Latest News: Email marketing software review pack now available

Give input on our LMS review list

We’re in the early stages of our review process for Learning Management Systems (LMS) … so here’s your chance to give input on which solutions are reviewed. We’ve got a long list of ~70 solutions identified (see our LMS Directory)  but from a practical perspective we can only review 10-15 of these in detail. Our expert reviewer has her view, but we’d like to get your input before making a final decision on the review list.

Defining what LMS means

Our Definition of Learning Management System

A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, and reporting of training programs, classroom and online events, e-learning programs, and training content. This software is primarily focused on the administration aspects of training such as user registration, learning resource scheduling, and learner performance analyzing and reporting. Learning Management Systems also typically house the learning content such as videos, presentations, worksheets, instructions, scenarios, and other activities. Learning Management Systems can be used to facilitate technology-based training, instructor-led training, or any hybrid or combination thereof.

What is not in our definition of Learning Management Systems?

Learning management is not an enterprise knowledge system, help documentation authoring tool, or video screen capture tool; although it can usually be integrated with and supported by other such tools. Typically, course developers develop learning materials and content outside of the learning management system with separate tools and then upload materials into the LMS for management, administration, and access by stakeholders.

Choosing the List of LMS Solutions to Review

Our expert reviewer Stephanie has conducted her own initial screen and identified 19 that she believes are worth progressing to the full review stage. So we’d like to get your input to help us make the final selection. Below is the medium list of 19 LMS solutions: if you believe strongly that any particular ones should be included in the final review list, now’s your chance to say so. Also, if there are any that should be on this list (in your opinion) and aren’t there … speak up now!

Full List of LMS

See our Learning Management Software Directory for the full list of solutions that have been considered for review. If others should be added, let us know.

Draft List

The draft list of LMS solutions being considered for full review is as follows:

  • AbsorbLMS
  • AdobeConnect
  • Composica
  • Dokeos
  • Edmodo
  • Geolearning
  • Informetica
  • Intellum
  • iSpring
  • JoomlaLMS
  • Learn.com
  • Meridian
  • Moodle
  • Sharepoint LMS
  • OLAT
  • Saba Learning Suite
  • Sakai
  • Schoology
  • Thinking Cap

Have Your Say

Please note that the final decision on which solutions are reviewed will be made by Stephanie. This is not a popularity contest as such, but rather a chance for some community input to guide her decision-making. Well reasoned comments are more likely to influence than simple assertions that “X is best”.  Quality remarks will outweigh  quantity.

Add a comment below if you have a view on which LMS should be included in the reviews.

  • Share/Bookmark

POLL: How important is independent information in choosing software?

It’s time for a quick user poll: we’d like to hear the extent to which independent information plays an important role in your decision process when choosing software.

For the sake of clarity, by independent information we mean that it is not from the vendor or reseller (e.g. whitepapers, website, etc) but instead from a relatively unbiased source such as a trusted blog, review site, magazine, etc.

Take a few seconds, think back to the last time you bought software (or thought about buying some) for your business, and then answer the following quick poll.

  • Share/Bookmark

How we create independent software reviews

If you’re looking at buying small business software, chances are you’ve come across various software reviews on the web.  But can you trust them? As you’ve probably realized, not all reviews are created equal…

A few key questions to consider when looking at software reviews are:

  • Is it an unbiased judgement or simply an “advertorial” promotion?
  • How qualified is the reviewer? Do they understand both business & technology?
  • Did they use a systematic process, or just rely on gut feel?

Here at Software Shortlist, we pride ourselves on delivering high quality, reliable, independent reviews of software for small business.  So, we’ve put the hard word on ourselves and published a clear software review policy that addresses many of the questions and concerns that people typically raise when looking at software reviews.

As you’ll see from the policy, Software Shortlist’s software reviews are:

  • Unbiased, editorially independent reviews
  • Conducted by qualified experts who also understand small business
  • Based on a rigorous and systematic approach

We hope that by publishing this policy, we answer most of the  questions you have about our software reviews. But if we’ve missed something, or you’d like to clarify anything about our review process, please contact us.  And if you think you’ve got what it takes to review a new software category, we’re always on the look out for the right people, so let’s talk.

  • Share/Bookmark
© 2008 Software Shortlist is powered by WordPress