail to groups etc. is possible, create your own profile/address entry etc. is possible.
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Students can use the built-in email functionality to email individuals or groups.
  • Instructors can email the entire class at once at a single address or alias.
  • Students can elect to forward their mail to an external address.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Students can use the built-in email functionality to email individuals or groups.
  • Students can use a searchable address book.
  • Instructors can email the entire class at once at a single address or alias.
  • Students can elect to forward their mail to an external address.
Instructors can limit mailing to students, assistants, alumni, groups, all enrolled, or all waiting for enrolment.

All users can export an archive of sent and received email messages

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Students can use the built-in email functionality to email individuals or groups.
  • Students can use a searchable address book.
  • Instructors can email the entire class at once at a single address or alias.
  • Students can elect to forward their mail to an external address.
The Moodle messaging system can deliver mail either online or via email.
Discuss
 
>>  Online Journal/Notes
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4

Discuss
Moodle 1.8

Discuss
 
>>  Real-time Chat
Claroline 1.8.1
  • The chat tool supports unlimited simultaneous group discussions
  • The system creates archive logs for all chat rooms.

Discuss
OLAT
  • The chat tool supports a limited number of simultaneous rooms.
  • The chat tool supports unlimited simultaneous group discussions
  • Students can create new rooms.
  • Instructors may moderate chats and suspend students from the chat rooms.
  • The system creates archive logs for all chat rooms.
We use the Jabber chat and therefore any normal Jabber client can be used. Furthermore chat rooms are defined by groups so students subscribed to a group have access to that particular groupchat/room.
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • The chat tool supports unlimited simultaneous group discussions
  • The system creates archive logs for all chat rooms.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The chat tool supports a limited number of simultaneous rooms.
  • The system creates archive logs for all chat rooms.
Chat is accessible to assistive technology users

Users can control message refresh rate

Messages can be automatically or manually refreshed

Messages can be displayed top to bottom, or bottom to top

Userplane module provides audio/video chat
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • The chat tool supports unlimited simultaneous group discussions
  • Students can create new rooms.
  • The system creates archive logs for all chat rooms.

Discuss
 
>>  Whiteboard
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • The whiteboard supports image and PowerPoint uploading.
  • The whiteboard supports mathematical symbols.
We offer a Wiki for this purpose (which is not really a whiteboard software).
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The whiteboard supports image and PowerPoint uploading.
  • The software supports group web browsing.
  • The software supports application desktop sharing.
  • The software can archive a recording of whiteboard sessions for future viewing.
  • The software supports two-way voice chat.
Whiteboard is available using the Marratech module.

Accessibility compliant whiteboard available (Acomm) includes peer descriptions for students with disabilities
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
There are several optional add-ons with whiteboard capabilities such as Elluminate and DimDim.
Discuss
 
Productivity Tools
>>  Bookmarks
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can create bookmarks in a private folder.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
This feature is available in OpenACS and could be used in dotLRN with minimal effort
Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4

Discuss
Moodle 1.8

Discuss
 
>>  Calendar/Progress Review
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Instructors can post announcements to a course announcement page.
  • Students have a personal home page that lists all courses in which the student is enrolled, new email and all course and system-wide events from their personal calendar.
  • Students can subscribe to RSS feeds to be notified of changes to materials.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors and students can post events in the online course calendar.
  • Instructors can post announcements to a course announcement page.
  • Students have a personal home page that lists all courses in which the student is enrolled, new email and all course and system-wide events from their personal calendar.
  • Students can view their grades on completed assignments, total points possible, course grade, and compare their grades against the class performance.
  • Students can subscribe to RSS feeds to be notified of changes to materials.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors and students can post events in the online course calendar.
  • Instructors can post announcements to a course announcement page.
  • Students have a personal home page that lists all courses in which the student is enrolled, new email and all course and system-wide events from their personal calendar.
  • Students can subscribe to RSS feeds to be notified of changes to materials.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors and students can post events in the online course calendar.
  • Instructors can post announcements to a course announcement page.
  • Students can view their grades on completed assignments, total points possible, course grade, and compare their grades against the class performance.
Shared calendar available using the Ewiki module

A multilayer calendar available using the WebCalendar module
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Instructors and students can post events in the online course calendar.
  • Instructors can post announcements to a course announcement page.
  • Students have a personal home page that lists all courses in which the student is enrolled, new email and all course and system-wide events from their personal calendar.
  • Students can view their grades on completed assignments, total points possible, course grade, and compare their grades against the class performance.
  • Students can subscribe to RSS feeds to be notified of changes to materials.

Discuss
 
>>  Searching Within Course
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Students can search all discussion threads.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can search all course content.
  • Students can search all discussion threads.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Students can search all course content.
  • Students can search all discussion threads.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Students can search all course content.
Students can search across all courses they are enrolled in with a single search.

Students can search courses they are not enrolled in.

Search result can display course summaries.

Search results can display the text surrounding the searched terms.

Search terms within the results are hilighted.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Students can search all discussion threads.

Discuss
 
>>  Work Offline/Synchronize
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can compile and download the content for an entire course into a format that can be printed or stored locally.
  • Students can download course content and discussion group content with a PDA.
This applies to some course elements but not to all. Furthermore we offer WebDAV support for accessing files and folders.
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Students can compile and download the content for an entire course into a format that can be printed or stored locally.
  • Students can download course content and discussion group content with a PDA.
If enabled, students can download content packages for course units, or an entire course, that can be viewed offline.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8

Discuss
 
>>  Orientation/Help
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can access context sensitive help for any tool.
  • The system includes online tutorials for students that help students learn how to use the system.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
Pages of the help system are linked to their respective tools for easy access.

Tutorials, and other documentation, are available through the product providers website for students, instructors and administrators.

Help materials are searchable.

Student can contribute to help matierials.

Instructors can contribute to help materials.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Students can access context sensitive help for any tool.
  • The system includes online tutorials for students that help students learn how to use the system.

Discuss
 
Student Involvement Tools
>>  Groupwork
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Instructors can assign students to groups.
  • The system can randomly create groups of a certain size or a set number of groups.
  • Students can self-select groups.
  • Each group can be given group-specific assignments or activities.
  • Groups may be private or instructors can monitor groups.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can assign students to groups.
  • Students can self-select groups.
  • Each group can have its own discussion forum.
  • Each group can have its own chat or whiteboard.
  • Each group can be given group-specific assignments or activities.
  • Groups may be private or instructors can monitor groups.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors can assign students to groups.
  • Students can self-select groups.
  • Each group can have its own discussion forum.
  • Each group can have its own chat or whiteboard.
  • Groups may be private or instructors can monitor groups.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can assign students to groups.
  • The system can randomly create groups of a certain size or a set number of groups.
  • Each group can have its own discussion forum.
  • Each group can be given group-specific assignments or activities.
  • Groups may be private or instructors can monitor groups.
Groups can be configured with their own forums, file sharing, blogs, and link database.

Tests/quizzes can be assigned to groups.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Instructors can assign students to groups.
  • Each group can have its own discussion forum.
  • Each group can have its own chat or whiteboard.

Discuss
 
>>  Community Networking
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can create online clubs, interest, and study groups at the system level.
  • Students from different courses can interact in system-wide chat rooms or discussion forums.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Students can create online clubs, interest, and study groups at the system level.
  • Students from different courses can interact in system-wide chat rooms or discussion forums.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Students from different courses can interact in system-wide chat rooms or discussion forums.
Using the Userplane chat module, or the Elluminate module, students can interact using voice and/or video, within a course, across courses, or through a central user community.

Students see a list of other students currently online, and communicate with them.

Central community forums include: support, bug reports, feature requests, translators, and general discussions.

System source code available through public SVN repository
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Students from different courses can interact in system-wide chat rooms or discussion forums.

Discuss
 
>>  Student Portfolios
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Students can use their personal home page to selectively display their course work.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
The portfolio is site wide. A student creates a personal page that they can use for any materials, not a specific course. See dotfolio.org
Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Students can create a personal home page in each course.
Students have a home page where their blog and personal calendar can be displayed. Custom blocks can be created to show other information.
Discuss
 
Administration Tools
>>  Authentication
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Administrators can allow guest access to all courses.
  • The system can authenticate against an external LDAP server.
  • The system can authenticate using the Kerberos protocol.
  • The system supports Shibboleth.
  • The system supports the Central Authentication Service (CAS).
  • The system can authenticate against IMAP, POP3 or secure NNTP.
  • Administrators can set up fail-through authentication against a secondary source (e.g. the system's own database) in the event that the primary source (e.g. LDAP server ) fails.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Administrators can allow guest access to all courses.
  • The system supports Shibboleth.
  • Administrators can set up fail-through authentication against a secondary source (e.g. the system's own database) in the event that the primary source (e.g. LDAP server ) fails.
  • The system can support multiple organizational units and virtual hosts within a server configuration.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Administrators can allow guest access to all courses.
  • The system can authenticate against an external LDAP server.
  • Administrators can set up fail-through authentication against a secondary source (e.g. the system's own database) in the event that the primary source (e.g. LDAP server ) fails.
  • The system can support multiple organizational units and virtual hosts within a server configuration.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The system can authenticate against an external LDAP server.
Instructors can give guests access to their courses.

A master list can be created to limit registration on the system to authorized users only.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Administrators can allow guest access to all courses.
  • The system can authenticate against an external LDAP server.
  • The system can authenticate using the Kerberos protocol.
  • The system supports Shibboleth.
  • The system supports the Central Authentication Service (CAS).
  • The system can authenticate against IMAP, POP3 or secure NNTP.
  • The system can support multiple organizational units and virtual hosts within a server configuration.
Different users can have different authentication settings. The Moodle Network enables different servers to join in trust relationships to provide single sign-on between Moodle sites.
Discuss
 
>>  Course Authorization
Claroline 1.8.1
  • The system supports restricting access based on roles and roles can also be customizedby the service provider.
  • Administrators can create an unlimited number of custom organizational units and roles with specific access privileges to course content and tools.
  • Instructors or students may be assigned different roles in different courses.

Discuss
OLAT
  • The system supports restricting access based on roles and roles can also be customizedby the service provider.
  • Administrators can create an unlimited number of custom organizational units and roles with specific access privileges to course content and tools.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • The system supports restricting access based on roles and roles can also be customizedby the service provider.
  • Administrators can create an unlimited number of custom organizational units and roles with specific access privileges to course content and tools.
  • Administrators can distribute the permissions and roles across multiple institutions or departments hosted in the server environment.
  • Instructors or students may be assigned different roles in different courses.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
Instructors can give guests access to their courses.

A master list can be created to limit registration on the system to authorized users only.


13. Course Authentication
Administrators can assign individual administrative tool privileges to create secondary system administrators to manage specific system tasks.

Instructors can assign individual tool use privileges to students to create assistants for any number of course management tasks.

Mutliple instructors can be create for each course, with privileges to use any number of the available tools.

Courses can be public (no login required)

Courses can be protected (public but login is required)

Courses can be private(login and approved enrolment required)
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • The system supports restricting access based on roles and roles can also be customizedby the service provider.
  • Administrators can create an unlimited number of custom organizational units and roles with specific access privileges to course content and tools.
  • Administrators can distribute the permissions and roles across multiple institutions or departments hosted in the server environment.
  • Instructors or students may be assigned different roles in different courses.

Discuss
 
>>  Registration Integration
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Instructors can add students to their courses manually or allow students to self-register.
  • Administrators can batch add students to the system using a delimited text file.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can add students to their courses manually or allow students to self-register.
  • Administrators can batch add students to the system using a delimited text file.
  • Administrators can transfer student information bidirectionally between the system and an SIS using delimited text files.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors can add students to their courses manually or allow students to self-register.
  • Administrators can batch add students to the system using a delimited text file.
  • Administrators can transfer student information bidirectionally between the system and an SIS using delimited text files.
  • Administrators can transfer student information bidirectionally between the system and an SIS using IMS Enterprise Specification v1.1 XML files via web services.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can add students to their courses manually or allow students to self-register.
  • Administrators can batch add students to the system using a delimited text file.
  • The software supports data interchange with student information systems through an event-driven API.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Instructors can add students to their courses manually or allow students to self-register.
  • Administrators can batch add students to the system using a delimited text file.
  • Administrators can transfer student information bidirectionally between the system and an SIS using delimited text files.
  • Administrators can transfer student information bidirectionally between the system and an SIS using IMS Enterprise Specification v1.1 XML files via web services.
  • The software supports data interchange with student information systems through an event-driven API.
  • The software supports integration with SCT Banner, SCT Luminis, Datatel, PeopleSoft 8 or customized integration with other SIS or portal systems.
  • The software is compliant with the IMS Enterprise Specification for Student Data.

Discuss
 
>>  Hosted Services
Claroline 1.8.1
  • The product provider offers a hosted solution.
  • The product provider offers only a hosted solution.
  • Hosting and support services from Commercial Affiliates.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Hosting and support services from Commercial Affiliates.
http://www.frentix.com
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Hosting and support services from Commercial Affiliates.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The product provider offers a hosted solution.
  • Hosting and support services from Commercial Affiliates.
Product providers hosted service include:

nightly system backups

uniterupted power supply

RAID Disk backup

Private domains

T3 Internet Connection


More than 30 service providers are available to choose from worldwide
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Hosting and support services from Commercial Affiliates.

Discuss
 
Course Delivery Tools
>>  Test Types
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Multiple choice
  • Multiple answer
  • Matching
  • Fill-in the blank
  • Questions can contain other media elements (images, videos, audio)

Discuss
OLAT
  • Multiple choice
  • Matching
  • Jumbled sentence
  • Fill-in the blank
  • Short answer
  • Survey questions
  • Essay
  • Questions can contain other media elements (images, videos, audio)

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Multiple choice
  • Multiple answer
  • Short answer
  • Survey questions
  • Essay
  • Questions can contain other media elements (images, videos, audio)
  • Custom question types can be defined.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Multiple choice
  • Multiple answer
  • Matching
  • Ordering
  • Fill-in the blank
  • Short answer
  • Survey questions
  • Essay
  • Questions can contain other media elements (images, videos, audio)

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Multiple choice
  • Multiple answer
  • Matching
  • Ordering
  • Jumbled sentence
  • Calculated
  • Fill-in the blank
  • Short answer
  • Essay
  • Questions can contain other media elements (images, videos, audio)
  • Custom question types can be defined.

Discuss
 
>>  Automated Testing Management
Claroline 1.8.1
  • The system can randomize the questions and answers.
  • Instructors can create self-assessments.
  • Instructors can set a time limit on a test.
  • Instructors can permit multiple attempts.
  • The students are allowed to review past attempts of a quiz.
  • Instructors can specify whether correct results are shown as feedback

Discuss
OLAT
  • The system can randomize the questions and answers.
  • Instructors can create self-assessments.
  • Instructors can set a time limit on a test.
  • Instructors can permit multiple attempts.
  • The students are allowed to review past attempts of a quiz.
  • The system supports a MathML editor for the inclusion of mathematical formulas in both questions and answers.
  • Instructors can specify whether correct results are shown as feedback
  • The system supports proctored tests.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • The system can randomize the questions and answers.
  • Instructors can create self-assessments.
  • Instructors can set a time limit on a test.
  • Instructors can permit multiple attempts.
  • The students are allowed to review past attempts of a quiz.
  • Instructors can specify whether correct results are shown as feedback

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The system can randomize the questions and answers.
  • Instructors can create self-assessments.
  • Instructors can permit multiple attempts.
  • The students are allowed to review past attempts of a quiz.
  • Instructors can specify whether correct results are shown as feedback
  • The system supports proctored tests.
System can choose a limited number of questions from a larger pool.

System can make partial test results available for questions that can be automarked (True/False, Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer)

Test results can be hidden until all students' tests have been received.

Test results can be released as soon as a student has completed a test.

Custom likert scales can be created for survey questions.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • The system can randomize the questions and answers.
  • Instructors can create self-assessments.
  • Instructors can set a time limit on a test.
  • Instructors can permit multiple attempts.
  • The students are allowed to review past attempts of a quiz.
  • Instructors can specify whether correct results are shown as feedback
  • The system supports Remote Quiz Protocol which allows questions to be rendered and scored externally to the system via standards-based web services.
The system supports latex rendering of mathematical equations.
Discuss
 
>>  Automated Testing Support
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Instructors can create personal test banks.
  • Questions can be imported from external test banks that support QTI.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can create personal test banks.
  • Questions can be imported from external test banks that support QTI.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors can create system wide test banks.
  • Questions can be imported from external test banks that support QTI.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can create personal test banks.
  • The system provides test analysis data.
Instructors can export test question in QTI 2.1 format.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Instructors can create personal test banks.
  • Instructors can create system wide test banks.
  • The system provides test analysis data.
There are a wide range of supported question types for import, and new question importers are easy to write.
Discuss
 
>>  Online Marking Tools
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can choose to mark each student on all questions or to mark each question on all students.
  • Instructors can choose to evaluate student responses anonymously.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can choose to evaluate student responses anonymously.
Closed question types can be marked automatically and results made available immediately.

Test results can be immediately release to students, or delayed and released all at once.

Students can review their marks.

Students can review test/question submissions.

Instructors can export marks in CSV format.

Instructors can assign partial marks to partially correct answers.

Instructors can change marks on automarked answers.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Instructors can choose to mark each student on all questions or to mark each question on all students.

Discuss
 
>>  Online Gradebook
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • When an instructor adds an assignment to the course, the software automatically adds it to the gradebook.
  • Instructors can add grades for offline assignments.
  • Instructors can add details to the gradebook in custom columns.
  • Instructors can export the scores in the gradebook to an external spreadsheet.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors can add grades for offline assignments.
  • Instructors can export the scores in the gradebook to an external spreadsheet.
  • Instructors can create a course grading scale that can employ either percents, letter grades, or pass/fail metrics.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can export the scores in the gradebook to an external spreadsheet.
Test grades are integrated with the Test & Survey Manager
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • When an instructor adds an assignment to the course, the software automatically adds it to the gradebook.
  • Instructors can add grades for offline assignments.
  • Instructors can export the scores in the gradebook to an external spreadsheet.
  • Instructors can create a course grading scale that can employ either percents, letter grades, or pass/fail metrics.
Instructors can add detailed comments to manually graded items in the Assignment module, Lesson module, and Quiz module.
Discuss
 
>>  Course Management
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can selectively release assignments, assessments, and announcements based on specific start and stop dates.
  • Instructors can release materials based on a single criteria (date, grade, etc.) or instructors can use Boolean expressions to identify multiple selective release criteria.
  • Instructors can set up specific course content that is released on a specific date and must be completed by students before they continue with the course.
  • Instructors can personalize access to specific course materials based on group membership.
  • Instructors can personalize access to specific course materials based on previous course activity.
  • Instructors can personalize access to specific course materials based on student performance.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors can personalize access to specific course materials based on group membership.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can selectively release assignments, assessments, and announcements based on specific start and stop dates.
  • Instructors can release materials based on a single criteria (date, grade, etc.) or instructors can use Boolean expressions to identify multiple selective release criteria.
  • Instructors can personalize access to specific course materials based on group membership.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8

Discuss
 
>>  Student Tracking
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Instructors can track the frequency and duration of student access to individual course components.
  • Instructors can get reports showing the time and date and frequency students as an aggregated group accessed course content.
  • Instructors can get reports showing the number of times, time, date, frequency and IP address of each student who accessed course content, discussion forums, course assessments, and assignments.
  • Usage statistics can be aggregated across courses or across the institution.

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can get reports showing the time and date and frequency students as an aggregated group accessed course content.
  • Usage statistics can be aggregated across courses or across the institution.
The student tracking is only available anonymously
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Usage statistics can be aggregated across courses or across the institution.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can get reports showing the time and date and frequency students as an aggregated group accessed course content.
  • Instructors can review the navigation record of each student.
Students can access their own tracking information.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Instructors can track the frequency and duration of student access to individual course components.
  • Instructors can get reports showing the number of times, time, date, frequency and IP address of each student who accessed course content, discussion forums, course assessments, and assignments.
  • Instructors can review the navigation record of each student.
  • Usage statistics can be aggregated across courses or across the institution.

Discuss
 
Content Development Tools
>>  Accessibility Compliance
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
We are working hard on this but dont fully match the guidlines yet. But OLAT can already be used with eg. a web-device for blind people etc.
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • The product provider self-reports that the software complies with the WAI WCAG 1.0 Level A guidelines.
According to http://openacs.org/xowiki/Accessibility and taken into account the work done for the 2.2.1 release, .LRN core meets WAI WCAG 1.0 Level A.
Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The product provider self-reports that the software complies with Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act.
  • The product provider self-reports that the software complies with the WAI WCAG 1.0 Level A guidelines.
  • The product provider self-reports that the software complies with the WAI WCAG 1.0 AA guidelines.
Accessibility is a primary focus of the product provider.

System includes WAI ATAG conformant authoring tool for creating accessible content.

System checks accessibility of content against published accessibility standards.

Systems supports BITV (Germany) and Stanca (Italy) accessibility guidelines.

ATutor Accessibility Features
http://atutor.ca/atutor/docs/atutor_access.php
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • The product provider self-reports that the software complies with Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act.
  • The product provider self-reports that the software complies with the WAI WCAG 1.0 Level A guidelines.
  • The product provider self-reports that the software complies with the WAI WCAG 1.0 AA guidelines.
  • The product provider self-reports that the software complies with the WAI WCAG 1.0 AAA guidelines.

Discuss
 
>>  Content Sharing/Reuse
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can share content with other instructors and students through a central learning objects repository.
  • For any content in the repository, users can view reports displaying every course in the system that is currently using the selected item.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors can share content with other instructors and students through a central learning objects repository.
  • Tools are available to enable version tracking and linking to specific versions as well as the creation and management of workflows for collaborative content creation and review.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can share content with other instructors and students through a central learning objects repository.
  • The repository can be system-wide or for individual organizational units.
  • The repository supports IEEE LOM and metadata application profiles such as, Dublin Core, Cancore, and custom profiles.
Repository functionality is available using the TLE, TILE, and MERLOT modules.

System imports and exports IMS and SCORM conformant content packages.

The Inclusive Learning Exchange(TILE)
http://www.inclusivelearning.ca
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
Instructors can make complete copies of entire courses and/or individual items in courses, and share them with other instructors or load them into one of the eCMS systems with a Moodle integration (Hive, Odalis, etc.)
Discuss
 
>>  Course Templates
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Course content may be uploaded through WebDAV.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Course content may be uploaded through WebDAV.
  • The system allows administrators to use an existing course or a pre-defined template as a basis for a new course.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The software provides support for template-based course creation.
  • The system allows administrators to use an existing course or a pre-defined template as a basis for a new course.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • The software provides support for template-based course creation.
  • Course content may be uploaded through WebDAV.
  • The system allows administrators to use an existing course or a pre-defined template as a basis for a new course.

Discuss
 
>>  Customized Look and Feel
Claroline 1.8.1
  • Institutions can create their own look and feel templates across the entire system, including their own institutional logos, headers, and footers.

Discuss
OLAT
  • The system provides default course look and feel templates.
  • Instructors can change the navigation icons and color schemes for a course.
  • Instructors can change the order and name of menu items for a course.
  • Institutions can create their own look and feel templates across the entire system, including their own institutional logos, headers, and footers.
We only support layout customization via CSS
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • The system provides default course look and feel templates.
  • Instructors can change the order and name of menu items for a course.
  • The system can support multiple institutions, departments, schools or other organizational units on a single installation where each unit can apply its own look and feel templates as well as institutional images, headers and footers.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The system provides default course look and feel templates.
  • Institutions can create their own look and feel templates across the entire system, including their own institutional logos, headers, and footers.
  • The system can support multiple institutions, departments, schools or other organizational units on a single installation where each unit can apply its own look and feel templates as well as institutional images, headers and footers.
Instructors can change and reorder navigation icons

Instructors can change and reorder navigation tabs.

Instructors can change and reorder sidemenu blocks.
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • The system provides default course look and feel templates.
  • Instructors can change the navigation icons and color schemes for a course.
  • Instructors can change the order and name of menu items for a course.
  • Institutions can create their own look and feel templates across the entire system, including their own institutional logos, headers, and footers.
  • The system can support multiple institutions, departments, schools or other organizational units on a single installation where each unit can apply its own look and feel templates as well as institutional images, headers and footers.

Discuss
 
>>  Instructional Design Tools
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • Instructors can create linear learning sequences organized hierarchically by course, lesson, and topic.
  • Instructors can reuse courses as templates for future lessons.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • Instructors can organize learning objects, course tools, and content into learning sequences that are reusable.
Assessment package includes the possibility of creating questionnairs and within the Evaluation package you can also define learning sequences.
Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • Instructors can organize learning objects, course tools, and content into learning sequences that are reusable.
  • Instructors can create linear learning sequences organized hierarchically by course, lesson, and topic.
  • Instructors can reuse courses as templates for future lessons.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • Instructors can organize learning objects, course tools, and content into learning sequences that are reusable.
  • Instructors can create linear learning sequences organized hierarchically by course, lesson, and topic.
  • Instructors can reuse courses as templates for future lessons.

Discuss
 
>>  Instructional Standards Compliance
Claroline 1.8.1
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.3
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.4
  • IMS QTI 2.0
  • SCORM 1.2
  • SCORM 1.3

Discuss
OLAT
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.3
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.4
  • IMS QTI 1.2.1
  • SCORM 1.2
We are working on QTI 2 and SCORM 2004 at the moment
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.3
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.4
  • IMS QTI 1.2.1
  • IMS Enterprise 1.1
  • SCORM 1.2
IMS-MD and IMS-LD should be added. .LRN is currently the only LMS that implements the three levels of IMS-LD standard. More info is available in xowiki: http://openacs.org/xowiki/Educational_Standards .
Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.3
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.4
  • SCORM 1.2
System supports both importing and exporting of IMS and SCORM content pakages

System support exporting with IMS QTI 2.1
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • AICC
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.3
  • IMS Content Packaging 1.1.4
  • IMS Enterprise 1.1
  • SCORM 1.2

Discuss
 
Hardware/Software
>>  Client Browser Required
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
System functions with any browser.

System functions on mobile technologies

System complies with XHTML 1.0 specification
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
All major web browsers work fine.
Discuss
 
>>  Database Requirements
Claroline 1.8.1
  • The system supports MySQL.
  • The application requires only one database and can coexist with tables from other applications.

Discuss
OLAT
  • The system supports Oracle.
  • The system supports MS SQL Server.
  • The system supports MySQL.
  • The system supports PostGreSQL.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • The system supports Oracle.
  • The system supports PostGreSQL.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The system supports MySQL.
  • The application requires only one database and can coexist with tables from other applications.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • The system supports Oracle.
  • The system supports MS SQL Server.
  • The system supports MySQL.
  • The system supports PostGreSQL.
  • The application requires only one database and can coexist with tables from other applications.

Discuss
 
>>  UNIX Server
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • A Unix version is available.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • A Unix version is available.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • A Unix version is available.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • A Unix version is available.

Discuss
 
>>  Windows Server
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
  • A Windows version is available.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • A Windows version is available.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • A Windows version is available.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • A Windows version is available.

Discuss
 
Company Details/Licensing
>>  Company Profile
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
OLAT is beeing developed at the University of Zurich and within an open source community.
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
Adaptive Technology Resource Centre
University of Toronto
Not-for-profit
Primary focus accessibility of information technology
Discuss
Moodle 1.8

Discuss
 
>>  Costs / Licensing
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
open source tool (apache 2.0 licence)
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
GPL
Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
Free/GPL
Discuss
Moodle 1.8

Discuss
 
>>  Open Source
Claroline 1.8.1
  • The software is distributed under one of the OSI-approved licenses.

Discuss
OLAT
  • The software is distributed under one of the OSI-approved licenses.

Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS
  • The software is distributed under one of the OSI-approved licenses.

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
  • The software is distributed under one of the OSI-approved licenses.

Discuss
Moodle 1.8
  • The software is distributed under one of the OSI-approved licenses.

Discuss
 
>>  Optional Extras
Claroline 1.8.1

Discuss
OLAT
OLAT supports 14 languages: German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Czech, Danish, Greek, Polish, Chinese, Lithuanian, Persian (Farsi), Portuguese and Russian. OLAT is Java based and used Apache/Tomcat to be running.
Discuss
dotLRN/OpenACS

Discuss
ATutor 1.5.4
Developer & module documentation
User contributed handbook notes
Fully internationalized (30+ languages)
Custom language editor.
Theme manager
Mac version of the software is available.

Addon Functionality Available as Modules:
Course fee payments
CMAP concept mapping
Photo Gallery
Marratech live audio/video/whiteboard confernce
Elluminate Live audio/video conference
UserPlane audio/video chat
ATalker text-to-speech
LifeType Blog
WebCalendar
CCNet course management
Epresence webcasting
phpMyAdmin database management
Ewiki (ErfurtWiki)
Test results analysis
SCORM 1.2 runtime environment
Reading/resource list
Course/group lnks
Custom RSS menu blocks

CMS Integration Modules:
Drupal
Joomla
Mambo
PHPNuke
Discuss
Moodle 1.8
The M stands for Modular, new teaching and learning tools can be created and freely shared by using the modular API to extend the program's capabilities.
Discuss
Reference Citation: EduTools. (2010). CMS: Product Comparison System. Retrieved July 30, 2010 from http://www.edutools.info/compare.jsp?pj=4&i=591,560,562,592,561