A Course Management System (CMS) is a suite of integrated tools that can be used for dlivering a course entirely online, for enhancing a face-to-face course, or even for hosting an organization. Common features are content areas, discussion boards, chat rooms, assignment drop boxes, quizzes, exams, and surveys, and sometimes white boards.
Blackboard, WebCT, and eCollege are the most popular systems in the U.S., but there are others that may be just as powerful and are less expensive and/or more customizable. Following is the start of a list of these products.
Company |
Summary |
Demo? |
Basic Cost |
Yes |
Free |
||
Yes |
Low cost, negotiable. Grants available. |
||
No |
Free |
||
No |
Free |
||
No |
Contact for pricing info |
Many other universities and companies that offer low-cost Course Management Systems can be researched at EduTools, which maintains a CMS database.
Contact us if you would like to receive assistance from EDC to help you plan your approach, evaluate the technology options, and develop capacity within your project to design and manage online professional development.
©2004 Education
Development Center, Inc. All rights reserved.This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grant No. EHR-0335360. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this matieral are those of the authors and do not not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.