ABSTRACT
Almost every school uses some form of course management software (CMS) or learning management software (LMS), and encourages their faculty to use it. Locally produced CMS provides a course website for posting the syllabus and assignments and an email list. The commercial packages purchased for entire campuses or systems include much more flexibility and functionality. They provide several different forms of communication, up-to-date rosters, grade books, calendars, and tools for making the material in the course appear and disappear at the instructor’s direction. The most frequently used commercial CMS packages include Blackboard (now incorporating WebCT and Angel Learning), Desire2Learn and CyberExtension. These can be customized to fit the needs of the campus. They are accessed through a campus website or intranet. Three popular packages, Moodle, Dokeos, Ecto and Sakai, are open source and free products that you and students access from the product’s website. Web links to these packages where you can learn more about their features are included in the appendix. These do not exhaust the number of companies offering virtual classrooms and electronic learning software, hosting or Web-based class sites. The section on online classrooms will have more to say about these. These packages are the most commonly used for courses that are primarily taught in “bricks and
mortar” classrooms. If your university uses a commercial CMS package, they will offer classes in the beginning and advanced use of the product. If you have never used one of these before, take the courses. Your students will thank you.
