By Billie Peterson, Baylor University
Dear Tech Talk—
I understand that there are now software programs that greatly simplify the design and development of instruction sites on the World Wide Web. What can you tell me about them?
—Courseware Curious
Dear CC—
In recent years educators at companies with off-site training programs and colleges and universities with distance education programs have been examining the potential of the World Wide Web as an instruction delivery mechanism. Early innovators were those who had developed skills in HTML code and scripting. However, the increased need to present instruction from a distance, coupled with strong encouragement from administrators to incorporate the web into instruction activities, has prompted those with less advanced technological skills to pursue into web-based training (WBT). Fortunately, there are now a variety of online course delivery software programs that considerably lessen the stress associated with delving into this mode of instruction.
These programs integrate a variety of web-based and classroom activities into a “virtual classroom” and can provide opportunities for both synchronous learning (live interchange between students and instructor) and asynchronous learning (off-line instruction and learning activities). Listed below are some of the features that are available through these systems:
It’s important to note that some programs support more features than others. A particularly good resource for comparative information regarding supported features is the “Comparison of Online Course Delivery Software Products” provided by Marshall University’s Office of Information Technology,
Some of the programs lend themselves more to an academic environment rather than a business environment because they were developed in a university setting for academic programs. However, that is not to say that those programs for training aren’t useful. The bottom line is that, like using any other kind of instructional tool, those thinking about implementing this type of instruction need to identify their overall instructional goals and then identify the courseware that will best meet those goals.
Since all of these programs require client/server interaction, the issue of server location is a major consideration. Some vendors require the use of an external server, which means that the courses reside on the vendor’s server; as opposed to an internal server, a server that is supported locally by the institution. An advantage of an external server is that the local institution doesn’t have the financial obligation (personnel and hardware) of maintaining the local server. With some organizations, this option may be more cost effective. Additionally, if an institution hasn’t bought in to the concept of web-based instruction, an individual instructor can pursue the option of placing a course on the web by using the vendor’s server because the needed technical support is handled off site.
On the other hand, if the institution has decided to support one of these systems, then there is the advantage of local technical support, both for the server and for those learning how to use the system. However, due to cost (both monetary and staff time) it is unlikely that an institution will support more than one of these systems; and there is always the possibility that the program supported won’t fit well with the instructor’s goals.
And, what is the cost of implementing an online course delivery system? It varies widely among the vendors. There are a number of factors that can figure in to the costs, such as:
Within the library community, an obvious application of these programs is in the realm of distance education. In an academic environment, it’s feasible that a faculty member teaching a distance education course is already using one of these systems. An instruction librarian can enhance these courses by adding an appropriate library module to the “virtual classroom”. In a public library, a librarian might collaborate with an academic librarian to develop such a module, especially if the distance education students are using that public library for their.resources. Any library might consider using these systems for providing both staff and patron training, as an alternative or supplement to traditional classroom training.
Below is a list of some of the major online course delivery software vendors.
Additional information on these and many other vendors can be found at:
Additional Resources:
Bethoney, Herb. “Computer-based Training on the Web.” PC Week (Aug. 18, 1997): 1.
Cole-Gormolski, Barb. “New Ways to Manage E-classes (WBT Systems TopClass 3.0, Asymetrix Learning systems’ Librarian, InfoTech/American Training International WorldTrak)." Computerworld (Nov. 30, 1998): 43.
“Comparison of On-line Course Delivery software Products”. http://multimedia.marshall.edu/cit/webct/compare/comparison.html
Cooper, Linda. “Anatomy of an Online Course”. T H E Journal (Technological Horizons in Education ) (Feb. 1999): 49. http://www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/A2087.cfm
Fritz, Mark. “Is Web-Based Training New Hype in Old Wineskins?” EMedia Professional (June 1997): 69-70.
Fritz, Mark. “WBT and CBT: The Urge to Merge?” EMedia Professional (Aug. 1997): 54-55.
Jenson, Bob. “Jenson’s Survey of High End Authoring Software.” http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/245soft1.htm
McCollum, Kelly. “A New Industry Sprouts Up to Help Professors Put Course on Line.” Chronicle of Higher Education (Oct. 31, 1997): 33-34.
Morley, Laurie and Kathryn LaMaster. “Use Electronic Bulletin Boards to Extend Classrooms.” JOPERD—The Journal of Physical Education Recreation & Dance (Aug. 1999): 16-19.
Morss, Dean and Patricia A. Fleming. “WebCT in the Classroom: A A Student View.” http://www.unb.ca/wwwdev/naweb98/proceedings/morss/
Musgrave, Jim. “List of Commerical and Free On-line Education Software.” http://grossmont.gcccd.cc.ca.us/grossmontonlin/list.htm
Uiterwijk, Julie. “Web-based Training Solutions” InfoWorld (Nov. 23, 1998). http://www.infoworld. com/cgi-bin/displayArchive.pl?/98/47/webtrana.dat.htm
University of Illinois. “Technology Tools for On-line Learning Syllabus.” http://www.rpi.edu/dept/acs/workshops/ov/>http://www.pitt.edu/~washburn/RECOMND.PDF
“WebCT 2.0 Overview”. http://www.rpi.edu/dept/acs/workshops/ov/
WBT Information Center. http://www.filename.com/wbt/
As always, send questions and comments to:
Snail Mail: Tech Talk, Billie Peterson, Moody Memorial Library, P. O. Box 97143
Waco, TX 76798-7143
E-Mail: Billie_Peterson@baylor.edu
LIRT News,
March 2000. Volume 22, number 3.
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