Moodle vs. Blackboard

          While all course management systems make virtual education a reality, why is it that one stands out above the rest?  

The competition to become the leading online education system is pretty much non-existent. Course management systems such as Moodle or Sakai don't even stand a chance against Blackboard, though some still do exist today. Moodle is still used by some including University of San Francisco and University of Washington. But why? Blackboard has become synonymous with course-management systems as Kleenex has with tissue paper. The terms are inseparable from each other.

However, many do favor Moodle for several reasons. Moodle is less expensive to operate and much more flexible. Many functions in Blackboard are rather stiff and do not easily adapt to the user’s needs. Moodle has become very popular with teachers that want to create their own learning management system for their students. It was my impression that course management systems like Blackboard are a tool provided by a large company as opposed to being personalized in some cases by a sole individual. This demonstration site shows the ins and outs of the software.

Problems with Moodle occur when there are operating system incompatibilities. For example, copying and pasting from one program like Text Edit or Microsoft Word and pasting into the course management system itself. This would be especially problematic while completing online assignments such as discussion board posts.  Moodle needs to also be installed onto a web server or your own computer. Some, including myself, find this aspect alone to be undesirable. Why would I want a system where I could only use it on certain machines that already have Moodle on their server. 

            In a video on Wired Campus, the leaders of both Blackboard and Moodle attempt to sell their product to the audience. While Blackboard is still "winning the battle for learning management software", Moodle is growing on college campuses  In the future, Moodle will go mobile and use all aspects of the phone software such as gps and camera can be accessed. In the future, users of Blackboard will be able to recognize when others are on the system and, similar to instant messaging on Facebook, will allow concepts of immediacy to arise. Interestingly enough, most people who are teaching online, havent been in an online course themselves. Moodle addresses this problem and offers programs to "educate the educators"to further enhance communication between teacher and student. This also constantly improves the quality of online education that one will receive.             While I have not used Moodle, it does have advantages I find interesting and unique to a course-management system. However, through and through I appreciate the consistency and formality of Blackboard and feel more confident being familiar with a system more commonly used.