The Distribution And Features Of Learning Management Systems In Australian Universities And Their Role In Student Assessment

Rod Byrnes, School of Social Science, Southern Cross University, Lismore, 2480. Email: rbyrnes@scu.edu.au

Allan Ellis, School of Social Science, Southern Cross University, Lismore, 2480. Email: aellis@scu.edu.au

Keywords

Learning Management System, online assessment, WebCT, BlackBoard.

Abstract

In less than a decade Australian higher degree granting institutions have embraced Web-based technologies as a mechanism for providing significant components of external and/or internal course delivery. This has resulted in the development of a new software product - the Learning Management System. Currently two commercial products dominate the Australian market - WebCT (50%) and Blackboard (35%) with the third largest user group comprising in-house developed systems (13%).

An evaluation of these two commercial systems in terms of student assessment functionality revealed that neither product performed particularly well. While activities such as supporting the provision of feedback are adequately catered for, there is scope for development in activities such as objective testing and authentication.