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

Top Of Page

INSTRUCTOR TOOLS

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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

Top Of Page

INSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES

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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

Top Of Page

STUDENT TOOLS

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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

Top Of Page

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

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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

Top Of Page

ADMINISTRATOR TOOLS

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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

Top Of Page

ADMINISTRATIVE FEATURES

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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

Top Of Page

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

Top Of Page

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

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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