In 2010 and 2012, we tested and evaluated four major LMS for accessibility/usability: Blackboard, Desired2Learn, Moodel, and SAKAI. The results have been publicized in CSUN (2010) and Midwest Educause (2012) conferences.
Since then, we have observed that LMS vendors have continued to strengthen the accessibility and usability of their systems, while also working to incorporate some of the features suggested in our evaluations. In light of this ongoing interest and activity, we have revised and enhanced our evaluation criteria based on common features, streamlined our evaluation process, and rescored our LMS systems.
At CSUN 2013, we presented a high-level overview of the results of our new evaluation, along with side-by-side comparisons that support our recommendations for improving learning management systems for users with disabilities.
The International Journal of Virtual and Personal Learning Environments (official publication of Information Resource Management Association) provides readers with comprehensive coverage of developments in learning technologies for an international readership of educators, technologists and trainers. The journal is a primary source for academics, professionals, corporate trainers and policy makers in information and communication technologies. The journal publishes high quality contributions (papers, book reviews) on a range of fields associated with Course Management Systems (CMS), Learning Management Systems (LMS), Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), Social Networking Sites (SNS), Personalized Learning Environments (PLE), and 3D virtual worlds, including for example Second Life (SL).
A really complete tool description for Moodle 2 (including some tools we don't have). Has "ease of use" and assessment criteria including Bloom's Taxonomy.
"A resource site for all Moodle-related news, tutorials, video, course content information and original resources." Links to various help, how-to documents, videos, etc.
Red5 Flash Server is a module package for Drupal which allows you to record Flash video files (FLV) by using a standard web cam (or built-in web camera) together with the Red5 Open Source Flash Server (http://osflash.org/red5).
The difference to similar video recorder modules is that we want people to be independent of third-party providers. People should run their own Red5 Flash server instead. The advantages are:
* you can create your own video conversation community
* you have full access to your Flash video files
* you can record high quality videos without paying a license fee (because Red5 Flash server is open source and free - but offering same functionality as Adobe Flash Server)
Abstract
Course management systems, like any other technology, have an inherent purpose implied in their design, and therefore a built-in pedagogy. Although these pedagogies are based on instructivist principles, today's large CMSs have many features suitable for applying more constructivist pedagogies. Yet few faculty use these features, or even adapt their CMS very much, despite the several customization options. This is because most college instructors do not work or play much on the Web, and thus utilize Web-based systems primarily at their basic level. The defaults of the CMS therefore tend to determine the way Web-novice faculty teach online, encouraging methods based on posting of material and engendering usage that focuses on administrative tasks. A solution to this underutilization of the CMS is to focus on pedagogy for Web-novice faculty and allow a choice of CMS.