FlexTraining vs. WebCT
One of the popular e-Learning products in the higher education market has been the "WebCT" learning management system. Although it has been on the market for some time, it suffers from design and feature deficiencies and a very high price tag. Here is a summarized comparison of the FlexTraining Total e-Learning Solution and WebCT:
FlexTraining
|
WebCT |
One-time permanent license fee of $14,900 for 5,000 students (unlimited courses), $10,900 for 1,000 users. |
License fees start at $29,000 annually for main product and $21,000 per year for the more limited "Advantage" version. |
Built-in learner profile features allow education planning, tracking, warnings/notices, as well as printable grade book. |
Very limited student/course planning functionality. |
Designed to be web-centric, based on Microsoft NT/2000 and IIS technology, using native ASP architecture. |
Best suited for UNIX environment, troublesome and relatively untested on Windows-based servers. |
Designed for full planning, content delivery, tracking, education, reporting and analysis. |
Better suited for student "clubs", casual groups chatting and exchanging files and e-mails. |
Learner interface works with any recent version of Internet Explorer or Netscape browser. |
Learner must configure browser specially to handle WebCT interface - many browsers not supported. |
Easy to customize - open source code included in product and graphics easily replaced for "branding." |
Limited customizability for system behaviors and even for user interface. |
Uses only HTML and JavaScript in student's browser - all Java removed in 1999. |
Still makes use of unstable Java "applets" which freeze up learner's computer and raise browser compatibility issues. |
Searchable document libraries included, based on user-defined document types and attributes. Set up per-course and/or per student documents. |
No attribute-based loading and searching capability. |
"System options" management screen lets you enable or disable system modules or features. |
Difficult to configure or alter system behaviors. |
Handles PowerPoint, Flash, streaming audio/video and other multimedia formats. |
PowerPoint and other formats have to be re-created or converted to HTML before using as course content. |
Includes built-in, template-based, multi-user, point-and-click authoring tool. |
Direct content authoring not supported - only uploading of pre-authored HTML files. |
Uses standard SQL or Access database - design distributed with product, allows custom reports and interfaces. |
Widely-published database integrity/corruption problems and other bugs at many sites, resulting in errors and "down time". |
Available as an installed server product or as an online subscription. |
Also available on a subscription service, at MUCH higher prices than FlexTraining. |
Be sure and ask about special FlexTraining licensing discounts for customers who are replacing high-priced systems from WebCT.
