Comparison of Online Course Delivery Software Products


The tables below review the software products that are listed following this paragraph.  The number corresponding to each product represents the numbers for the column headings found in each of the tables.  A column noted with a "Yes" represents a feature that the product possesses (please note:  just because two or more products possess the same feature does not mean that those features function in the exact same manner).  The reviews are categorized by: Developmental Features, Instructor Tools, Instructional Features, Student Tools, Technical Support, Administrator Tools, Administrative Features, Software Costs, and Hardware Costs.
  1. ArsDigita Education Module
  2. Blackboard
  3. Convene
  4. Embanet
  5. eCollege.com
  6. IntraLearn  
  7. Symposium
  8. TopClass
  9. WebCT
  10. Web Course In A Box
  11. WebMentor
  12. Lotus Learning Space (not reviewed at present)
  13. Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE)
  14. Softarc FirstClass (not reviewed at present)
  15. LUVIT
  16. Milken Educator Virtual Workspace (MEVW) (not reviewed at present)
  17. IMSeries (not reviewed at present)
  18. Asymetrix Librarian  
  19. Serf  (not reviewed at present)
  20. Virtual-U  
  21. eduprise.com
DEVELOPMENTAL FEATURES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Content format will allow for simple transfer to/from another vendor's platform   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform uses open data standard so that it can communicate with existing university database applications Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes  
Content can be authored on PCs running Windows 95/98/NT Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Content can be authored on Macs running OS 7.5 or greater Yes Yes  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Courses can be taken using a PC running Windows 95/98/NT Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Courses can be taken using a Macintosh running OS 7.5 or greater Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform provider is supportive of implementing IMS standard within product ? Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform provider is supportive of implementing AICC standards within product ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes             Yes   Yes Yes
Platform utilizes standard HTML for content creation Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform is structured so students can view all of their current courses when they log on Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform's server software will run on DEC Unix Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes Yes Yes                 Yes  
Platform's server software will run on Windows NT Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Multiple choice questions can be created\scored with platform's authoring software   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
True\False questions can be created\scored with platform's authoring software   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Matching questions can be created\scored with platform's authoring software   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Short answer questions can be created\scored with platform's authoring software   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes       Yes     Yes     Yes
Essay questions can be created\cored with platform's authoring software   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Platform supports question database for management of test questions   Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes         Yes     Yes
Platforms supports reporting features for test questions   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes           Yes
Platform supports Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x and newer browsers Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform supports testing stage for courses to debugged before making them live to students   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes       Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform allows author to view course as student without logging out Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Platform has built-in threaded discussion list capabilities Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Platform has built-in chat capabilities Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Platform can be integrated with Real networks video and audio products   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform can be integrated with Macromedia Shockwave products   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Vendor provides development services Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Management component will create reports for tracking student progress Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Platform has a feature to import existing test questions in a tab-delimited format   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes           Yes            

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INSTRUCTOR TOOLS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Course planning   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Course managing   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Fast course revising   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Course monitoring   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Instructional designing   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Presenting information   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
On-line testing   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
On-line grading Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes         Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Managing records   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
No HTML knowledge required Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Customization of student curriculum       Yes   Yes   Yes Yes                 Yes   Yes Yes
Student tracking Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Automated grading W Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes     Yes
Level of control over design   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Instructor can assign specific course material  to individual or group of students   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes

Yes

          Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Multiple choice self test tutorial questions - (automatic marking)   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
"Fill in the blank" self test tutorial questions - (automatic marking)   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes     Yes
Customized feedback to tutorial questions       Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes     Yes
Redirect path of tutorial depending on question answers       Yes   Yes   Yes                 Yes      
Timed quizzes (graded with permanent mark retention)   Yes     Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes      
On line marking and grades management of timed quizzes   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes      
Generate random set of questions   Yes     Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes     Yes
Allows developer to preview course as a student Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes             Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Allows instructor to manage class from single calendar on front page. student Yes                                        

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INSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Platform choice can be customized to incorporate SPU distinctives ? Yes   Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes             Yes      
Faculty to student asynchronous communication is possible Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes           Yes
Faculty to student synchronous communication is possible    Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes           Yes
Faculty can make their own changes to content Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Training is provided for faculty   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Courses can have consistent interface Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Platform supplies access to library resources other than the university's present holdings   Yes  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes                   Yes
Online help is available to help student use library resources   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes           Yes   Yes           Yes
Platform includes an internal e-mail client   Yes  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes      
Platform has e-mail management capabilities for students   Yes  Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Yes

 

Yes       Yes     Yes      
Platform has e-mail management capabilities for faculty  

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes  

 

Yes

 

Yes   Yes Yes    
Platform supports multiple instructors for a single course Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes

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STUDENT TOOLS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Authentication   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Bookmark management Yes     Yes   Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Multimedia support   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Private e-mail       Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes  
File submissions Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Threaded discussions Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Course Chat rooms Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes       Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Logged chat Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes           Yes           Yes
Whiteboard   Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes           Yes            
Self-assessing   Yes     Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes     Yes
Progress tracking Yes Yes     Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Desktop based file management for uploading to server Yes       Yes       Yes       Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Study skill building   Yes     Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Un-timed quizzes   Yes     Yes Yes   Yes

Yes

      Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
One question-at-a-time function   Yes      Yes Yes   Yes

Yes

      Yes         Yes      
Bulletin board/conferencing tools Yes Yes      Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes         Yes Yes
Image database Yes       Yes Yes     Yes                       Yes
Student access to own grades Yes Yes      Yes Yes   Yes Yes           Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Access to course grade distribution         Yes Yes     Yes                     Yes  
Automated glossary tool         Yes Yes   Yes Yes                 Yes   Yes  
Automated index tool         Yes Yes     Yes       Yes               Yes
Online assistance   Yes     Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Search tool for course content   Yes     Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Student presentations area   Yes     Yes Yes   Yes Yes           Yes         Yes Yes
Allows students to view all current courses in which they are registered after logging in Yes         Yes             Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Allows student to view all classes on one consolidated calendar/page once logged in. student Yes                                        
Student can make private annotation of material.               Yes Yes     Yes                  
Student Homepage Tool.   Yes             Yes Yes   Yes                  

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TECHNICAL SUPPORT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
External e-mail   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes      
Security features   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Assignable administrator role Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Batch add instructors   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes             Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Batch add students   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes         Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Template creations tools       Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Built-in instructor manual   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes

Yes

      Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Built-in student manual   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes         Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Database Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes

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ADMINISTRATOR TOOLS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Server Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Client/Web interface Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Authorization tools   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Logout feature Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes           Yes     Yes      
Resource monitoring Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Remote access tools Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Crash recovery tools Yes Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes Yes           Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Student support tools   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes Yes       Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Instructor support tools   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Administrator support  tools   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes         Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Built-in file management tools Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Ability to export raw data Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Customization of text messages Some Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes                 Yes   Yes  
Resume session function       Yes   Yes     Yes                 Yes     Yes
Security access   Yes    Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes           Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Variable level of security   Yes    Yes Yes Yes   Yes             Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Online registration Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes             Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Registered markers   Yes    Yes   Yes     Yes                 Yes   Yes  
Batch process for inputting student accounts   Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Guest account creation   Yes    Yes   Yes   Yes Yes       Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Instructors can create groups of students Yes Yes           Yes Yes     Yes                  

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ADMINISTRATIVE FEATURES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
University will have sole ownership of custom code used to create courses Yes   Yes Yes     Yes   Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
University will have sole ownership of course content Yes Yes  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform provider will provide technical support to University students Yes Yes  Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes     Yes
Platform provider will provide technical support to University faculty and staff Yes Yes  Yes Yes Yes Yes     Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform provider will host courses on their server   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes       Yes Yes       Yes         Yes Yes
Platform provider will advertise courses   Yes Yes Yes Yes         Yes Yes       Yes         Yes Yes
Platform provider can provide documentation and contacts to demonstrate a positive track record with higher education   Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Pricing structure is based upon number of students within the course     Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes Yes   Yes       Yes     Yes     Yes
Platform is focused on locally developed courses as opposed to "canned" courses Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes       Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
Platform has large startup cost with minimal continual costs           Yes     Yes Yes Yes             Yes      

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SOFTWARE COSTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Start-up costs   Yes      Yes Yes   Yes Yes           Yes     Yes      
On-going costs   Yes      Yes     Yes Yes Yes         Yes     Yes      
Site pricing   Yes    Yes Yes Yes     Yes Yes          Yes     Yes   Yes  

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HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
UNIX server Yes Yes           Yes Yes Yes                   Yes  
NT 4.0 server Yes Yes       Yes   Yes Yes Yes     Yes   Yes     Yes   Yes Yes
CGI-enabled Web server               Yes   Yes     Yes         Yes   Yes Yes
Java-enabled Web browser   Yes             Yes           Yes     Yes     Yes
Mac OS                Yes                   Yes   Yes Yes
Solaris Yes Yes       Yes   Yes Yes                     Yes  
Linux Yes Yes           Yes Yes                     Yes