Classroom management software

I think that using tools such as moodle, d2l, and blackboard can be both helpful and detrimental in the classroom depending on your setting and the amount of support that you have. I think that the fact that a tool like moodle is free is extremely appealing but the fact that you have to have things set up for you by an administrator and you have to buy server space and other hidden costs makes it less appealing, also there is less support available for teachers individually. Blackboard and d2l are very similar in format and function but are very expensive to start up which can make them prohibitive for teachers to use unless a school district is planning on implementing the program district wide. I think that the benefits of using programs like these would be that it can help get students ready for college since in the college setting they are going to be doing alot of online learning and they are most likely going to be using a tool like d2l or blackboard. Additionally it is better for the environment because teachers can have students turn in papers online instead on in printed format so that they are using less paper and ink and thus have less of an impact on the environment. Also from a teacher's stand point if the teacher has the students turning in papers online then they do not have to carry large amounts of papers back and forth from work to home for correction, they can simply log into a computer with internet to correct papers and give feedback.