CMS/LMS so many to compare

I frequently use 2 of the largest learning management systems available, Blackboard and Moodle.

Moodle

I have used Moodle for a number of years to supplement the face-to-face classes that I teach.  I use it to add resources such as readings and Power Points.  I post assignment questions and a link where students can upload their answers.  I use the calendar to keep track of quiz dates and other various activities.  I have become quite dependant on the LMS and I believe the students have as well. 

My newest involvement with Moodle, is from a student perspective.  I am currently taking MDDE 610, and it is being delivered through Moodle.  It uses a virtual book to deliver materials for each week.  There are a number of different forums in which students communicate with other students or with the professor.  It will also be our gateway to submit assignments.  I really like the book feature and I have never used it before.  I tried to access it for a class I am teaching however you need to install a separate plugin.  I have put a request in for the plugin but I have not yet heard a response.

Blackboard

As a University of Saskatchewan student in the masters program of Educational Technology and Design all of my classes have been delivered through the Blackboard environment.  The LMS is used for much of the same activities as mentioned above such as posting readings, discussion forums, and assignments.  In addition to these I have also viewed video lectures via the Blackboard environment.  Moodle is capable of displaying video as well; I have just never made use of it.

Additional LMSs

Through out this unit I learned about so many more LMS environments such as Sakai, Plone, D2L and the newest contender, OpenClass.  Of all of these environments that are new to me, the OpenClass environment intrigues me the most.  Pearson and Google  teamed up to create and deliver this new LMS; I trust both organizations and use their products regularly (The Chronicle).  I enjoy the fact that this new LMS is free, and hope that its usability is as clean cut and intuitive as many of Google’s products are.