For distance education, online course mangement systems are often appropriately used to facilitate discussions and other activities associated with the instructional process. Course management systems are also often used to add an online component to face-to-face instructional experiences. Some of the oft-used features in this type of a blended/hybrid learning setting include discussion board, file sharing/storage and the sending out of announcements.

Often, a simple email discussion list could just as well provide at least the same functionality of the features mentioned above without requiring the learner to become familiar with a new a course management system. Here are some ideas on how to take full advantage of an existing technology (email) that everyone is familiar with to encourage learning, especially blended learning situations. The term discussion list is being used with the same meaning as a listserv.

1. Announcements This one is obvious, if an instructor needs to let students know about something he or she simply send out an email to the listserv and it automatically goes to everyone’s inbox. (Hopefully there isn’t anyone out there using a CMS simply for the purpose of emails other students).
2. Discussions This seems to be a common feature for instructors who desire to add an online component to their face-to-face teaching situation. Using a CMS you log in, browse to the discussion section, find whatever thread you are looking for and then read and post. Using a listserv the discussion arrives in your inbox and you click reply when you want to respond to a discussion thread– easy. Small group discussions would also be possible although it would require a second discussion list to be set up.
3. File storage and sharing As long as the nature of an assignment allows it to be shared by the group then it can be sent as an attachment where others in the group can read and comment (and grade) and the attachment is then automatically archived. Discussion list archives can be public or private.

Another advantage of using a discussion list where possible is that understanding and being able to use such lists effectively is a great way to promote future professional development in relevant discussion lists.

More Reading…

Syllabus of an entire course on Using Email in Instruction
Email games from Thiagi.com

A learning module titled WebCT, Accessibility, Usability and the Disabled Student from Evergreen Valley College. Comprehensive overview of barriers, solutions and alternatives available to ensure your content is accessible. Great resource. (via Teaching and Developing Online)

You may already be familiar with Moodle, an open source, modularized, social constructionist course management system started by lead developer Martin Dougiamas in 1999.

It looks like the current version (1.1.1) has some basic accessibility features built in, but their road map for the next year is the really good part. By version 2.0, planned for early 2004, they are working towards xhtml transitional compliance. Right now they are planning on using some basic tables, but they will be easily replaced with CSS positioning. Then, version 2.1 is expected to bring basic support for SCORM packages.

Moodle is already a full-featured, very usable CMS with an active developers community and it looks like the next few months are going to bring lots of exciting changes. If any of you are interested in being a part of the conversations that are happening there, you can visit their forums (click login as guest). The developers appear to be very open to suggestions.

I’ve been trying to get my finger on the pulse of what is happening with course management systems and have been somewhat overwhelmed. The options out there span the spectrums of open source vs. proprietary, instructor-centric vs. learner-centric and of course from almost completely inaccessible to claims to be accessible to all users. Right now I’m trying to sort through some of those claims to interpret what different developers mean by accessible.

Starting with what I would consider to be the major commercial players, Blackboard has an accessibility page that describes some of their efforts and they have been a partner with WebAIM for a few years. I was able to dig up what appeared to be a token accessibility page on the WebCT website. However, I don’t currently have access to either of those systems to really take them for a test drive so I’d love to hear from any of you who have.

Regarding open source systems, there is a great list at EdTechPost from Scott Leslie. There are a number of projects, primarily developed at universities and then made available to the educational community. One promising system from the University of Toronto is ATutor, “designed with accessibility in mind.” I’ve just set up and version 1.3 (which has adopted the IMS Content Packaging Instructions) and will be playing with it over the next couple of weeks– I’ll be sure to report what I find out.

If you’re looking for a good place to start in finding out what some of your options are, EduTools is a great place to start. They have a number of reviews (including a brief blurb on “Accessibility Compliance”) and allow you to compare the products that you are interested in, including a group of what they consider “Accessibility Conforming Products”.

Any of you have an experience with a CMS that has (or hasn’t) worked for your needs?