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| Product Name | WebStudy Learning CMS v9.0 |
|---|---|
| Developer Name | WebStudy |
| URL | www.webstudy.com |
| Review Date | April 17, 2009 |
| Forums | WebStudy Learning CMS v9.0 Discussions |
| Reviewer | Email Review Staff |
| Communication Tools | |
| Discussion Forum |
Webstudy Discussion forums feature user specific post filtering, collapsible and expandable thread views, an integrated forum grade-book, and precise time stamping. Instructor customization allows specific control over user thread authoring and editing. Flexible timeline centered activation system enables and disables discussion forum visibility based on specific course and individual instructor requirements. Advanced text formatting options allow the use of tables, attached files, URLs, imbedded graphics, stylesheets, and complex mathematic formulas. Additionally, full integration with CourseLive allows users to record audio and video within a discussion post, with no additional software requirements. Forums can be shared across an entire course, or available individually to smaller “teams”. Entire discussions are available for saving and printing as a clear Discussion Forum Transcript. Discuss |
| Discussion Management |
Webstudy offers flexible management of discussion forums, allowing forums to be created either course-wide or privately to specific teams of users. Instructors have control over thread authoring and editing, with additional options to allow responses only to instructor created threads, or to require students to submit a posting before moving on. Through the integrated grading interface, instructors are able to grade and comment on student’s discussions without leaving the forum display. Additionally, instructors have the ability to display or hide discussion forums based on association with the course timeline. Discuss |
| File Exchange |
File exchange functionality is fully integrated into the course structure of Webstudy, offering a quick and intuitive solution for student file submissions. This allows submission of files directly at the graded event, rather then through navigation to a separate “drop box”. The flexibility of the integrated file exchange can be seen throughout the Webstudy GUI, from graded assignments, to discussion forum attachments. Discuss |
| Internal Email |
Webstudy features a powerful internal email system, designed to incorporate all the functions common in internet email and a full word processor. Recipients can be selected from lists of Instructors, Students, or whole Teams. Options for Blind Carbon Copying are included (BCC) Users have access to Incoming, Archived, Sent, Drafts and Trash boxes for email storage and organization. The ability to retract sent emails before recipient reading is included from the Sent box. The text formatting system for internal emails is common throughout the Webstudy platform, allowing for advanced functionality usually found only in word processors, this includes the ability for advanced paragraph control with indenting and outdenting, imbedded graphics options, hyperlink integration, textual bookmarking, advanced tabling, complete special characters, style sheets, spell checking, and a comprehensive mathematics formula suite. Internal emails support unlimited file attachments, and senders have the option to store messages in a Drafts box. Discuss |
| Online Journal/Notes |
Students and Instructors have the ability to access and create notes from anywhere in the course structure via a Notes icon. Notes can be private, or publically available to the Instructor, the Whole Class, or to Specific Teams. Notes are editable after posting by the author, and include timestamps. Common to all areas of Webstudy, Notes include access to the feature rich text formatting system, allowing use of full word processing formatting and function. Discuss |
| Real-time Chat |
Webstudy features powerful integration with CourseLive to bring full functionality of a classroom to students. Conferences can be class-wide or team-wide, and are available as both moderated and un-moderated. In addition to course-level communications, Webstudy offers institutional level discussion forums, instant messaging and real time chat in the Webstudy Lounge. Moderated discussions allow instructor control over student voice/chat input, and overall lecture participation. Instructors can limit students to only posting questions to a question queue, or allow full student participation to facilitate student presentations. Full text formatting is included, and users have access to individual status identifiers (online, away). The CourseLive system offers the ability to simultaneously conduct a real-time chat session with integrated real-time webcam video and audio from both instructors and students. An advanced whiteboard is included in CourseLive which provides features to display text/user drawings, digital images, and full support of PowerPoint presentations. Full audio/video/textual recording is supported for an entire lecture/conference session, which allows posting and playback within a course. For added flexibility, the option of using “Live Links” allows an instructor to use additional 3rd party tools for synchronous communication if desired. Discuss |
| Whiteboard |
Webstudy features the CourseLive whiteboard, fully integrated in the Video/Audio/Text discussions. Moderators have the ability to allow and deny access to the whiteboard throughout the conference. The whiteboard supports drawing, text input, imported graphics, and full PowerPoint presentations. Activity within CourseLive can be recorded and used as additional posted material throughout a course. Additionally, the option of using “Live Links” allows an instructor to use 3rd party tools for whiteboard communication if needed. Discuss |
| Productivity Tools | |
| Bookmarks |
Reviewer Comments N/A Discuss |
| Calendar/Progress Review |
The Webstudy calendar is fully integrated into the user’s courses. Dynamically updating events are automatically linked to course material located in individual classes. A course filter allows users view calendar material for all courses, or a single course. Discuss |
| Searching Within Course |
Search functionality is provided specifically for Webstorium course content. Instructors can search for publically available materials across institutions and courses by material name, description, or author. Filters provide sorting options for search results, allowing isolation of material type and title. Discuss |
| Work Offline/Synchronize |
All of Webstudy’s course materials are available to print or download to local storage from within the user interface. Published materials, recorded lectures, and forum discussions are all included within the downloadable content. Discuss |
| Orientation/Help |
Webstudy support is available to both faculty and students 24 hours a day/7 days a week at a toll-free number, as well as through a support request form located within the course structure. A comprehensive help file is also available from anywhere within the Webstudy system that brings up a topic specific help section based on the section you are viewing. Discuss |
| Student Involvement Tools | |
| Groupwork |
Instructors can place students into an unlimited number of “Teams”. Those teams are automatically assigned their own forums, chat rooms, assignments, and presentation functionality; and are available as a selectable recipient in Webstudy mail. Gradebooks are available to each team, allowing instructors organized methods for grading team events. Discuss |
| Community Networking |
Discuss |
| Student Portfolios |
After login, all users display their “homepage” in Webstudy – which displays customized content based on their status and course enrollment. This includes notification of assignments, exams, forums posts, mail, or messages. Users have access to Webstorium – an online bookshelf that allows independent authoring and posting of public and private materials. Depending on classification, these materials are then available within the Webstudy course structure, and are searchable across an institution. Discuss |
| Administration Tools | |
| Authentication |
Users have control over their passwords and user information. Initially, institution administration assigns all user login credentials, and can require students and faculty to verify email information and change passwords upon login. The WebStudy CMS supports CAS single sign-on. This protocol is typically used with the SCT Luminus Portal SSO schema. Discuss |
| Course Authorization |
Discuss |
| Registration Integration |
Discuss |
| Hosted Services |
Rackspace Ltd., provides the hardware infrastructure for delivery of the WebStudy CMS. Hosted by Rackspace, monitored by AlertSite, and secured by Thawte – the WebStudy environment is professionally and reliably delivered. In the unlikely event of a total utility power outage, all data centers' power systems are designed to run uninterrupted with all servers being fed conditioned UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) power. The UPS power subsystem is N+1 redundant, with instantaneous failover if primary UPS fails. For extended utility power outages, routinely tested, on-site diesel generators can run indefinitely. All data centers use only fully redundant, enterprise-class routing equipment. All routing equipment is housed in a secured core routing room fed by its own redundant power supply. Fiber carriers enter data centers at disparate access points protecting network from complete service failure in the unlikely event of a network cut. Rackspace's Proactive Network Management methodology continually monitors and automatically improves the network topology and configuration in real time based on route efficiency and end-user performance. A highly redundant network configuration co-developed with Cisco to protect against single points of failure at the shared network level. We’re partnered with Cisco and Arbor Networks to create ever-improving methods to monitor and secure the network from intrusions. Discuss |
| Course Delivery Tools | |
| Test Types |
Discuss |
| Automated Testing Management |
All Webstudy exams and quizzes feature the ability to present multimedia style questions and responses. Full integration with our powerful text editing platform, and CourseLive allow instructors a broad range of customization for online exam/quiz content. This includes the use of: • Formulas • Formatted Text • Images • Videos • Audio • Powerpoint • Adobe media • Attached files Instructors have the ability to create test question categories, and allow the generation of questions in an exam based on a sample number of questions in a category. In addition, Webstudy features the myWebstudy directed learning experience that allows the linking of predefined rules related to exam grades to the release of course content specific to individual students. In practice, this allows alternate paths of learning to be available to individual students based on their performance in graded events. This feature allows unlimited customization of a user’s experience. Discuss |
| Automated Testing Support |
Import from publisher ePacks or test generation products like Respondus TestGEN or ExamView are supported. Tests may be easily copied from one course to another. Test concatenation will be supported Summer 2009. Discuss |
| Online Marking Tools |
Discuss |
| Online Gradebook |
The Webstudy Gradebook provides detailed control over user task grading. Instructors have the option of categorizing assignments, quizzes and exams by multiple grading systems – such as traditional letter grade, pass/fail, or un-graded event. Within the gradebook, instructors have the ability to add points, subtract points, modify the letter grade, return assignments for re-working, and add comments; providing unlimited flexibility for different course types. The ability to create special grading items allows the integration of extra-credit type assignments, as well as bonus points. Full integration with the discussion forums feature of Webstudy allows on the fly grading of forums without leaving the reading windows. Discuss |
| Course Management |
Webstudy uses a “Timeline” style management system, breaking up a course curriculum into “sessions” that clearly display materials and exams pertinent to the topics being covered. This allows the feeling of content progression that is very real within a classroom setting. Instructors have the ability to display and hide upcoming or previous sessions based on a wide range of settings, including date and time limits, content completion, or performance based. This dynamic release of content is a key part of the ability to custom tailor a course to each student. In normal function, instructors can release content in a few different ways: 1. They can release the content of a course immediately and fully 2. They can specify session start dates that makes additional content available at the correct time 3. They can allow release of additional content once the current session’s materials are complete 4. They can do any of the above, and also release additional materials to students who perform within a given criteria on the standard assignments – allowing “tutoring” sessions to make sure performance is on par with the rest of the class. Of course, once a course is created, this management is handled automatically, and is always adjustable. Discuss |
| Student Tracking |
Webstudy provides records of student activity upon request. Session login information and times are immediately available. Tracking can be as specific as the number of seconds a student spent viewing a certain item within Webstudy. Discuss |
| Content Development Tools | |
| Accessibility Compliance |
We are partially compliant with Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act. WebStudy has a 95% compatibility and continued refinement such that additional tools as Jaws Reader are usable to access materials. Our streaming functionality gives each unique user the ability to stream video by selecting from Windows Media Player OR QuickTime, dial-up OR broadband and captions ON/OFF (when captions provided by producer). Inclusion of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines as noted in HTTP://WWW.W3.ORG/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/ are planned for incorporation in Release 9.2, scheduled for Summer 2009. We are JAWS compatible at this time and these guidelines will be implemented in conjunction with our GUI CSS upgrade. Discuss |
| Content Sharing/Reuse |
Webstorium is provided for housing of all user created course content. In this area, instructors can author a wide range of content for use within their course, or other courses they have access to. Webstorium is searchable, and has multiple filters. Authors of materials can choose to make them private or public, allowing sharing across multiple courses and faculty. Discuss |
| Course Templates |
Course templates may be created stored and replicated by the administrator providing a basic course structure for any instructor’s course. The templates may contain just the basic structure of the course or may be fully populated courses. Discuss |
| Customized Look and Feel |
Discuss |
| Instructional Design Tools |
See Course Management and Automated Testing Management for an overview the myWebstudy functionality. Discuss |
| Instructional Standards Compliance |
WebStudy is both IMS compliant and SCORM 2004 Ed. 2 certified (Wisconsin Testing Labs) Discuss |
| Hardware/Software | |
| Client Browser Required |
Reviewer Comments PC - IE 5.5+, Netscape, Firefox, Mozilla; Mac - Safari, Firefox, Netscape Discuss |
| Database Requirements |
Discuss |
| UNIX Server |
Discuss |
| Windows Server |
Discuss |
| Company Details/Licensing | |
| Company Profile |
Reviewer Comments Our Mission "Maximize Human Potential with the Use of Technology to Enrich Learning" Products Developed by Educators for Educators WebStudy, Inc. was formed through the convergence of entrepreneurial talent, technological know-how, and a passion for education. Our founders-a university sociologist, a graduate student, and two IT and educational entrepreneurs-remain the company's principals, and today they head an international team of associates with successful track records in information technology, product management, software development, training, marketing, web design, and higher education. Through dynamic and innovative research and development, WebStudy provides today's faculty and students with the most advanced online education experience available. We look to administrators, faculty, students, and thought leaders to influence the development of our products and services, providing a unique research and development process. We are experienced providers of comprehensive distance learning solutions. Our products can stand-alone, or work together as a seamless online education package with attractive and affordable pricing. Our easy migration allows an institution to quickly utilize a course management system campus-wide. Discuss |
| Costs / Licensing |
Reviewer Comments WebStudy is provided in a hosted SAS environment. No server hardware is required by the customer. Licensing is basically all encompassing and covers user access to the software and 24x7x365 support to the student level. Discuss |
| Open Source |
Discuss |
| Optional Extras |
Discuss |