More than You Ever Wanted to Know about CMS

Course Management Systems (CMS) provide a service to deliver educational courses. There are over 40 providers of CMS, making choosing a CMS an overwhelming task. There is a great web site call Edu Tools that compares CMS products. To view Edu Tools Click Here
Typically, CMS have the same basic components in common. These include:

Course Management: This includes a syllabus, calendar, announcements, and assignments with due dates and grades can be posted.

Readings: Links to course readings along with lists of required course readings.

Content Presentation: Lecture notes can be stores for student review. Links can be supplied for audio and video and slides. PowerPoint presentations may also be maintained in the CMS.

Course Communications: Supports asynchronous (any time any where) e-mail. This can be one-on-one, one-to-several, one-to-all. They also include chat rooms for class discussions.

Group Project Space: The system can allow instructors to assign students to groups and they, in turn, can share documents for discussion and revision.

Student Assessment: Provides tools for tests and quizzes. Some CMS allow the instructor to set the time frames for taking the test and set a time limit once the test is started.

Digital Drop-box for Assignment Submission: Can be provided for student submission of assignments.

Course and System Statistics: A CMS can provide tracking tools to allow the instructor to know when each student accessed the course components, how often, and how much time was spent. It can also provide other statistical information for a broader perspective.

Wikis and CMS can both contain communication and assignment tools. Wikis can be more personalized with pictures, etc. I found the Wiki a lot more fun, but the CMS is easier when having a class discussion. I also don't see a Wiki as being statistically friendly for the instructor.

Most of us who have taken a distance course are familiar with the Blackboard CMS. Someone else prefers Moddle. I would use the comparison tool to start, but ultimately it's just a matter of getting in and using one; and, if if works for you, that will probably be the CMS you stick with.