Blackboard versus TWEN

This year I have switched from Blackboard to TWEN as a tool to augment my classroom teaching.  I mainly use these services to post PowerPoint slides, announcements, links to relevant materials and resource materials.  In other words, I use them as a resource rather than relying on them as a teaching tool.  I know some schools have contracts with one or the other service, and some offer professors and students the option of using either.  So I'm trying TWEN this semester.  Lots of people have said to me that they prefer TWEN to Blackboard, but I can't immediately see why.  It is very easy to use, but the newer versions of Blackboard are pretty easy to use too for the purposes of posting information, announcements, resources.  Are there other functionalities that are handled better in one or the other platform?  What are your experiences?

Comments

[Justin Long]

I use Blackboard in part because it avoids appearing to endorse either of the online legal databases that compete for students' loyalty.

[SecondYearProf]

I'm experimenting with TWEN for a conference panel that plans to share its papers and sample syllabi to a national audience - TWEN has a great feature that allows you to invite guests to your "class" which (I imagine) can be good for having course materials evaluated (pre- or post-launch) by colleagues and friends within and outside of your institution.

[Anthonoy]

I like using Blackboard on Lexis because it has a plagiarism program when students upload their documents to the site. It checks the documents with anything on Lexis, any papers submitted through Lexis, and the web.

[my vision future]

Treat people like you would like to be treated especially people who trusted and took your word for things

[Jacqui Lipton]

@ Justin: I thought Blackboard was now owned by/affiliated with Lexis?