High-End Web Authoring Courseware Shells and Other Authoring Software
Bob Jensen at Trinity University

Table of Contents

Popular Web Authoring Courseware Shells
Web server/client software focused on storage, delivery, and course management.   This software facilitates server/client networking that allows for student record keeping, test grading, etc.  Unlike high-end authoring software, courseware shells have utilities for creating network listservs, bulletin boards, chat rooms, electronic forums, telephony, etc.  These shells also facilitate lesson authoring in virtually all of the high-end authoring software listed above.   Some courseware shells have more authoring capabilities than others, although none have the full authoring capabilties of the high-end authoring systems.

| TopClass | WebCB | WebCT | Asymetrix Librarian | Mallard | Real Education | Serf | FirstClass |
| Convene | CourseInfo (Blackboard) | IntraKal | MentorWare | WebMentor Enterprise |
| Learning Space | Oncourse | McGraw-Hill Learning Architecture (MHLA) |   PHP |
| CyberClass (Note:   Cyberclass was unique in that server space is provided and users such as university professors need not use servers in their own institutions) |
| Jenzabar  (Jenzabar provides something like CyberClass only server space is free) |
| Hot Potatoes (free interactive web courseware but not server space) |

Click here for a summary of some options for obtaining free commercial server space for your courses without having to rely upon your school's servers.  The Clash of the Titans!

Thanks go to Chris Nolan for the lead on the following web site about "Putting Your Course Online" http://www.library.okstate.edu/dept/dls/prestamo/nom/titlepage.htm 

Web Audio and Video Authoring and Playback Software

Network Discussion Group (Chat Room) Software

WebTV

High-End Authoring Software
Multi-purpose software used for authoring of books, CD-ROMs, computer games, kiosks, complete courses, and course management (e.g., student records, test grading, etc.) that include utilities for creating hypermedia, drag-and-drops, scripting languages, etc.

askSam Electronic Publisher | askSam Web Publisher | Authorware | CBT Express | CCW for OS/2 | CD Motion for Video | Con-Who 7.0 | Course Builder | Curtis Catalog | Digital Chisel HTML | Everest | Expo | Hyperties | Omni Search | Quest | Story Vision | Summit | ToolBook II Instructor | Datatel's Microcosm |

| Macromedia Dreamweaver for Web  Authoring | DreamFactory | GoLive |
| TeamFusion for Collaborative Team Authoring |

Selected Comparisons

June 1998 Syllabus Buyer's Guide (hardware and software solutions for collaboration and distance learning)

Conferencing and Collaboration Services and Software
Distance Learning: Hardware and Software Solutions
Internet Servers
Networking Hardware and Software
Network/Lab Management Software
Video and Teleconferencing Hardware

Update Messages on Existing and New Authoring Software

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Return to Bob Jensen's Index Page

Free Commercial Server Space Alternatives for Courses

I will now summarize some options for putting your course materials up "for free" on commercial servers rather than having to rely upon the servers on your campus (many universities and other schools are way behind the time in providing server space and software shells for courses).

Both Paul Allen and Mike Milken are "Titans" in the eyes of an insignificant salaried professor.  However Paul Allen has more billions than Mike Milken, and Paul Allen has spent less time in jail.  However, since being released from prison, Mike Milken set a course to monopolize much of the online education material and distribution via his Knowledge Corporation and its many subsidiaries.  It is nice to see that other billionaires are putting up some competition.  Actually what Mike Milken and Paul Allen are both doing with their vast wealth is for the good of making training and education available worldwide.  I applaud what they are doing with their vast wealth and the risks that they are taking with their money.

In summary, the Clash of the Titans seems to be Paul Allen's newcomer Click2Learn versus Mike Milken's earlier "Milken's Virtual Education Workspace."  

• Both web sites have authoring software that can be used free for authoring courses.  
• Course authoring is a simple process from a web browser (no complicated authoring packages to install and learn).
• Both web sites have free server space for approved courses.  (even your kids can put up a course).
• Milken requires course approval in a somewhat more formalized process than Allen.
• Both will give you a royalty on the revenues generated from your course usage online.  Mr. Allen pays 30%.

Don't forget about the "non-Titan" CyberClass option for authoring courses.  CyberClass offers professors free space on its commercial servers.  You must provide your own course materials authored in the software of your choosing such as Microsoft FrontPage.  However, CyberClass offers more than you can get from the "Titans."  Cyberclass is a complete course management shell in the sense of allowing students to interact with the system, take tests online, enter chat rooms for synchronous course discussions, and track student performance and grades.  However, not just anybody can put up a course in CyberClass.  You must be the instructor of a formal course with enrolled students who can purchase the password to the course.  Publishing firms like South-Western Publishing have course materials mounted in CyberClass.  These publisher-generated materials can be accessed by students at discounted prices for selected textbooks required for a course.  CyberClass does not have author royalties per se, but a small company like HyperGraphics might negotiate royalties for large-scale courses from popular authors.  You can read about what universities are using CyberClass at http://www.hgcorp.com/cyberclass/hg/Newsroom/newsschools.htm.

If all you want is free server space without the bells and whistles (i.e., no point and click authoring software, chat rooms, course grading, or course management utilities), XOOM offers "unlimited" free server space.  Alan Whitten provided me with the following link to other free server alternatives:  http://cas.uah.edu/whittena/mis114/fr_web_sp/webdef.htm

In summary, the options are as follows:

Free course authoring software and server space with royalties from the results of you labors from the "Titans":

http://click2learn.asymetrix.com/cda/createcourse/frontpage/ from titan Paul Allen

http://www.mevw.org/ from titan Mike Milken

Free server space and a server shell for course management, interactive testing, chat rooms, etc.:

http://www.hgcorp.com/cyberclass/ from HyperGraphics Corporation

| Jenzabar  (Now Jenzabar seems to be providing something like CyberClass) |

No frills free free "unlimited" server space:

http://xoom.com/home/ 

Alan Whitten provided me with the following link to other free server alternatives:  http://cas.uah.edu/whittena/mis114/fr_web_sp/webdef.htm

If you would rather mount your courses on your university's servers, you should convince your webmaster to install one or more of the web authoring shells for servers discussed at http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/245soft1.htm#Shells.  I still recommend Blackboard if you go that route.

Jenzabar

I (Professor Kamlet) have been approached by Jenzabar.com who is offering me all the space I want to mount web pages, course syllabi, class distributions, etc. forever. My students would go to their website and gain access to all I've posted there. One of the links off the Jenzabar homepage is for shopping aimed at college students. There are no links from the course pages to shopping sites. No information they obtain about students will be used to sell to them directly. A clear advantage is that I'd be using their servers, not our school's. They provide web page shells, calendars, etc. The question of ethics, forcing students to a website where shopping is available, remains.

The website is http://www.jenzabar.com  if you want to check it out.

I am soliciting input here. Is use of this service appropriate?

Elliot Kamlet Binghamton University Binghamton, New York 13902 607-777-6062

Neil Hannon stated. "I have been in contact with Jennifer Clark from Jenzabar.com. She offers the following comments to the concerns expressed on this list:"

Prof Hannon - Here is the "digest" of responses. I realize this is a bit lengthy - feel free to edit at will. - Jen

Prof Fordham is right in pointing out that using an internet site - any site - opens a user up to unwanted email, and that companies can sell lists of email addresses to other companies, or send unwanted advertisements. Jenzabar.com does not sell user lists; our privacy policy states this and we make all our employees sign statements of confidentiality that include a provision to that effect. We also are beefing up site security within the next two weeks to ensure that no third parties can access the information on our servers. Any time an email is sent en masse (to more than 25 registered users), we include instructions for opt-out procedures.  

I realize that several professors have been "cold-contacted" regarding the Charter Professor Program; both an initial contact letter and a follow-up email were sent within a week of each other (both included opt-out procedures if the message were sent in error). Sean, Kristin, and Ben divided up the U.S. into regions and emailed a small sampling of professors whose email addresses they randomly selected from college websites. The idea was to open Jenzabar.com up to a wide selection of colleges and professors; the feedback we received from this diverse group would help Jenzabar shape a product that met the needs of all faculty. As someone who worked closely with faculty during the past few years, I know that sometimes a straightforward "cold" email can have lasting value - for one professor I worked with a random email two years ago led to co-editorship of a textbook. I know our initial means of contact may concern some professors as to Jenzabar's future email procedures, but I'm confident that in the long run the decision was a good one for Jenzabar users (and Jenzabar!) We now have Charter Professors at 300 schools - community colleges, art schools, liberal arts colleges, research universities, professional and medical schools, adult education specialists, etc. - whose feedback and suggestions directly shape the development of new Jenzabar features.  

To address Prof Omer's concerns - shopping is merely a button on the screen, and students are not forced to visit the shopping section. It isn't as if a student will look at their syllabus and see a huge banner ad for Coca-Cola across the page. Right now there is no advertising on the site, and there will never be any advertising on academic pages. Here's the logic behind the shopping: We want Jenzabar to be free for students and professors. The best possible situation would be to have a free service with free hosting of information - that way everyone's on a level playing field as far as cost and finding server space. Many internet companies that offer free services are supported by advertising and ecommerce (Yahoo!, Hotmail, etc.) Of all internet users, students spend the most time online and also spend the most per capita in online buying. Companies are eager to provide students with discounts, but they often have no way of ensuring the buyers really are students (all faculty, staff, and students are usually given .edu addresses, so even that isn't a good measure.) Since we know when a user is a student, we can guarantee to such companies that whoever is buying their merchandise at a discount is actually a student. We act as the student's advocate to negotiate discounts on everything from airline tickets to textbooks to CD's. Students can buy the same things they normally do online - only much cheaper. And, of course, if students don't want to buy through Jenzabar.com, they certainly don't have to.  

Re website hosting, my only comment is that every professor should find the tool that is right for him or her - and there are many out there to choose from. Jenzabar's main advantages are type-and-click editing for busy professors who want to add a handout or change a syllabus entry in a hurry, a "killer" look-and-feel...and a built-in structure for creating an academic community (multiple professors teaching at the same school can interact, students can access all their courses through one account, adding support for cross-course and cross-school threaded forums - for example, a forum for all Jenzabar users taking introductory accounting). 

 Jennifer Clark 617-492-9099 x262 

Hot Potatoes
Thank you for the tip Dan Gode (Hot Potatoes appears to be free software):

Hot Potatoes is an excellent way to quickly create interactive teaching exercises for the Internet, a standalone machine, a network, or a CD-ROM. A copy of Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.+ is needed to view the files. Hot Potatoes comes with good documentation and tutorials, and the easy-to-use, fill-in-the-blanks interface means you don't need to know any HTML or JavaScript coding to create your exercises. If you're comfortable with the coding, however, you're free to edit the source files to create or adjust the templates. You can make multiple-choice, fill-in-the-gap, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, and even crossword-type quizzes. The quizzes can include graphics or HTML links. The test-takers are given immediate feedback on the correctness of an answer and can even be given hints and clues. At a tremendous price (free), Hot Potatoes is a terrific program for those who want to add educational materials or fun quizzes to their Web pages.   http://hotfiles.zdnet.com/cgi-bin/texis/swlib/hotfiles/info.html?fcode=000T69 

High-End Courseware Shells

Courseware Shell Product:  TopClass
Vendor:  WBT Systems
Web URL:  http://www.wbtsystems.com/
Address and Phone Numbers:  
WBT Systems
185 Berry Street, Suite 5601
San Francisco
California 94107

Phone: (415) 356-1200
Fax: (415) 356-1209

Some publishing firms have adopted TopClass shells for listings of books from various disciplines.  And example is the McGraw-Hill Learning Architecture (MHLA) at http://www.mhla.net/ .  MHLA technicians will help campuses install the TopClass shell on campus servers such that part or all of courses can be delivered and managed from those servers.  Instructors can add customized syllabi, assignments, tests. learning materials, etc.  TopClass offers a variety of security utilities for student login and course tracking.

Email message on February 14, 1999
But demoroniser will never fix the initially bad Microsoft conversion. All the headings so laboriously created in the Web documents are converted into various versions of normal paragraphs. The semantic meaning of the document styles has been lost.

I am beginning to move over to TopClass for major class management tasks (NTU got a license recently) and the TopClass convertor does a really good job of converting Word documents into a Web structure. Heading 1 sections get converted into sep. documents, for example. A nice product.

Roger Debreceny
Roger Debreceny, Associate Professor,
Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University
Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639678
Phone: +65 790 6049 Fax: +65 791 3697
rogerd@netbox.com adebreceny@ntu.edu.sg
http://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/adebreceny/
OfficeCam + InternetPhone, NetMeeting & PGP details

 

Email message on February 15, 1999
TopClass should probably be renamed "Bottom Class" or perhaps something worse. Several people at Temple University tried it and almost everyone had strong, negative feelings about this software. Its one virtue, I understand, is its low price compared to Web CT and similar class management packages, which is why some people in our administration have been trying to have it declared as our "official online course software." It has been available here at Temple for over a year now and no one is using it.

Steve Fogg

Stephen L. Fogg Ph.D., CPA
Chairman, Department of Accounting
Fox School of Business and Management
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Email: fogg@sbm.temple.edu <mailto:fogg@sbm.temple.edu
URL: www.sbm.temple.edu/~fogg <http://www.sbm.temple.edu/~fogg

 

Courseware Shell Product WebCB Course in a Box
Vendor:  Virginia Commonwealth University
Web URL: http://www.madduck.com/wcbinfo/wcb.html
Address and Email Address:
MadDuck Technologies
Richmond, VA 23298
E-mail:info@madduck.com

Features in Version 2.0, September 1, 1997:

• A completely rewritten WCB, incorporating a more modular programming design that makes WCB more efficient, and

more easily customized for individual sites.

• Drill and Practice/Testing - instructors can use new WCB templates to create online drill and practice and testingcomponents for their courses.
• Copy class feature - allows an instructor to copy an existing WCB course and then customize it.
• Site customization of system features, such as semester information and timezone. For example, if your institution uses quarters instead of semesters, you can now customize how that information appears in the WCB templates
• Subsets in Forums - instructors can designate that their class forums be open to subsets of students in their class
• New graphics - new graphics sets have been added to WCB, and instructors have the ability to upload and use their own custom graphics sets with WCB.
• Course Listing on/off - this feature allows an instructor to choose whether their course should appear in the main WCB list of courses.
• Homepage Graphic customization - for both student and faculty homepages, you can now choose whether to display a graphic or not, and can customize height and width settings.

One important feature of  this courseware shell is that it is a free shell.  Becaruse it is free  there are fewer features and much less technical support.

On July 31, Ceil Pillsbury at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee wrote the following in an email message about security of examinations:

There is a free course management shell Web Course in a Box, but like most (but certainly NOT all) free things, you get what you paid for. It took my computer jock under 3 minutes to break the security of their on line quizzing.

Courseware Shell Product:  WebCT
Vendor: WebCT Educational Technologies
Web URL:   http://homebrew1.cs.ubc.ca/webct/
         WebCT can also be obtained via Harcourt Brace at http://www.hbcollege.com/webct/
                 Selected books from Prentice-Hall are available in WebCT http://www.prenhall.com/index.html
Address and Phone Numbers:
WebCT Educational Technologies
4238 West 14th Ave.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada, V6R 2X8
Fax: +1 604 224 1192 

WebCT not only produces courses for the WWW, but also uses WWW browsers as the interface for the course-building environment. Aside from facilitating the organization of course material on the web, WebCT also provides a wide variety of tools and features that can be added to a course. Examples of tools include a conferencing system, on-line chat, student progress tracking, group project organization, student self-evaluation, grade maintenance and distribution, access control, navigation tools, auto-marked quizzes, electronic mail, automatic index generation, course calendar, student homepages, course content searches and much more.

You may obtain feature comparisons with the following competitors at http://homebrew1.cs.ubc.ca/webct/

• University of Manitoba Feature Comparison

• SCOET/CCTT/OLT Feature Comparison

• "Ease of Use" Survey Summary

• A CBT/WBT authoring tools comparison by Dr. Geraldine

• Kristapiazzi for Daytona Beach Community College

Amy Dunbar has had a lot of experience with WebCT when teaching taxation. 

She wrote a WebCT section of a teaching monograph to be published by the American Taxation Association next summer. The pdf file is at
http://www.sba.uconn.edu/users/adunbar/webct.pdf

It would also be great if you could check out a couple site built using WebCT. Amy describes various WebCT tools in the pdf file, which you can see in action. For example, John Wanless uses WebCT for his financial accounting course. The site can be accessed at:
http://www.webteach.atc.fhda.edu:8900/public/ACCT1/index.html
Note that you should use a login id of guest and a password of guest.

Courseware Shell Product:  Asymetrix Librarian and Ingenium
Vendor:  Asymetrix Corporation
Web URL:  http://www.asymetrix.com
Address and Phone Numbers:
Asymetrix Learning Systems, Inc.
110 110th Avenue N.E.
Belleview, WA 98004-5840
Phone 800-448-6543
Fax 425-454-0672

Users interact with Librarian using a Web browser. Once logged in, a student can search, view, take or resume lessons, join organizations, view and modify personal information, view and print reports, open assigned collaborations, and send e-mail. Librarian records student activity in a database.

Administrators, once logged in, are able to setup and manage members and organizations; create and manage content; create dynamic lessons that respond to student progress; review lesson activity; create collaborations; search for members,  organizations and lessons; and generate reports. Librarian uses authentication, data encryption and access privileges to secure confidential student and course information.

Arthur Andersen Partnership
Arthur Andersen Partners with Asymetrix Learning Systems For Internet Based
Learning Management Solution. Read the Press Release for more information.

http://www.asymetrix.com

August 21, 1`998

==========================================

Courseware Shell Product:  Mallard
Vendor:  University of Illinois
Web URL:  http://www.ews.uiuc.edu/Mallard/News/
Contacts:
Director and Creator of Mallard
Donna J. Brown: djb@uiuc.edu 

Mallard Administrator (through SCALE)
John C. Groppe: mallard-support@uiuc.edu  

MallardTM is a World Wide Web based interactive learning environment suitable for virtually any subject. Mallard provides a secure environment, within which one can organize online course material and test students via interactive quizzes with instantaneous problem correction and grading. Student responses to these online quizzes are evaluated by intelligent grading programs that not only assess the correctness of a response, but also attempt to determine why an answer is incorrect. The student gets immediate feedback and can access online assistance if desired. To ensure the integrity of the grading process, server/client communication is encrypted using the standard https protocol.

Instructors have a large number of utilities to allow them to teach more effectively, including detailed student logs. Thus, student progress on an assignment can be observed even before the duedate.  Grading policies are established by each instructor. E.g. a quiz could allow up to 15 submissions, require a minimum passing score of 60%, and have a late penalty of -10% a day for 4 days.  Homework in the same course might have a totally different grading policy, and practice exercises could be pass/fail. Since quizzes are submitted and graded on-line, the instructor does not have to collect, correct, or even record grades. Questions can be either randomly generated (if appropriate) or randomly selected: as a result, different students can be given different quizzes and the same student can see a different quiz each time she retakes a WebQuiz.

Mallard also provides administrative utilities for ordinary instructor tasks such as maintaining class rosters, posting announcements, merging Mallard and non-Mallard (e.g. exam) grades, and much more. Using Mallard is easy and - perhaps most important - Mallard is designed to allow teachers to teach the way the way they want to. Mallard integrates into whatever course format one desires: it can be used for stand-alone remote learning or as an adjunct for an otherwise very traditional course. This past spring, Mallard was used by nearly 50 courses at UIUC, as well as at a number of other institutions. Subjects include aviation, engineering, foreign language, business, agriculture, and many more.

Courseware Shell Product: Serf
Vendor:  University of Delaware
Web URL:  http://www.udel.edu/serf/
Address and Phone Numbers:
Hugh P. Campbell at phone number (302) 831-2136 or email at hpc@udel.edu.
Serf Educational Software
University of Deleware
Newark, DE 19716

Serf is a Web-based distance education environment developed at the University of Delaware. As you can see in the picture at the top of this page, Serf is an acronym that stands for server-side educational records facilitator. It’s your servant on the Internet; hence the name Serf.

Serf provides an environment for delivering courses anywhere in the world, using the World Wide Web as a distance education medium. Serf makes it possible to create and deliver courses in a self-paced multimedia learning environment that enables students to navigate a syllabus, access instructional resources, communicate, and submit assignments over the Web in unique and powerful ways. Instructors can easily access and grade the assignments via the Serf gradebook. At any time, students can click a button to see a report of their progress in a course, along with comments from ther instructor and a prediction of their final grade. To learn more about Serf, click one of these:

Courseware Shell Product:  FirstClass
Vendor:  SoftArc (merged with MC² Learning Systems)
Web URL:  http://www.softarc.com/homepage.shtml
Address and Phone Numbers:
SoftArc Inc.
100 Allstate Parkway
Markham, Ontario
Canada
L3R 6H3

Tel: 905-415-7000
Sales: 1-800-SOFTARC
Email:  info@softarc.com

FirstClass Collaborative Classroom is an open all-in-one communication server for colleges and universities that:

• Gives you innovative, new Internet capabilities
• Enables easy and effective communication between students and faculty
• Works with existing systems
• Is cost-effective

Softclass features a colloaborative classroom utility and can be customized for each university.  Some very large web universities like Open University in the United Kingdom use TopClas.

Courseware Shell Product:  RealEducation
Vendor:  Real Education, Inc.
Web URL:  http://realeducation.com/
Address and Phone Numbers:
Real Education, Inc.
10200 A. E. Girard Avenue
Denver, CO 80231
Phone 303-873-7400
Fax 303/873-7449

We will work one-on-one with your faculty to build award-winning online courses that are custom built to your professors’ high standards. The Real Education Instructional Design team instructs on how to build and modify courses online using the Real Education Active Learning (REAL) System. The REAL System does not require programming skills or special software. Our in-house research department can also demonstrate how to make online courses more effective by using the latest in technology.

Online courses offer students and faculty the ability to interact via streaming audio and video, synchronous chatrooms, asynchronous threaded discussions and e-mail. Students can also utilize the World Wide Web as a research tool by participating in Webliography submissions.

Upon delivery of your online campus, all of your information resides on our fault tolerant servers, where we guarantee an eight second download of all classroom Web pages over a 28.8 modem. Real Education also assists in marketing your online courses to help you build online enrollment.

Courseware Shell Product: Convene
Web URL:  http://www.convene.com/

Over 50,000 students have completed over 200,000 courses using Convene.  That’s the kind of experience we can offer you, and it’s experience no one else has. It’s helped us develop the quickest and most efficient way to get your program up and running, and to do it without your having to hire additional personnel or eat up precious resources. It’s taught us how to create a complete, turnkey solution to your web-based distance education needs, and to do it for the lowest cost in the industry. It’s made us understand the importance of being partners with the schools by remaining an integral part of each online program.  For the weekly news CLiP Newsletter, subscribe at http://www.convene.com/clipnotes.html

Your online campus can include . .

Online course registration
Interactive online testing
Audio and video conferencing
Whiteboard technology
Streaming audio and video
Student lounge
Real-time chat
And much much more!

Courseware Shell Product:  CourseInfo (Blackboard)
Vendor: 
Web URL: http://www.blackboard.net/
Address and Phone Numbers

Blackboard Inc.
1111 19th Street., NW
Suite 608
Washington, DC 20036

By Phone
202-463-4860 ext. 4 to speak with a sales representative.
202-463-4860 ext. 5 to speak with a technical support staff member.
202-463-4860 ext. 211 to speak with a media relations staff member.
202-463-4860 ext. 212 to speak with an investor relations staff member.
202-463-4863 for facsimile transmissions.

By E-mail
information@Blackboard.net  for general information requests.
sales@Blackboard.net  for sales information.
support@Blackboard.net  for technical support.
media@Blackboard.net  for press and media related inquiries.

For your instructors, the process couldn’t be easier. First they create a course from any computer (via a standard Web browser) by filling in five fields. (Didn’t we say it’s really easy?) Then, using Blackboard CourseInfo’s intuitive graphical point-and-click interface, they seamlessly incorporate information from existing word processing, multimedia, and presentation software stored on their local computer or other web sites. Then, if you’d like, you can provide your instructors with Blackboard CourseInfo’s administrative options for customizing and managing their course’s web-site, content, and students online. (They can choose from a number of pre-assembled communication and collaboration tools, for example.)

For your in-house technology professionals, no more reinventing the wheel! Blackboard CourseInfo provides you with a suite of tools for supporting multiple on-line learning environments. It provides a standardized way of constructing CourseSites and allows instructors to self-manage many of the repetitive aspects of course creation (e.g. creating an on-line syllabus). The product is powerful and easy to administer – completely web based, so stick the box in the basement!

The result? With a little help from Blackboard CourseInfo, your learners can easily access your course anytime, anywhere, providing remote access to all educational materials as well as advanced communication tools. And they didn’t need to learn a lick of HTML!

Features

Blackboard CourseInfo provides all of the features and services necessary to put your institution’s classes on the web.

Asynchronous Communication (threaded discussions)
Synchronous Communication (real-time chat and whiteboard)
Assessment Tools and Gradebook
Collaborative Work Groups
Content Creation (e.g. syllabus and course description pages)
Database Reporting and CourseSite Statistics
Messaging System
Online File Exchange (between instructor and student)
Online Tutorial
User Tracking

Courseware Shell Product:  IntraKal
Vendor:  Anlon Systems, Inc
Web URL: http://www.anlon.com/
Address and Phone Numbers

Anlon Systems, Inc.
3 Civic Center Plaza
Mankato, MN 56001-7790
1-888-866-4793
email: sales@anlon.com 

IntraKalTM is easy for faculty to use for course administration functions, freeing time to teach and work with students. IntrakalTM is designed by faculty, for faculty, to provide everything that an educator wants and needs. For a guided tour, go to http://www.anlon.com/demoset.html

Courseware Shell Product:  MentorWare
Vendor:  MentorWare Inc.
Web URL:  http://www.mentorware.com/  
Address and Phone Numbers

MentorWare Inc.
4701 Patrick Henry Drive, Suite 1101
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Directions to Mentorware

Phone:
(408) 566 - 8800
Fax:
(408) 566 - 8808

For more information:
info@mentorware.com
For a Demo/presentation:
sales@mentorware.com
For custom development enquiries:
sales@mentorware.com

Browser-based delivery of class content. All course content is delivered on a frame-by-frame basis using WWW browser-supported media files. Leverages inexpensive, widely available and well-supported media creation and authoring tools. Provides for multi-platform compatibility when content is developed using standard media components and Java. Allows frame-by-frame tracking of student progress.

Integrated test creation and evaluation. Questions (with or without exhibits) and Tests are created within Mentorware. A number of test types and scoring options are available to customize test delivery and processing. Ensures serious participation by the students and accurate measurement of success of training goals.

Scheduling Capability. Each frame in a course can have a time (day) schedule associated with it. The system then displays the class list in a color-coded fashion depending on the "days behind schedule."

The system can also be setup to inform the instructor if the student is a specified number of days behind schedule. E-mail can be sent to the student as a backup reminder.

Courseware Shell Product:  WebMentor Enterprise
Vendor:  Avilar Technologies, Inc.
Web URL:  http://avilar.adasoft.com/
Address and Phone Numbers

Avilar Technologies, Inc.
8750-9 Cherry Lane
Laurel, Maryland 20707-6208
Voice: (888) 873-7014
Fax: (301) 725-0980
EMAIL: webmentor@avilar.com

WebMentor is a training environment with the most complete feature set available for developing, administering, and delivering web-based training over the Internet, intranets, and extranets.

We encourage you to compare its features listed below with any other web-based training product. We are confident you will find that WebMentor offers everything you need, and more, to meet your distance learning requirements.

powerful browser-based Authoring System that supports:

course authoring
course editing
pre-publication course evaluation by "students"
course publication for installation into the WebMentor Enterprise Training Server

training on any subject to anyone, anywhere, anytime via a standard web browser retrieval of high bandwidth course material such as video and audio from local storage such as CD-ROM flexible Course Presentation System with a customizable user interface supports large courses having hundreds of lessons dynamic course content that permits individualized instruction through student attributes that control the display of course material to each student flexible, multi-level lesson structure that can include:

lesson material
review material
additional resource material - both internal and external to the training system
practice exercises
non-graded quizzes with hints and feedback
graded assessment tests

scalable browser-based Training Administration System designed to support a single course up to a complete online training operation  facilities for any number of organizations to independently manage their own training scalability achieved through administrative roles that can be assigned to one individual or many individuals permitting the centralization or distribution of authority and responsibility  multiple courses and multiple sessions per course  facilities for a Course Provider to manage the overall training system installation centralized ODBC compliant database that supports all aspects of the training environment  electronic commerce whereby students and organizations can register for training and arrange payment  free and fee courses   user authentication for all roles  open (to all) and private (restricted access) course sessions

• six (6) question types including:

true/false
multiple choice
matching
ordering
fill-in-the-blank
select-all-that-apply

• automatic grading and grade recording of assessment test results
  
• student test results and test summary information including a question-by-question summary to permit the evaluation of testing material

• student progress tracking and reporting
• student activity recording and reporting
• student test results and test summary information including a question-by-question summary to permit the evaluation of testing material
• class rosters with individual and class-wide e-mail support
• registration aging report showing length of time registered in a course for each student
• class ranking reports by course, session or individual student for a single assessment test or all tests in a course
• extensive set of additional reports including student enrollment and registration by organization, course and session report contents based upon the role and, in some cases, the individual requesting the information
• bar charts to augment certain reports, where applicable

• individual course and organization conferences that support threaded discussions with attachments, e-mail notification, and searching
• individual e-mail to anyone
• Bulletin Board on which announcements can be posted

multiple levels of online help throughout the system including:

context sensitive help
help in navigating through the system
"how do I do that" help

Courseware Shell Product: Learning Space
Vendor:  Lotus Development Corporation
Web URL:  http://www2.lotus.com/home.nsf/tabs/learnspace
Address and Phone Numbers:
Lotus Development Corporation
55 Cambridge Parkway
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 577-8500

LearningSpace Release 2.5 is the latest release of Lotus' technology solution for creating and delivering collaborative,
instructor-facilitated, distributed education and training to employees and students. LearningSpace is a powerful Domino
application that synthesizes collaborative technology with the universal access of the web to create the most flexible and
cost-effective distributed learning environment with all the benefits of a traditional face-to-face classroom.

LearningSpace will be used by companies, academic institutions and education providers looking for alternatives to
traditional classroom settings, and ways to allow all employees and students equal learning opportunities without the
limitations of time and place.

There are four participant modules that can be accessed using a Netscape or Internet Explorer browser or a Notes client.
They are:

• Schedule

• MediaCenter

• CourseRoom

• Profiles

LearningSpace also comes with easy-to-use instructor tools for course management:

• Assessment Manager

• LearningSpace Central
  
  

Learning Connect (with special features for Lotus Learning Space developers)
http://www.learningconnect.com/

============

Courseware Shell Product:  Oncourse
Vendor:  Indiana University
Web URL:  https://oncourse.iupui.edu/courses/default.htm

Ali

Hi Ali,

I really know nothing about Oncourse courseware. I see from your link that it is a Beta 1 version. Please let me know if there is a better link that describes the properties of Oncourse.

Actually, these home grown shells are springing up like weeds. Illinois has Mallard, Delaware has Self, and many others have home grown products. Many universities are now trying to sell their own home grown shells.

I know too little about the features of most homegrown shells to make comparisons. I have heard great things about the system at UCLA. That system is interesting because it is a database system. Web pages are not stored in server files. Instead, web pages are virtual pages created on the fly from databases. That will be the wave of the future, and UCLA seems to be on the leading edge.

I spite of all the home grown shells, the market share will probably be dominated by TopClass and WebCT. WebCT is catching on like wild fire because of a combination of features and pricing.

Most feedback on Learning Space (IBM/Lotus) is negative as of late. Most feedback on TopClass and WebCT is positive among users. TopClass is still overpriced in my opinion.

Bob at rjensen@trinity.edu
Professor Robert E. Jensen http://www.trinity.edu/~rjensen
Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Professor of Business Administration
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
Voice: 210-736-7347 Fax: 210-736-8134

From: Jafari, Ali [SMTP:jafari@iupui.edu]
Sent: Monday, November 02, 1998 6:38 PM
To: Jensen, Robert
Subject: RE: High-End Courseware Shells

Thanks for your reply, Jensen. You are right about the IBM lotus notes. Ialso find the WebCT and TopClass very hard to use. Take a look at the Oncourse, if you have time, it is even easier than the BlackBoard. It is made of microsoft SQL database designed to support over 50,000 course and 200,000 student accounts.

Courseware Shell Product:  CyberClass
Vendor:  HyperGraphics Corporation 
                   Alternate Vendor: South-Western College Publishing
Web URL:  http://www.cyberclass.com/
Address and Phone Numbers:

HyperGraphics Corporation
308 North Carroll Blvd.
Denton, Texas 76201
Voice 940-565-0004
Fax 940-565-0959
Email info@cyberclass.com

(Note:  Cyberclass is unique in that server space is provided and users such as university professors need not use servers in their own institutions)

CyberClass (ISBN HGCC-02)
For the student

• Self-enroll in your class by entering your class key provided by your
  instructor and by creating your own username and password
• Read class syllabi/guidelines posted by instructor
• View assignments posted by instructor
• Send messages to and receive messages from class members and instructors
• Submit assignments electronically to instructor
• Access a student bulletin board
• Access your class Text Chat room
• Post Hot Links for class members (if instructor has enabled that option)
• Take online tests/quizzes

For the instructor

• Post class syllabi/guidelines

• Post assignments

• Create and edit a class roster

• Send and receive messages

• Create a web-based quiz or test that is automatically graded (excluding essays)

• Hold text chat sessions for on-line office hours, mini-lectures, group work, discussion groups, and more

CyberClass Plus (ISBN HGCC-03)

• Use all of CyberClass capabilities

• Hold audio conferences and meet with students for full-audio

• Web-based lectures or class discussions

For applications via South-Western College Publishing, send email to Diane at diane.vanbakel@swcollege.com

Hi Diane,

I am most happy to forward your message to the aecm. I only wish you publishers were more active telling aecm subscribers about your latest learning tools and products. How about update messages about once a month. You might send us another message describing your forum for accounting educators.

Keep up the good work and keep us informed. Also say hello to my old friends at HyperGraphics Corporation. I think it was most innovative of Southwestern Publishing to provide server space to educators on HyperGraphics servers. This lets educators avoid having to configure their own servers for interactive learning, customized assignments, and chat rooms (many campus computing centers, including my own campus computing center, will not let us specially configure their servers to serve up Java, RealAudio/Video, CGI, etc.). It is a real pain in the tail to have to purchase and maintain your own server and server backups. People do not always realize that serving up courses on the web is a form of contracting with students. Having only one server with no backup capacity can really mess up students when (never if) the server fails. The bottom line is that for educators who do not maintain their own servers and server backups, Southwestern Publishing is providing a unique and innovative service by providing server space. To my knowledge, no other publishing firm is providing server space that is already configured for interactive learning and does not require an on-campus server.

Thanks,

Bob
Professor Robert E. Jensen (Bob) http://www.trinity.edu/~rjensen
Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Professor of Business Administration
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
Voice: 210-736-7347 Fax: 210-736-8134

-----Original Message-----

From: diane.vanbakel@swcollege.com [SMTP:diane.vanbakel@swcollege.com]

Sent: Thursday, July 30, 1998 10:27 AM

To: Jensen, Robert

Subject: Re: Discussion group software

To clarify Bob’s message:

CyberClass, a web-based course management and delivery system offers an array of communications and collaboration tools—bulletin board (discussion forum), internal email system (students don’t need email to communicate with the instructor or other students in the class) and instructor-controlled real-time chat (you can hold online office hours). In addition, instructors can post a syllabus, assignments (and students can submit online), tests, and hotlinks to other web resources (including your own material on your institution’s server) and South-Western provides flash cards, interactive practice tests, and test banks for selected titles.

Internet hosting is done on the CyberClass server and students purchase a disk at the bookstore to obtain access (no licensing fee).

CyberClass is now available with any South-Western accounting title for $12 (platform only), $18 (platform plus SW content).

For more information, visit:

http://cyberclass.swcollege.com

Or contact me directly.
Diane Van Bakel
Media Technology Editor
South-Western College Publishing
diane.vanbakel@swcollege.com

==============

We introduced a notebook leasing program this fall at Pine Technical College. It has been received very well. Full-time students in all of the business and computer technology are required to lease them. Part-time students may rent them by the day. Rental units can not be taken off campus. The lease is with compaq. All faculty in these programs have been given laptops to use.

I use the Warren, Reeve, Fess accounting text from Southwestern publishing. The 19^th edition has a Cyberclass option that is working out well. Faculty didn’t get their notebooks much before the students this fall so we don’t have as much developed as we would like.

I teach a computerized accounting class that the students use the laptops for. We use the Drake tax software in the Income tax class. Drake is willing to provide the prior years software at no charge to the college. This usually matched the text and works quite well. We also use the IRS Pubs on-line for some assignments.

Hope that helps.
Mary Jo Mettler
Accounting Instructor
Pine Technical College
1000 4^th St.
Pine City MN 55063
mettlerm@ptc.tec.mn.us

============

Courseware Shell Product: McGraw-Hill Learning Architecture (MHLA)
Vendor:  McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Web URL:  http://www.mhla.net/

What if you could place all of your course materials online? You could assign quizzes, post homework assignments, even track student progress with ease. And you could do it all from your computer. Now you can! Introducing McGraw-Hill Learning Architecture. McGraw-Hill Learning Architecture is a web-based learning system that combines trusted McGraw-Hill content with innovative TopClass software from WBT Systems.

McGraw-Hill does not provide space on its own servers for educators.  However, McGraw-Hill technicians will assist campus technicians in specially configuring campus computers for MHLA.

Courseware Shell (Actually a Scripting Language for the Server Side):   PHP
Web URL:  http://www.php.net/

PHP a server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language.  This may sound a little foreign to all you folks coming from a non-Unix background, but PHP doesn't cost anything.  PHP does not have complete education shell features, but for UNIX lovers it can be used for server/client machine interactions.

Return to Top of Document

Return to Bob Jensen's Index Page

============

Courseware Shell Product:  Milken Educator Virtual Workspace (MEVW)
Vendor:  Free from the Milken Family Foundation
Web URL:  http://www.mevw.org/
Address and Phone Numbers:
Milken Family Foundation
1250 4th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Voice:  (310) 998-2800
Fax:   (310) 998-2828
Email: jschacter@mff.org

The Milken Educator Virtual Workspace (MEVW) is a Web-based collaorative technology where Milken Educators and other educators from across the world can engage in online teaching and learning activities. The MEVW is available for FREE to people who submit project applications and attain Foundation approval. The MEVW supports:

1. Multiple modes of collaboration

2. Project planning and management tools

3. Text and multimedia publishing

4. Evaluation tools that measure participants' and leaders' levels of participation and final outcome products

5. Administration features that allow project leaders to register or delete users, add additional projects, or update
         project descriptions, outcomes, and goals.

All of these features help project leaders and participants create and sustain successful teaching and learning environments.

The Milken Educator Virtual Workspace (MEVW) is available FREE to the MEVW educators, administrators, parents, and members of the general community who would like to participate in collaborative online learning experiences.

Network Discussion Group (Chat Room) Software

Most Shell Software offer discussion group software.  See Shells.

Microsoft FrontPage

Microsoft’s FrontPage98 offers a template for threaded discussions and templates for classroom sites available free from the Microsoft site.

Matt's Script Archive

Check Matt’s Script Archive and view his WWW Board at http://www.worldwidemart.com/scripts/

Thanks to Peter Kenyon at Humboldt State

Jerry Turner provides an example at http://www.fiu.edu/~turnerj/acct/acg2021/board/index.html

Hyper-News at http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/get/hypernews.html

HyperNews is a cross between the hypermedia of the WWW and Usenet News. Readers can reply to base articles they read in the HyperNews web, and browse through the messages written by other people. A forum(base article) holds a list of messages on a topic, and you can reply to the base article or another reply. These messages are laid out in an indented tree format that shows how the messages are related (i.e. all replies to a message are listed under it and indented). Users can become members of HyperNews or subscribe to a forum in order to get e-mail whenever a message is posted, so they don't have to check if anything new has been added. This e-mail gateway is also bi-directional, so the user doesn't have to find a web browser to reply. HyperNews then places the message in the appropriate forum.

Currently there is not a gateway to News (but see discussion on that issue). Rather, forums and messages are maintained on a web server. Unlike most news servers, messages never expire (at least not now - that option will probably be added later) but like news, messages may not be edited any time after being "posted" (there are many applications where it makes sense to allow editing).

PowWow Drumbeat of the Internet

http://www.tribal.com/

Also see CyberClass

Also see McGraw-Hill Learning Architecture (MHLA)

Web Audio and Video Software

Authoring

Hi Amy,

To your upbeat note about RealPublisher, I might add that another system for adding streaming audio and video is RealNetworks’ RealSystem 5.0.

It costs $179 and received the top (five star) evaluation in PC

Computing, August 1998, Page 118. The pros are RealSystems’ easy to use wizards. The downside is that it, like most of its competitors, needs a specially configured streaming server.

RealPublisher is reviewed at

http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/JustIn/Items/0,118,302,00.html

<http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/JustIn/Items/0,118,302,00.html

RealSystem is reviewed at

http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/firstlooks/9710/f971010a.htm

<http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/firstlooks/9710/f971010a.htm

Bob

Professor Robert E. Jensen (Bob) http://www.trinity.edu/~rjensen

Jesse H. Jones Distinguished Professor of Business Administration
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
Voice: 210-736-7347 Fax: 210-736-8134

-----Original Message-----

From: Amy Dunbar [SMTP:amy-dunbar@UIOWA.EDU]
Sent: Friday, July 31, 1998 10:42 AM
To: AECM@LOYOLA.EDU
Subject: Class web sites/RealPublisher

 

I have been reading the comments regarding web support with interest because I am leaving a school that supports WebCT (which I love despite the fact that the techies tell me WebCT is "clunky") and going to a school that does not. Now I have to find an alternative way to post self-tests, grades, student pics, etc. Southwestern’s site may be a possibility. Has anyone used their site for class purposes? I have been reluctant to create my own server because I am not a techie. I am proud of myself when I can ftp files to our college server.

On another point, I am using RealPublisher, and I love it. I use Cameraman to create the .avi files and turn these files into streaming files with RealPublisher. My research tutorial page is under construction and has some links that students will be able to use to see how to use CCH Internet Tax Research Network. Since I am a novice in this area, I would be interested in knowing what other software besides Cameraman is available to create .avi files that capture sound and what is happening on the monitor. Also when I use RealPublisher the image is much too large for my monitor and I can’t seem to get it reduced because I can’t get to the bottom right hand corner to use the arrows to reduce. There is nothing in the top corners. Any solutions?

 

_________________________________________________

Amy Dunbar (mailto:amy-dunbar@uiowa.edu ) 319/335-0941

http://www.biz.uiowa.edu/faculty/adunbar/TAXHOME.html
Department of Accounting
Pappajohn Business Administration Building
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1000

Playback

Here's Microsoft's bid to put RealPlayer out of business.

Windows Media Player (it's free)

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer/defaultie4.htmsp

I downloaded the beta version a couple of months ago. The beta version worked great. Now let's all request that Microsoft create a free audio recorder that works better than mplayer. Bill Gates  thinks that nobody wants to record more than 60 seconds of audio, so he limits mplayer audio recording to 60 seconds. However, I have no complaints about Windows Media Player, except that I really did like my RealPlayer even if it cost me $30.

If you really need to record audio for more than 60 seconds, try Sagebrush Systems' Recall at

http://www.swcp.com/~sells

If you want to help out another very fine small business now threatened by Microsoft, download the free beta version of RealPlayer from

http://www.real.com/products/playerplus/upgrading.html?src=q3_713_1i

It's good stuff.

Selected Comparisons

********************

I do not contend that Dreamweaver is a high end authoring system for courseware.   However, it is becoming a popular dynamic web document authoring alternative.   In the August 1998 issue of NewMedia on Page 50, Macromedia's Dreamweaver wins the Oscar for visual authoring tools in web documents. I have mixed feelings about all tools using DHTML. A problem is that standards are not yet set in stone for DHTML. I have a tutorial on Dreamweaver at http://WWW.Trinity.edu/~rjensen/busn2311/helpers1.htm#JavaScript (go to Tutorial 1d) If the tutorial does not work on your browser, then you have discovered one of the problems with DHTML.

http://www.macromedia.com (Click on Download)

Built on the leading visual tool for Web site design, we’re introducing Dreamweaver™ Attain™ -- the first Web authoring tool that can quickly generate HTML-based learning Web sites. A component of our Attain Enterprise Learning System™, Dreamweaver Attain creates Web training content that is automatically integrated within an enterprise learning system for tracking and reporting

********************

Another authoring alternative that is not exactly a high-end authoring system but is well suited to team and collaborative authoring is called TeamFusion from NetObjects Inc at http://www.netobjects.com/home.html .  An upgrade is to be called NetObjects Authoring Server Suite.     The upgrade includes dynamic linking to databases, support for Microsoft's Active Server Pages and Netscape's LiveWire.  Collaboration features include nested subwebs that have security passwords for subweb users.  Managers of the teams can organize work schedules. 

CollabraShare is comprised of collaboration groupware from Netscape Corporation. Netscape Collabra provides enterprise group discussions based on Internet standards, letting the groups share and track information efficiently. Collabra makes it easy to share information and create a knowledge base that people can access at any time. You can eliminate unnecessary meetings and save valuable time by discussing important issues in a public or private discussion forum. Netscape Collabra extends open Internet standards to create a powerful collaboration tool for the corporation, and it seamlessly integrates with Netscape Collabra Server. See http://home.netscape.com/comprod/products/communicator/faq.html#collabra.

*******************

DreamFactory

Mark Frizzell  fritz@cyberflix.com

*******************

GoLive at http://www.golive.com/

Browser-based, it features an extremely user-friendly interface that enables users on virtually any computing platform to easily enter content and quickly update their Web sites. GoLive CyberWriter users can also access content stored in the GoLive CyberServer, such as images, for illustrating an online story. Because it is browser-based, users can enter up-to-the-minute content from anywhere they have a secure Internet connection.

*******************

Many professors are still torn by needing to make a decision as to which software to learn for authoring of lesson material and entire courses for web delivery and for CD delivery. My own survey of authoring software reported in the table below is in need of update.

A somewhat dated and serious test was conducted by PC Week Labs and reported at

http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/reviews/0818/18ibt.html

Note the introductory report information repeated below:

    The author of this report seems to like Authorware over Toolbook. He doesn't seem to have much experience in this area. Still his report couldbe useful to the visitors to your web site.

 dan

http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Gold/6012/compare_web_tools.htm

Note from Jensen:  Also see http://www.umanitoba.ca/ip/tools/courseware/index.html

To determine how, and how well, vendors are implementing this technology, PC Week Labs, in conjunction with PC Week Corporate Partner the Wisconsin Technical College System, invited multimedia courseware authoring system vendors to participate in a Labs On Site evaluation, with each vendor creating on the spot a training module on retail security measures that would be accessible via the Internet/intranet. The program was held at the Madison Area Technical College, in Madison, Wis., the last week of July.

The Internet's propensity for real-time interaction makes computer-based training, or distance learning, more viable for meeting corporate education needs. Companies can economically institute training courses anytime, anywhere, with the ability to constantly upgrade the course work and provide personalized feedback to employees and students. Eighteen judges--selected from the education and corporate worlds--and PC Week Labs evaluated the overall development process and final execution.

What is important about the above testing is that the vendors themselves created the test modules. What is important about PC Week Lab reporting of the tests is that advantages and limitations of each product are listed.

The "winner" was WBT Systems' TopClass, followed by Lotus Development Corp.'s LearningSpace and Macromedia's Authorware.

Click here to view a tabular summary of the reported results.

Update Messages on Existing and New Authoring Software

Learning Insights

Return to Top of Document

Return to Bob Jensen's Index Page

WebTV

According to David Welton of CSU-Chico, distance education will get a boost in the arm from WebTV delivery in cheap set-top boxes on television sets.  WebTV greatly improves upon television reading of text and has many of the advantages taking a course on the computer.  One drawback that remains is that WebTV is unable to display multiple windows like computers display multiple windows.  Also Java Applet support is still not available on WebTV.  However, many persons who watch TV but shy away from the complexities of a computer may be drawn to interactive education on their TV sets.   The full article by David Welton is entitled "A Web-Based Distance Learning Experience:  WebTV," in Syllabus, June 1999, 56-57 (the online version is not yet online, but it will soon be posted to http://www.syllabus.com/ ).

Also see the WebTV Network at http://www.webtv

High-End Authoring Software

Datatel Inc. introduced Microcosm for intetgrating and creatin courseware from any source, including third party applications and the Internet. Students can easily add their own links.

The PC Week Lab survey results reported at http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/reviews/0818/18chart.html in September 1997 are shown below:

June 1998 Syllabus Buyer's Guide

The Internet, Telecommunications,
and Education:  A Buyer’s Guide from Syllabus at http://www.syllabus.com/jun98_BG.html

The June 1998 Buyer's Guide features the latest hardware and software solutions for collaboration and distance learning.

Conferencing and Collaboration Services and Software
Distance Learning: Hardware and Software Solutions
Internet Servers
Networking Hardware and Software
Network/Lab Management Software
Video and Teleconferencing Hardware 

Conferencing and Collaboration Services and Software

CyberClass
CyberClass is an Internet-based learning environment that allows instructors to post syllabi, assignments, tests, and hot links
with no knowledge of HTML. Other features include an e-mail system, online testing, and a chat room. Contact:
HyperGraphics, Denton, TX; (800) 648-7450.  

FirstClass Collaborative Classroom
FirstClass Collaborative Classroom (FCCC) is cross-platform intranet groupware that allows instructors to publish course
materials, moderate class discussions, and more. Instructors can format text using various colors, fonts, and sizes in order to
grade or comment on work submitted electronically by students. Ease of use and security, combined with FCCC's messaging,
Web serving, conferencing, and administration features enable educational organizations to develop internal or wide-area
collaboration efforts, virtual classrooms, and distance learning solutions. Contact: SoftArc Inc., Markham, Ontario, Canada;
(800) SOFTARC.  

IntraKal
IntraKal is an academic intranet service that allows instructors to have a class online. Instructors can enter all written course
materials, receive student test scores through automated gradebook, communicate with students through integrated e-mail
system, and have class discussions in chat room. Contact: Anlon Systems Inc., (888) 866-4793.  

LearningSpace Release 2.5
LearningSpace Release 2.5, from Lotus Development Corp., is a system based on Lotus' Domino technology that can create
and deliver educational material via the Web. The new version features increased scalability, flexible management tools, easy to
use course development and multimedia integration tools and a more-intuitive Web-based interface. The application features
central management tools and five specialized interactive course database modules that allow users to perform tasks ranging
from problem-solving activities, debates, discussions and learning exercises.
Contact: Lotus Development Corp., (800) 346-6409.  

LearnLinc I-Net
LearnLinc I-Net is a Web-based instruction system that allows instructors to control course material on student PCs over the
Internet or intranets. Students can signal their desire to participate by raising an electronic hand. Instructors can launch multiple
choice questions to all PCs to verify student progress. LearnLinc also includes a shared whiteboard to display and mark uments
Contact: ILINC, Troy, NY; (518) 283-8799.  

SMART Board Software
SMART Technologies Inc. recently released new SMART Board Software for the SMART Board that allows instructors to
combine traditional teaching tools, such as the whiteboard, with multimedia and Internet-based materials. When SMART
Board Software is projected onto the SMART Board's touch sensitive interactive whiteboard, educators can move from
whiteboard space where they can record class discussions to a multimedia application or an Internet application with the touch
of a finger. Contact: SMART Technologies Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada; (403) 245-0333.   

V-Net Interactive Training System
V-Net is a computer-based training system, from Inline Inc. that links together the classroom. Using cables and nodes, V-Net
connects instructor workstations with student computers. Using dozens of powerful commands, an instructor can track the
progress of the class, share a single student's work with everyone else, show training videos, or help students individually. The
system is compatible with Windows, Macintosh, Sun, Silicon Graphics, and other platforms. Contact: Inline Inc., Yorba Linda,
CA; (800) 882-7117.  

Distance Learning: Hardware and Software Solutions

ClassPoint Distance Learning System
White Pine Software Inc. is offering the ClassPoint distance learning solution, which creates a virtual classroom environment
where teachers can lead instruction of students in remote locations. Applicable to all levels of education, ClassPoint combines
real-time video, audio, text, chat, whiteboard sharing, and Web touring to provide a synchronous learning environment.
Contact: White Pine Software Inc., Nashua, NH; (603) 886-9050.


ClassWise 1.3
ClassWise 1.3 is a distance learning application that offers educators a method for delivering a live or recorded course with
real-time audio, slide presentations, annotations, and text chat. It allows interactive or self-paced learning through the Internet
or intranet with only a low-speed Pentium computer and a 28.8Kbps modem. Contact: Magideas Corp., Fairfax Country, VA;
(703) 620-9191.  

PREP Online
PREP Online is a new application from ComputerPREP that combines online training and assessment in a single package.
Community colleges and universities can use PREP Online to deliver distance learning and adult education courses. PREP
Online supports Web-based and hybrid CD-ROM courses. Students can use the system to chat with live instructors over the
Internet. Contact: ComputerPREP, Phoenix, AZ.; (800) 228-1027.  

StarED
Starvision is offering StarED, a distance learning application that allows educators to conduct classes in both lecture-based and
desktop environments. Based on ATM two-way video equipment, the system features full-motion color pictures with natural
sound. The system also features a user-friendly interface that allows the teacher to control activities.
Contact: Starvision Multimedia Corp., Burnaby, British Columbia; (604) 205-5500.   

TeachingPro 5000
NEC is offering the TeachingPro 5000, a podium that combines all the features and functions required for distance learning into
a single platform. The TeachingPro 5000 is available with integrated multimedia tools that maximize the capabilities of
instructors. Features include an integrated multimedia PC with a 13-inch high resolution monitor and convenient connections to
external PC or Macintosh laptops. Multimedia functions include a laser disc/CD-ROM player, an S-VHS player/recorder, a
35mm video slide projector, a wireless Lavaliere microphone, and a local sound system with noise cancellation. Contact: NEC
America, Irving, TX; (800) TEAMNEC.  

Internet Servers

Compaq ProLiant 7000
The Compaq ProLiant 7000 puts nothing in the way if growth is in your future. It has been designed for school networks that
are evolving and need a server that can support future expansion. The ProLiant 7000 delivers fast performance and uptime in
an expandable design. With vast amounts of internal storage and migration support for eight processors, the ProLiant 7000
accommodates what schools need today and protects investments down the road. Contact: Compaq Computer Corp.,
Houston, TX; (800) 88-TEACH.  

Dell Internet Server Bundle
Dell Computer Corp. recently released a new Internet server bundle developed specifically for K-12 and higher education. The
server bundle consists of a PowerEdge 2200, 4200, or 6100 server; Microsoft technology such as Windows NT 4.0,
FrontPage 98, Proxy Server, and other authoring and administrative software; network hardware such as routers, hubs, and
cables; and integration and installation services. Contact: Dell Computer Corp., Round Rock, TX; (800) 388-8542.

Netfinity 7000
The Netfinity 7000 line of servers from IBM provide up to 4-way SMP 200MHz Pentium Pro processors with 512KB/1MB
L2 Cache 256MB standard and a maximum of 4GB of ECC memory They also contain 12 hot-swap slim-high drive bays
(total of 18) for a maximum internal storage capacity of 109.2GB. Other features include Advanced Systems Management
Adapter, dual 132MBps Wide Ultra SCSI I20-ready PCI bus architecture, and 10 expansion slots (9 available) consisting of 6
PCI and 4 ISA. Contact: IBM Corp., Research Triangle Park, NC.  

Networking Hardware and Software

3Com SuperStack II
Following its recent introduction of the industry's broadest line of advanced Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet LAN
switches supported by a high-performance stackable architecture, 3Com Corp. announced a powerful new 10/100 Mbps
stackable switch, innovative high-speed modules, an extended lifetime limited warranty for stackable switches, and an
aggressive price reduction to its powerful Fast Ethernet stackable switch. These new developments to the company's
Ethernet/Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet SuperStack II system give customers more flexibility in designing performance
migration into their networks to clear network congestion and deploy new voice/video/data applications. Contact: 3Com
Corp., San Jose, CA; (800) 877-2677.  

Cisco LightStream 1010
The Cisco LightStream 1010 is the first in a series of campus ATM switching solutions from Cisco Systems. This 5-Gbps
modular switch provides fault-tolerant operation and extremely fast throughput, delivering the sophistication and depth of
functionality required for true ATM production deployment. Contact: Cisco Systems Inc., San Jose, CA; (800) 553-6387.


Shiva AccessPort 2.0
Shiva Corp. has introduced version 2.0 of its AccessPort ISDN client router that makes its easy to connect remote groups of
users to institutional networks, the Internet, and online services. AccessPort combines security features with easy to use and
simple configuration. AccessPort's Security Assistant feature provides third party security authorization support for remote
users. Contact: Shiva Corp., Bedford, MA.; (800) 867-4482.  

Timbuktu 4.0 for Macintosh
Farallon Communications Inc. has introduced Timbuktu Pro 4.0 for the Macintosh, the latest version of the company's remote
control and file transfer software. Timbuktu 4.0 allows educational IT organizations to improve their efficiency by allowing
remote help and troubleshooting to be performed. New features include file synchronization and synchronization of two
computers' files at the click of a button. Contact: Farallon Communications Inc., Alameda, CA; (510) 814-5000.

Vivid Switched Routing Products
The Vivid line of switched routing products, from Newbridge Networks Corp., is a set of products that can bring high-speed,
multimedia network technology to education. With the Vivid line, schools can link multiple class rooms, separate buildings and
even remote campuses with fast ATM communications. The speeds of the Vivid line make it suitable for exchange of
multimedia data, such as video and voice, in addition to traditional text data exchange. Contact: Newbridge Networks Inc.,
Kanata, Ontario, Canada; (613) 591-3600.  

Network/Lab Management Software

FoolProof Version 3.0
FoolProof Version 3.0 is a cross-platform security system that allows computer managers, lab coordinators, and instructors to
more easily manage systems and workgroups. The application frees instructors from having to continually maintain systems set
up by disabling functions that can disrupt computer operation. Available for Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Macintosh, and
Macintosh workgroups, FoolProof Version 3.0 protects hard disks as well as system folders and configuration files. Contact:
SmartStuff Development Corp., Portland, OR.; (800) 671-3999.  

Historian
Operating invisibly to the user, Historian for Windows 95 records system start time, stop time, user logins, file operations,
applicationusage, Web page access, active time, and idle time. All measures of computer use can be reported by user, time and
date, andproject. Historian is ideally designed for reporting information on the use of public access computers, monitoring
application use, and Web page display and print usage information in easy-to-read 3D graphs and spread sheet format.
Contact: Fortres Grand Corp., Plymouth, IN; (800) 331-0372.  

IntraSpection
Web-Based Network Management Software IntraSpection, from Asanté Technologies Inc., is Web-based network
management software that makes running a network as easy as surfing the World Wide Web. Based on intranet technology,
IntraSpection allows the management of any SNMP device. Using Java applets, IntraSpection can show real-time status
updates, statistics, traffic/link displays, and network statistics monitoring. Users can develop a complete device management
system with an HTML page. Contact: Asanté Technologies Inc., San Jose, CA; (408) 435-8388.  

QM Web Administrator
QM Web Administer offers a secure environment for test delivery over an Internet or intranet. Instructors can maintain student
rosters, limit test access to individual students or user groups, list valid tests for participants, schedule tests and set a maximum
number of times a test can be taken. The application also validates students' names when they take tests, and keeps a record of
test participants and their scores. Contact: Question Mark Corp., Stamford, CT; (800) 863-3950.   

WinShield
WinShield, from Citadel Technology, is desktop management and security software for Windows that is designed to protect
and secure shared workstations in computer labs and other settings. The application sets restrictions on tasks users can
perform, reducing the need for time-consuming maintenance tasks. Restrictions can be placed on functions in Windows 95 or
Windows NT. Contact: Citadel Technology, Dallas, TX; (214) 520-9292.  

Video and Teleconferencing Hardware

Canon VC-C3
Designed to be used in applications such as video conferencing, distance learning, and telemedicine, the VC-C3 features a
small size, at 4-inches wide and 3 1/4 inches tall. New control software allows the VC-C3 to be controlled by a PC. Other
features include sharper pictures better color reproduction, and the capability to pan/tilt to multiple positions over a range at
various speed settings. Contact: Canon USA, Lake Success, NY; (516) 328-5960.  

Plasmavision 42
The Plasmavision 42, from Fujitsu General America Inc., is a 42-inch flat-screen plasma display that can bring high-quality
video and computer display capabilities to distance learning applications. Just six-inches thick, the Plasmavision 42 can be
mounted on a wall, helping to create a virtual classroom environment. Contact: Fujitsu General America Inc., Fairfield, NJ;
(888) 888-3424.  

ELMO EV-6000AF
ELMO's EV-6000AF Visual Presenter features several product innovations that are industry firsts. Of particular interest for
presenters and teleconferencing users is the new built-in ELMO Dual Camera System that enables the user to switch from a
document to face image using the factory supplied mouse or remote control eliminating the need to physically rotate the top
camera position each time. Contact: ELMO, New Hyde Park, N.Y.; (516) 775-3200.   

Sony EVI-D30
Designed for distance learning, the EVI-D30 color video camera can be used alone or as part of a larger distance learning
system. Features include fast auto-tracking, auto exposure with back light compensation, and motion detection. The auto zoom
feature allows the EVI-D30 to control the 12x power zoom lens, keeping the size of the subject the same during the entire
class. Contact: Sony Electronics Inc., Park Ridge, NJ; (800) 686-SONY.

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