WebCT and Desire2Learn: Compared and Considered

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WebCT and Desire2Learn Compared and Considered

• Presenter Mark Mitchell

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WebCT Desire2Learn (D2L)

• Advantages and disadvantages of the two systems
  as they relate to the needs of independent study
  programs.
• Challenge of coordinating these systems with
  other university information management systems
  and
• The implications of the legal challenge posed by
  WebCTs recent patent claims.

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Intentionvs.Reality
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WebCT Desire2Learn (D2L)

• Why OU CIDL is switching from WebCT to D2L.
• How OU CIDL has managed (so far) to coordinate
  D2L with other university information management
  systems (including our own) and
• What the heck is the patent lawsuit about between
  WebCT and D2L?

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Audience Survey

• Program name
• Online courseware management system in use? If
  so, which system?
• Considering a change? If so, to which system?

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OU CIDLs Switch from WebCT to D2L

• Began using a handful of custom online courses
  before 2000 (Yikes!)
• Adopted WebCT in 2000 (Campus Edition 3.8
  upgraded to CE 4.1 January 2004)
• Began converting WebCT courses to D2L in the
  summer of 2006 (relatively smooth transition)
• Started adding new enrollments in D2L courses on
  September 28, 2006

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WebCT and D2L More Similar than Different

• Media rich content support
• Quiz management
• Communication tools (e-mail, chat rooms,
  discussion/bulletin boards)
• Presentation and collaboration tools (individual
  and group websites)
• Course management (student enrollments,
  instructor and grading assistant access)

Compare CMS http//www.edutools.com/item_list.jsp
?pj8
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Some Differences Count More than Others

• WebCT e-mail internal while D2L works with
  external mail systems
• More control over helpdesk access and privileges
  with D2L
• D2L has a relational database backend (SQL)
  WebCT has a flat file database backend
• Cost (OU offered to CIDL access to D2L managed on
  their servers without cost)

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CIDL, D2L and Other Information Management Systems

• Course enrollments added to CIDLs student
  information management system (OMNI) transferred
  to main campus server for creating exception
  accounts
• Exception accounts provide D2L user accounts and
  OU e-mail address
• Courses listed on enroll.ou.edu and students are
  added to courses with semester-based courses

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WebCT vs. D2L Timeline

• July 26
• Blackboard Inc. issues news release on being
  awarded a U.S. patent on e-Learning Technology
  Blackboard Inc. files suit against Desire2Learn
  Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern
  District of Texas alleging that Desire2Learn is
  infringing on the patent Blackboard announced
  that day

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WebCT vs. D2L Timeline (contd)

• Sept 14 Desire2Learn files answer and
  counterclaims
• Sept 19 Blackboard Inc. answers Desire2Learn's
  Counterclaim

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WebCT vs. D2L Timeline (contd)

• Sept 20 Blackboard Inc. files motion to dismiss
  Desire2Learn's Inequitable Conduct Counterclaim
• Sept 25 Desire2Learn receives an Order
  Governing Proceedings

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WebCT vs. D2L Timeline (contd)

• Oct 4 Desire2Learn files Response to
  Blackboard's Motion to Dismiss
• Oct 11 Blackboard files Reply to Desire2Learn's
  Response to Motion to Dismiss

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WebCT vs. D2L Links

• Blackboard info on patent http//www.blackboard.c
  om/patent
• D2Ls response http//www.desire2learn.com/patent
  info/

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U.S. Patent No. 6,988,138 B1

• In January 2006, Blackboard received a US patent
  for
• Internet-based education support system and
  methods
• In other words, the very concept of learning
  management systems.

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Prior Art (from Wikipedia)

• In most patent laws, prior art or state of the
  art (the latter term sometimes has other meanings
  as well) is all information that has been made
  available to the public in any form before a
  given date. If an invention has been described in
  prior art, a patent on that invention is not
  valid.

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_virtual_le
arning_environments
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Letter from EDUCAUSE to WebCT (excerpt)

• We believe that Blackboard should disclaim the
  rights established under your recently-awarded
  patent, placing the patent in the public domain
  and withdrawing the claim of infringement against
  Desire2Learn. We believe this action would be in
  the best business interests of Blackboard and in
  the best interests of higher education. We do not
  make this request lightly or underestimate the
  courage it will take to implement. However, we
  believe it is the right action for your
  corporation and our community.