Current comparison of WebCT, Blackboard, and Prometheus

Note: As of May 2001, we are running WebCT 3.5 and CourseInfo 4.0.8.

We began updating our August 1999 Comparison in March and completed the work in May 2001. This new comparison reflects the latest versions of WebCT (3.5), Blackboard (5.0), and Prometheus (4.1). The original intent of the comparison was to help faculty select between WebCT and Blackboard, both of which are available at Boston University. While that intent remains, we added Prometheus (not available at BU) to the comparison, because MET College expressed strong interest in the product.

As in our original comparison, this update goes beyond comparing the features of the products, and looks at specific functions in each category of features. Sure, each product has a bulletin board feature and each product has online quizzes, but how do they work? What functions do each of them provide? Can you sort and display bulletin-board messages based on subject? Can you set time limits on quizzes? This is the detail you will find here.

We hope that these pages will help you decide which product best meets your needs. We recommend that you consult with other faculty in your department and school, and check our Courseware Support Directory to see if your school has support staff available. SMG only supports Blackboard. While faculty on the Medical campus can use either product, the Medical Campus IT group will provide training in Blackboard only.

Finally, you are welcome to attend our Courseware Tutorials. We can also provide hands-on training to BU departments on request.