Yao: Not all teachers have the time to build up their own teaching website. And some teaching websites cannot afford to the functions of emails, submit assignments etc.

Katie: True Yao, but.... doesn't an open source CMS offer the same usability for teachers and students at a much more attractive price? (... free)

Kendra: Free is good, but support is important, most schools (universitites and K-12) are more interested in having support for their CMS than paying personel to develop the skills needed for "self support"

Katie: I forgot about the tech support angle!... HOWEVER ~ wouldn't it still be more cost effective to hire a support service rather than to purchase the whole shebang? Plus, it seems to me that an open source CMS would allow each educational entity to determine features and modifications to the CMS that customize their learning environment to their learners/instructional purposes? (Dare I say ... Demographic?) Just a thought....

Kendra: You make some valid points, but I have found that most school's administration is generally too short sighted to see the benefits you outline. Also the thought of changing the "system" and allowing customization is most likley more than most administrators can handel. This may not be as true on the University level but it is on the secondary. I think the people in charge are still too uncertain and unknowlegeable when it comes to technology that anything other than lock-step corformity is uncomfortable for them and therefore not allowed.

Katie: Thus highlighting the crucial differences between higher ed and primary/secondary education. Tuition-based education is compelled to meet the needs of its potential customers. If we don't offer what the tuition paying public wants.... they will seek it elsewhere. In compulsory education students are (for lack of a better phrasology) a "captive audience". I would imagine though that those very same administrators would learn to handle it if they were put in a meet the needs or lose the money situation. Odd concept?...

Kendra: I can't post what I just thought.... ask me in class,