About Comparison

Versions compared

WebCT: 1.3.1
CourseInfo: 2.1

How compared

Systems/NIS installed copies of WebCT and CourseInfo on a shared server. Rather than reiterating vendor lists of standard features such as e-mail, bulletin boards, and online assessment, we generated the comparison by hands-on user testing while producing several demo courses on each system. We discovered many features through reading the vendors' mailing lists and bulletin board archives, and by posting questions to the vendors' tech support teams during testing as well. As a result, the comparison focuses on differences in how each product implemented the standard features rather than cataloging their existence.

As we used the products we took extensive notes, and organized them into general categories such as Site Administration, Assessment, and so forth. We generated summary tables from these notes. Through the tables, readers compare products from a user's perspective and get a sense of what using the products would actually be like.

We reviewed and revised the feature summary tables for completeness and accuracy.

When compared

Reviewed existing comparisons: 1 June - 14 June 1999
Installed products: 10 June (this was the first date on which both were working in terms of adding content)
Created test courses: 14 June - 23 July (first faculty sites created 25 June)
Generated feature list: 14 June - 23 July
Tested features: 14 June - 23 July
Summarized criteria: 3 July (very first draft) - present
Reviewed:July - August

Who compared

NIS staff.

Who reviewed

• Karla Embleton, Iowa State University - 21 July (WebCT sections only)

Summary

The comparison is a learning and decision-making tool. It is a snapshot of two products in a specific time frame. It will familiarize you with the features and capabilities of Web courseware and start you thinking about what types of features are most useful for your course and students.

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