Week 2: LMS Evaluation
Course Content
LMS-D2L Tools Review - Strengths:
- Adding content was pretty straightforward in D2L by creating modules. In an online course it is helpful to restrict the amount of information students see at one time to prevent confusion about assignments, and to minimize cognitive overload. In D2L it was easy to set specific course content restrictions making it easier for students to see only the relevant material each week.
2. I like that there are 3 options available to upload content in D2L depending on the instructor's preference and comfort level. I personally found the drag-and-drop way to upload content the easiest.
3. When I attempted to add an image using the HTML editor tool, D2L automatically prompted me to add alternate text to make the content accessible to visually impaired users. I found this feature a helpful reminder to new course designers to ensure that the course materials are accessible to all students.
4. It was very easy to add different types of files when creating new course content in D2L. Adding videos, images, and other media files was simple and provides an effective way to tailor the course for different learning styles.
5. The HTML editor tool is very nice and offers several options for inputting and formatting new material including a table tool and image uploads. I especially like the quick link icon which allows the designer to link new content to other course items like discussions or assignments, for a better aligned course.
LMS-D2L Tools Review - Weaknesses:
- Although it does not need to be used since there are easier ways to upload content, I found that uploading using the Manage Files tool was quite complicated in D2L. It required multiple stages, and was not intuitive.
- I attempted to insert an image using the HTML editor, but although it showed up in the preview window, it did not appear in the final document. This may be because the image was too large, but it would be helpful to at least receive an error message before the final document got published without the image.
LMS-Canvas Tools Review- Strengths:
- I love the course set up checklist available on the homepage in Canvas. This was a step-by-step guide of how to set up course content which I found extremely helpful as a new designer.
2. Canvas also has an HTML editor tool similar to the one in D2L. It provides a way to format content so it is more visually appealing, and add images and other media to the course. I really liked the link function in Canvas which made adding new files and media resources much easier and more intuitive, and allowed greater cohesion between different course elements on the syllabus page.
LMS-Canvas Tools Review- Weaknesses:
- I was excited to see a link for recording and uploading media in the HTML editor tool in Canvas. Unfortunately, when I clicked on the link, a "connecting" sign came up for several minutes, before the screen completely froze. This function does require Adobe flash player, but it didn't work any better after updating to the latest version.
LMS Comparison & Recommendation:
Based on my comparison this week, both the D2L and Canvas LMS had similar tools available for course set up and design. Although I liked the set-up guide available in Canvas, I thought the whole process of creating course content and adding media files was much easier in D2L. The uploads seemed faster in D2L than in Canvas and I didn't have problems with a page freezing as I did in Canvas. I also like the options available to easily start, stop, and restrict course content in D2L, which were harder to find in Canvas. Finally, I loved the automatic update to add alternate text to my images in D2L to make them more accessible, which I did not see in Canvas. Therefore, I would recommend D2L as the LMS this week based on ease of adding course content and enhanced accessibility.