Week 3: LMS Evaluation
Assessment Tools
LMS-D2L Tools Review - Strengths:
1. Creating a dropbox assignment was very easy in D2L under the assessments tab, and I liked the ability to implement plagiarism detection and grammar checking automatically with all submissions.
2. Accessing the rubric creation tool was also very simple in D2L since it specified "rubrics" under assessment tools. As a new designer, I found adding levels and criteria when creating a rubric to be pretty intuitive. I also like that you can connect the same rubric to multiple assignments providing consistency for students receiving feedback.
LMS-D2L Tools Review - Weaknesses:
1. Although accessing and creating the rubric was easy in D2L, linking it to assignments was frustrating because when I added a new rubric, it showed up with a red X next to it. As a new designer not familiar with this quirk in the system, it took me several trial-and-error attempts to figure out that this red X did not imply a problem with the rubric.
2. Creating quiz questions was very complicated in D2L. First I had to create a quiz and select from numerous possible property and restriction options. Then I had to create a question library, and it was not intuitive that you have to add questions from the library into a separate quiz so students had access to it. Finally, creating a randomized section for quizzes was also tedious and complicated.
3. As a student taking the quiz in D2L, I found it frustrating to have to save each response before moving on the next question. It would have been much easier if the system automatically saved all responses. Also, I had to look through several options in the Assessments tab on the navigation bar before finding the quiz.
LMS-Canvas Tools Review- Strengths:
1. Creating a dropbox assignment was very easy and intuitive in Canvas. I loved that there are many different file formats in which students can submit their answers, and it was easy to set restrictions without scrolling through several options as in D2L
2. Although it was harder for me to create a rubric in Canvas than in D2L, it was much easier to link it to multiple assignments once it was created. I also appreciated the free templates available in Canvas with examples of rubrics and standards to base them on (although they were not relevant to my specific field).
3. I loved how easy it was to create a quiz in Canvas. All I had to do was click on the Quiz link in the navigation bar and it led me right through the creation options. It was easy to designate the correct answer without assigning percentage weights to it. There was a button for randomizing questions, and it was not a complicated multistep process as in D2L.
4. As a student, I loved how user-friendly the Canvas interface is. There are only limited and relevant options available in the navigation menu, and it was very easy to find and take a quiz. The program automatically saved all answers so the student just had to submit them at the end.
4. As a student, I loved how user-friendly the Canvas interface is. There are only limited and relevant options available in the navigation menu, and it was very easy to find and take a quiz. The program automatically saved all answers so the student just had to submit them at the end.
LMS-Canvas Tools Review- Weaknesses:
1. I was disappointed in the rubric creation tool in Canvas. It was not as easy to find as in D2L since it is listed under outcomes, and the difference between groups and outcomes was not clear to me as a new designer.
2. Although it would be possible to link a plagiarism detection software and dictionary program to Canvas, it was not accessible in the free version, and I couldn't compare these tools with what was available in D2L.
LMS Comparison & Recommendation:
Based on the ease of use for instructors in creating assessments and grading them, and for students in accessing and taking quizzes, I recommend Canvas as the LMS this week. The only major downside to Canvas was with respect to rubric creation, which was not as intuitive as in D2L. However, once the rubric was created, it was much easier to link it to multiple assessments, and I did not notice any quirks (or red Xs) as I did in D2L. Overall, I felt that Canvas has a more user friendly and intuitive interface for both instructors and students in creating and evaluating assessments.