PART 3: EVALUATION OF LMS SYSTEMS -
D2L AND BLACKBOARD COURSE SITES
INTRODUCTION
This review will consider specific aspects of both LMS Systems. These include:
The two systems being reviewed are D2L and Blackboard Course Sites.
This review will consider specific aspects of both LMS Systems. These include:
- Creating Dropbox assignments and analytic rubric for assessing the assignments
- Creating a Quiz with 5 different types of questions
- Linking the Rubric, Assignment, and Quiz to the Grade book
- Viewing and completing the assignment/quiz as Demo Student
- Grading the assignment/quiz and posting grades with comments to the Demo student
The two systems being reviewed are D2L and Blackboard Course Sites.
BLACKBOARD COURSE SITES - LMS REVIEW
Strengths
The Blackboard Course Sites system provides a good framework for accomplishing the tasks presented in the introduction. Creating assignments for each weekly module was a short three step process from the weekly module folder. This LMS actually forces the creator to place the assignment in the folder by requiring that you must be in the folder to create the item. This is great, especially for those individuals new to creating items in an online environment.
The Blackboard Course Sites system provides a good framework for accomplishing the tasks presented in the introduction. Creating assignments for each weekly module was a short three step process from the weekly module folder. This LMS actually forces the creator to place the assignment in the folder by requiring that you must be in the folder to create the item. This is great, especially for those individuals new to creating items in an online environment.
The same process is used as assignment, in terms of being in the weekly module when creating a quiz or test. This LMS provides many options for types of questions to include on an assessment.
To build a rubric in BBCS, the creator needs to know the type of rubric, number of criteria, levels and total points prior to building the rubric. The process was fairly intuitive to follow and was easy to edit when I added too many levels.
Linking the quiz and assignment to grades actually occurred in the process of creating the item. Thus making it an easy process for the creator. The rubric was also linked to the assignment during the creation process. BBCS has done a nice job of making these processes as concise as possible.
Weaknesses
The main issue that BBCS deals with the ability to review the items in a demo student view. I have not been successful in figuring this out on this LMS system. Therefore, to see and grade the assignment/quiz has proved to be a challenge. The preview of each of the items looks good and the links from the assignment/quiz show up in the grade book.
When creating an assignment, I was unable to find the tool to combat plagiarism. Looking throughout the site, I did not locate information to describe how to include this option. I will continue to research this aspect as it is a great help to the instructor and important for the student to see.
Weaknesses
The main issue that BBCS deals with the ability to review the items in a demo student view. I have not been successful in figuring this out on this LMS system. Therefore, to see and grade the assignment/quiz has proved to be a challenge. The preview of each of the items looks good and the links from the assignment/quiz show up in the grade book.
When creating an assignment, I was unable to find the tool to combat plagiarism. Looking throughout the site, I did not locate information to describe how to include this option. I will continue to research this aspect as it is a great help to the instructor and important for the student to see.
D2L LMS REVIEW
Strengths
Using D2L to create dropbox assignments was an easy process. There are many steps to follow but they are in an intuitive format that progresses the creator through in a logical manner. Linking the assignments to the grade book was a fairly easy process for this aspect of the review.
Creating a rubric in D2L was similar to BBCS. It is to the advantage of the creator to have the number of criteria, levels and points determined prior to beginning. Editing the rubric proved to be easy and adding additional columns/rows was also easy to do.
Using D2L to create dropbox assignments was an easy process. There are many steps to follow but they are in an intuitive format that progresses the creator through in a logical manner. Linking the assignments to the grade book was a fairly easy process for this aspect of the review.
Creating a rubric in D2L was similar to BBCS. It is to the advantage of the creator to have the number of criteria, levels and points determined prior to beginning. Editing the rubric proved to be easy and adding additional columns/rows was also easy to do.
D2L provides a new user great videos to help understand the various steps needed when creating items. This was particularly helpful in the process of creating a quiz. There are many steps to follow and options for the creator to consider when building a quiz. Again, having your questions created prior to the actual creation of the online assessment will speed the process up.
Watching the help videos will assist new creators with randomizing and understanding where the quiz is stored.
D2L has an excellent system for allowing the instructor to view the work as a Demo Student. This feature is a great asset to the teacher because looking at the assignments, rubrics and assessments is a critical to ensuring they are clear, correct and easy for the learner to follow. It also allows the instructor to practice grading, submitting items and provide feedback to the Demo Student. This, in turn, allows the instructor to polish the skills needed to provide effective feedback to learners.
D2L has an excellent system for allowing the instructor to view the work as a Demo Student. This feature is a great asset to the teacher because looking at the assignments, rubrics and assessments is a critical to ensuring they are clear, correct and easy for the learner to follow. It also allows the instructor to practice grading, submitting items and provide feedback to the Demo Student. This, in turn, allows the instructor to polish the skills needed to provide effective feedback to learners.
Instructor's using D2L will follow an easy process for grading the dropbox assignments. There is opportunity for the instructor to give as much feedback as is deemed necessary to help the student. This feedback can be given on the assignment, in the rubric, or directly to the student.
As the research shows for successful online classes, effective communication is essential to the development of the social presence aspect of the Community of Inquiry framework.
Weaknesses
D2L is fairly intuitive LMS. However, the number of steps involved in the processes can be overwhelming for a new user. For example, to create a quiz, randomize it, and link it to the grade book is in excess of 30 steps. This includes moving throughout 3 different tabs, saving items three times and locating the correct item to link to the grade book. Missing one step can throw off the entire process, so doing this without the support of help videos or colleagues can be a challenge.
LMS Recommendation
Both LMS systems proved to have quality tools available to create assignments, quizzes, and rubrics. Each system has it's own process for creating the items, but a novice learner is able to navigate through these processes fairly painlessly. D2L has the best support in terms of videos available to help if needed. However, some of D2L's processes are more lengthy and thus need the support.
For the set of criteria presented in the introduction, these systems are basically even in terms of creating the items needed in an online class. D2L creeps ahead only because the ease of use of a Demo Student account. BBCS needs to have a process that is easier to find and follow, with regards to viewing their LMS from a student's perspective. I would also like to see the plagiarism option located on the assignment creation page to give creators the option to utilize it as a regular tool.
For our school district, D2L is the recommendation this week. The processes for creating these assignments/assessments is similar to the current grade book program. Teachers will likely feel less apprehension given that this system relates to their experiences.