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Home » Methodologies, Tools and New Developments for E-Learning » A Comparative Study Between E-Learning Features » Comparative study between e-learning features » Comparative study based on features and capabilities of VLE tools

Technical specifications tools

21 January, 2016 - 14:46
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These tools contain two kinds of tools: Hardware/Software Tools and Pricing/Licensing; all kinds of Technical Specifications Tools have some features and capabilities, as in Table 10.3. The costs feature is different from other features because if the product has no cost, it means that product has an advantage and we will calculate it as Yes (Y). For example, in Table 10.3 , Moodle has two N and we calculated N of cost as Y, so in the final score Moodle has missed just one feature.

 
Table 10.4 The Comparison between Selected VLE Products based on Support Tools

No

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Product

Name/

Tools

LON-CAPA

Desire
2
Learn 8.1

ANGEL Learning Mgt
(7.1) Suite

TeleTOP VLE

The Blackboard Learning System (V7)

Sakai 2.3

dotLRN/
Open
ACS

Schola
360

A
Tutor 1.5.4

Moodle 1.8

2. Support Tools

2.1. Administration Tools

Authentication

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Course Authorization

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Hosted Services

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Registration Integration

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

2.2. Course Delivery Tools

Test Types

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Automated Testing Management

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Automated Testing Support

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Course Management

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Online Grading Tools

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Student Tracking

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

2.3. Content Development Tools

Accessibility Compliance

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Content Sharing / Reuse

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Course Templates

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Customized Look and Feel

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Instructional Design

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Instructional Standards Compliance

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Total Features

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

Total Available Features

16

16

16

15

15

16

16

15

16

16

Total Missing Features

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

1

0

0

 

As we can see in Table 10.5 below, the comparison between the VLE products is based on Technical Specifications Tools. In this phase, the best product is ATutor 1.5.4, Moodle 1.8, Scholar360 and The Blackboard Learning System, which missed only 1 out of the 8 Technical Specifications Tools. The weakest product is LON-CAPA, which missed 5 out of the 8. The Technical Specifications in Table 10.5 have many features and capabilities, and to understand what these features and capabilities mean, please visit the EduTools. We have also listed them in Table 10.2.

 
Table 10.5 The Comparison between VLE Products based on Technical Specifications Tools

No

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Product

Tools

LON-CAPA

Desire
2
Learn 8.1

ANGEL Learning Mgt(7.1)
Suite

TeleTOP VLE

The Blackboard Learning System (V7)

Sakai 2.3

dotLRN/
Open
ACS

Scholar
360

A
Tutor 1.5.4

Moodle 1.8

3. Technical Specifications

3.1. Hardware/Software Tools

Client Browser Required

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Database Requirements

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Unix Server

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Windows Server

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

3.2. Pricing/Licensing Tools

Company Profile

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Costs

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

N

Y

Open Source

Y

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Optional Extras

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Total Features

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

Total Available Features

3

6

6

4

7

6

4

7

8

7

Total Missing Features

5

2

2

4

1

2

4

1

1

1

 
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