ATutor
ATutor is an open source web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS) with asynchronous and synchronous communication tools through outside sources. ATutor has the ability for instant messaging through Google Chat and live audio/video conferencing capabilities through Adobe Connect and OpenMeeting. Ewiki, ATalker text to speech, and SCORM are a few examples among a list of many add on modules that have interoperable compatibility with ATutor. Atutor does have its own ability to create forums, chats (Atutor PHP), blogs, and private email. Recently, a beta 2.0 version of ATutor has been released.
ATutor is a simple interface easy to use for the learner and instructor. Learners can choose global, hierarchical, or sequential navigation tools making the interface user-friendly. In addition, working collaboratively in groups, social networking, chats, forums, and class archives gives the learner a more enriched atmosphere. For instructors, ATutor organizes content through a series of pages such as: content editor, course tools, file manager, assignment drop box, test manager, and visual editor to name a few.
Besides the many communication tools listed above, ATutor has many capabilities in regards to course and content management. Using the content editor feature, instructors can use HTML or plain text, import information from a local editor or edit directly online, and use the file manager feature to organize course files and set locations and times when certain content is viewable to the learner. Atutor also has an enrollment manager that can import class lists, automatically create login and passwords and send information by email to students. In addition, ATutor also has the capability of creating polls, tests, and posting news and announcements.
The advantages of Atutor are that it has an intuitive interface for administrators, instructors, and learners. For the administrator and Instructor, Atutor also has many ways to create, edit, or import content through its own interface as well as the many interoperable compatible add on modules such as Adobe Connect and SCORM. The only dislike I have about ATutor is that with everything that ATutor offers, there seems to be too many add on modules. Why wouldn’t they just create their own? I guess I could attribute it to the classic phrase “Why reinvent the wheel”. For the learner, the ease of navigation, ability to group chat, collaborate, access archived classes, and social networking all give the learner a better learning experience.
I would use ATutor in K-12 education for online classes and remedial opportunities. I could also see government agencies and corporations using ATutor as a way for employees to take self-paced courses and trainings. I believe in any medium, there is a place for Atutor because of the simple interface and ease of use.
Blackboard
Blackboard focuses on driving learner achievement by creating personalized and engaging learning experiences. Blackboard has many asynchronous and synchronous communication tools such as whiteboard, video conferencing, Wikis, blogs, forums, podcasting, journals, and instant messaging (just added in the 9.1 version using Wimba) to create a powerful learning experience. Blackboard 9.1 is the most current version of Blackboard for K-12 Educators.
Organizing the content in Blackboard is very much like Microsoft Windows XP in the sense that you use folders to create, edit, add, delete, or move content from one area to another. The steps in organizing content are very sequential which makes the interface very intuitive and user-friendly for both the administrator and learner.
In addition to the features listed in the first paragraph, the capabilities of Blackboard range from creating a syllabus, announcements, content features, email functions, importing HTML files, PowerPoint presentations, discussion board, virtual class, screen sharing, creating and administering quizzes, digital drop box tools, and embedding audio and video files. Blackboard is not just a communication platform. It is a “one stop shop” with all the features listed above.
Assigning courses is very simple for anyone who has administrator rights. An administrator can give a learner a “student access key” which is basically a password and login information to enroll in a class. This is usually purchased at the campus bookstore. All the student has to do is enter their login name, password, and they should have the course listed on their Blackboard page.
Creating content can be achieved in three ways. You can 1) set up a blank course and use all the course tools and file manager to upload or create content 2) copy the content from another course on the same server or 3) import a course file that has been exported from a different Blackboard. Any of the three choices are very easy to use and sequential in nature.
The advantage of Blackboard is the ease of use as far as navigation for the learner and creating content for the administrator. The “one stop shop” where you have virtually every multimedia tool in your arsenal from video conferencing to creating assessments and screen sharing capabilities makes Blackboard very appealing. I see no disadvantages of Blackboard for the learner or administrator. I would use Blackboard for online classes or blended classes in the K-12 realm. Blackboard could also be used for remediation for struggling students as well as for credit recovery.
As displayed in the Educational Technology program at San Diego State University, Blackboard has been very user friendly from a learner’s perspective and surely from an instructor’s perspective since it is widely used by many of the instructors. Government Agencies can use Blackboard for distance learning and job training. I see Blackboard as a very good fit for the military branches. Corporations can use Blackboard for job trainings and in-services.
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