In class we are experimenting with different products that support online instruction, basically course management systems – mainly by reading articles about different media and technologies and through viewing demonstrations. It has been an awakening for me – the first link for a demonstration led me to a moodle’s site, where after two clicks I was at the demonstration page. At that point, I had to login using one of three different predefined names and passwords depending on the perspective I wanted to see: administrator, student or teacher. The screen was busy and even after I logged in as one of the three standard categories, I could not determine how to run the Demo. Not an auspicious beginning.
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Moodle Demonstration Site
Welcome! This site is for you to try using the most recent stable released version of Moodle and to explore some courses which demonstrate a few of Moodle's many features.
Here are some demo accounts for you to use:
• Admin - username admin, password FunMood1ing!
• Teacher - username teacher, password FunMood1ing!
• Student - username student, password FunMood1ing!
The database and files are erased and restored to a clean state every hour on the hour, so don't worry if you make a mess.
Also note that you might not be the only person using one of the demo accounts at the same time, so you may see unexpected things happen occasionally
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The next site, Blackboard, was slightly better – although I had to login for this one, it was a straightforward process. The site was hosted by North Carolina A & T State University’s Center for Distance Learning (http://fac.ncat.edu/dist/blackboard_demo.html ). Once logged in, the Demo units were clearly identified in each section of the webpage (Courses: Quick View, and My Courses) – much more intuitive.
Actually, I went to three different web sites for Blackboard – the first from the University of Minnesota School of Business Online (http://online.msbcollege.edu/online-support/blackboard/ ), but when I clicked on the clearly indicated Blackboard Demo on the home page, I was directed to a page that stumped me so I abandoned the site. It said:
Globe Education Network (The Network) provides academic support and manages shared resources, including Blackboard Academic SuiteTM, for the benefit of students of Network colleges and universities. The Globe Education Network name appears on the Blackboard e-learning Web site. Classes, however, are delivered by individual member colleges:
Globe University
Minnesota School of Business
Utah Career College
Institute for Production and Recording (IPR)
Duluth Business University
Have an Account? Login Here.
Enter login information here and click the Login button below.
Username:
Password:
Forgot password?
Blackboard Academic Suite™
© 1997-2010 Blackboard Inc. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Patent No. 6,988,138. Additional Patents Pending.
Accessibility information can be found at http://access.blackboard.com.
I did *not* have an account so I tried another web address for a Blackboard demo.
The next was at the University of Missouri (http://mudirect.missouri.edu/getstart/_step1_Demo.shtm ) and it worked similarly to the one at North Carolina A & T State University’s Center for Distance Learning.
Elluminate’s site is better organized (I think). The Demo with word and Icon are clearly indicated at the top of the home page. Better still Elluminate offered the option of scheduling a live online demonstration. Bates and Poole (2003) identify different learning styles, citing Barbe and Swassing (1979): “auditory, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic.” The effectiveness of a technology depends in part on the fit between the technology and recipient / student’s the learning style. For me, auditory linked with visual is essential if I am to learn in a reasonable period of time. Alternatives are painfully slow.
My assessment is that those who provide course management products, or at least my small sample of those mentioned above and one more, have lost the view of the novice and speak ineffectively to someone who wants only to view the demos and *then* commit to the time and resources to learning more about the product.
That is, there should be more emphasis on showing what it can do, with less on the how and demanding too much up front commitment just to get acquainted.
Barbe, W., & Swassing, R. (1979). Teaching through modality strengths: Concepts and practices. Columbus, OH:Zaner-Bloser.
Bates, A.W. & Poole, G. (2003). Effective teaching with technology in higher education: Foundations for success. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Elluminate.Home page http://www.elluminate.com/
Moodle. http://www.elluminate.com/
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nice post ,,
ReplyDeletehave a nice day ..
i have a new rare photo every day in my blog , wish u like it
Hello Alan,
ReplyDeleteI like your headline of the post:-)
The marketer always try to catch a customer and hold him/her tight. The more time they spend the better. Often they forget that the patience of a new customer is limited and afterall the person will not be a future customer at all. I made similar experiences like you, and often I had to give my address and email data before being able to see a demo. Before the marketer give information to you, they want information from you first and ask for much much patience...
Uli
P.S.: Thank you that you like my comments and that these inspire you :-) It is much fun here!