Evaluating the accessibility of three open‐source learning content management systems: A comparative study

Abstract

ABSTRACTLearning content management systems (LCMSs) have become increasingly popular in the educational field over the past few years. However, problems in system design can create difficulties in the interactions between LCMSs and an important sector of the user population. The assessment and monitoring of LCMS accessibility are vital for the guarantee of universal accessibility in education. This article presents a comparative study of the accessibility of three web‐based, open‐source LCMSs: Moodle, ATutor, and Sakai. Results of the study indicate that barriers to accessibility are present in each of the three systems evaluated. A primary aim of the study is to help detect and correct these barriers such that the goal of universal access in educational environments may one day be achieved. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 22:320–328, 2014; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.20557