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Hosting
The issue of hosting courses on your own server versus utilizing someone
else's server carries many of the same questions as the learning management
system (LMS) versus homegrown system debate. The CLASS™ Project
had Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET) as the engineering
partner. NET also served as the hosting agent. It is unclear whether
or not this was the best situation. Hosting your own files opens a
world of problems—including hacker attacks, software upgrades,
general maintenance, etc. However, maintaining control over the servers
gives you the freedom to make updates to both hardware and software
when you feel it is necessary, but also requires that you assign the
control to a point person or contact.
Again you must know your audience. If you are hosting a few courses
for your local high school and you are the systems manager – you
will probably be more comfortable buying a package deal from a vendor
that will go on your server. If you are responsible for a large number
of users with little support you will probably want to have the courses
hosted by the vendor of your management system. Now if you are a systems
person in a large entity with plenty of support you will most likely
have the talents available to manage your own system, but the funding
and smarts to pay for the service elsewhere. This is not a simple cost
comparison decision – anymore than is the LMS decision. Consider
the pros and cons of development, maintenance, upgradeablity, convertablity,
transportability, obsolescence, longevity – and startup costs.
Do not underestimate.
Copyright 2004 - University of Nebraska Board of Regents - All Rights Reserved
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