This vector was created by Michele McFarlane

Education and Open Source Software - The connection

As college administrators strive to strike a balance between resources and requirements, open source e-learning software has emerged as a viable solution. Many universities have opted for open source learning management systems, in particular. Advantages that have tipped the balance toward open source include the following:

The absence of a license fee. Most universities annually pay large sums to software companies to use their products, but open source licenses are free.

Flexibility. Open source products are customizable and can involve third parties. New features and tools can be imported from the open source community.

Service continuity. The huge collaborative network of the open source community minimizes, although it does not eliminate, the risk of discontinued service. Volunteer help is available through open source support systems such as forums.

Continuous improvement. Extensive collaboration ensures that software products keep improving. Programmers from different institutions and organizations, along with volunteers, contribute freely to projects.

Tax benefits. Governments of many countries have implemented tax-exemption policies to boost open source projects, although the governmental role in promoting open source software is controversial.

Open Educational Resources OERs

Open educational resources (OERs) are online resources that provide free applications and learning materials for academic institutions. The term refers to free learning resources including complete course materials, modules, journals, reference materials, and tools that enable users to create online learning management systems and design and publish materials. These resources can be modified and redistributed.

Digital technologies continue to influence how we find, share, create and even negotiate information and ideas. Education, learning and training as we know it continue to extend beyond the walls of the classrooms, to include a more organic and integrated way of learning experiences and support, available at the will of the consumer: anywhere, anytime and 'just in time'. We view knowledge as accessible and have moved from an individualistic perspective to a more collaborative, team based approach; to a community of practice. At the same time personal accomplishment and individual contributions are still important. Amidst all these changes in how we learn and shifting work attitudes stands the Learning Management System (LMS). Operating systems such Linux and Microsoft have forever changed the way education is offered. Linux and other operating systems have made it possible for educators and other stakeholders in education to design, develop and share and offer courses in the e-learning market place.Learning Management Systems such as Moodle are now able to capture a giant share of this market through the use of Open Source Software.

Open Source Software has given new life to online learning and Learning Management Systems are 'buying' into them. In addition, Web 2.0 has also made it possible to now offer many new and exciting features in this dynamic learning arena.Including Wiki, podcasting, blogging and other features have added to the extensive list of possibilities that exist in on line learning made realistic and possible through open source aopeating systems and open source software.

Open Source Operating System

Apple the first major computer company to make Open Source development a key part of its ongoing software strategy, Apple remains committed to the Open Source development model. Major components of Mac OS X, including the UNIX core, are made available under Apple’s Open Source license, allowing developers and students to view source code, learn from it and submit suggestions and modifications. In addition, Apple uses software created by the Open Source community, such as the HTML rendering engine for Safari, and returns its enhancements to the community.

LINUX

Open Operating Systems are graphical user interfaces like Windows and Macintosh. The only difference is that they are not proprietary. Anyone can alter the code and use it in any way that they like. In fact, companies like Corel have taken the code, altered it to their own flavour of Linux and offered it for sale. Other groups like Ubuntu, offer complete operating systems at no cost. A community of volunteers suggest changes and provide the coding to make them reality.

Some of the more popular Linux based operating systems include:
Ubuntu
Red Hat
Edbuntu

One advantage to using Linux in schools is that costs can be minimized by using older computers. (Minkel, 2003) Thin computers are terminals that link to a server and are much less demanding on resources. In fact, the thin computers can run without a hard drive. (Trotter, 2004) The slower computers that could be provided by Computers for Schools would be ideal for this purpose. By running a series of thin clients, and using FLOSS software, schools will be much more able to spread their technology dollars.

Ubuntu is an entirely open source operating system built around the Linux kernel. The Ubuntu community is built around the ideals enshrined in the Ubuntu Philosophy: that software should be available free of charge, that software tools should be usable by people in their local language and despite any disabilities, and that people should have the freedom to customize and alter their software in whatever way they see fit.

Comparing Microsoft to Linux

Open source poses a threat to Microsoft; it has a controversial new licensing software licensing policy that has raised prices for some of its customers. This has seen a number of those customers moving towards seeking a cheaper alternative such as Linux. Many companies are aware of cheaper alternatives and hence refuse to pay more. It appears that Microsoft was drawn into the Open Source movement because of the levels of competition from companies like Linux.

Open Source Learning Management System

MOODLE

Moodle is open source course management software designed to support social constructionist pedagogical practices. It enables instructors to create course Web sites that can include text and multimedia learning resources and activities. It includes built-in, synchronous and asynchronous blog, forum, chat, assignment, quiz, wiki, and other features. Its designers have paid particular attention to supporting collaboration and group work. Moodle is internationally recognized and supported by active peer forums accessible from the http://moodle.org Web site.

Moodle is an inspiring story of Open Source Software. Martin Dougiamas, a student studying at an Australian University created the learning management system with the constructivist teaching approach in mind. Moodle has now captured a huge market share, boasting more than 32 million users and 3 million courses. Several Universities have harnessed its power, see Concordia University’s moodle site: [1]

A companion course for this wiki on Open Source Solutions can be viewed at http://ljhs-moodle.blackgold.ab.ca/course/view.php?id=33

Elluminate partnered with Moodle to improve services offered to students.

OPENOFFICE

OPENOFFICE OpenOffice.org version 3 has constantly been developing and evolving for over 10 years, OpenOffice.org (now version 3) originated as StarOffice and was released as free-ware in 1999. It is now a software suite similar to the Microsoft Office suite. It includes word processing (Writer), spreadsheet (Calc), presentation (Impress), graphics (Draw) and database (Base)software. It is highly adaptable and runs on Windows, MacIntosh and even comes installed in most Linux based systems. [2]

Google for Educators

Google for Educators support teachers as they try to empower students and expand the frontiers of human knowledge.

SAKAI

The Sakai Community develops and distributes the open-source Sakai CLE, an enterprise-ready collaboration and courseware management platform that provides users with a suite of learning, portfolio, library and project tools.

[3]

[4]

Open Source Resources -OSRs

Curriki the Global Education and Learning Community, is a nonprofit body dedicated to the creation of free, open source curricula for all users and one of the most popular OSC online resources. Curriki provides course materials for primary and secondary education, primarily focusing on the creation of complete curricula for courses distributed and used globally.

Connexions is a pioneering venture set apart from other open-education resources by its scope. The site provides instructional material for primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels, as well as the industrial sector. Contributions are invited from all segments of society. The materials are available in different languages, and users from all over the world can download, customize, and reload them. Authors get credit for their contributions.

More Open Source Software

Earlier versions of Open Source Software such as Copyleft developed software that could be given away but not sold.

SourceForge.net

notepad++

Thunderbird

Proprietary Blackboard/ANGEL Learning Management System

ANGEL is a web-based course management and collaboration portal that helps educators manage course material and communicate quickly, easily, and effectively. ANGEL is designed to be used as a complement to traditional courses as well as for distance learning. Blackboard acquired ANGEL LMS (much like its acquisition of WebCT)to combine in partnerships to use their individual strengths for students benefit to create a more flexible and engaging teaching and learning platform.ANGEL offers a host of features designed to enrich the teaching and learning experience, including:

1.Mashups that make it easy to incorporate rich media content into courses from sources such as the YouTube™ web site and Picasa™ software

2.The ability to incorporate RSS feeds into courses

3.New lesson plans that promote consistent design across the enterprise

4.Grading rubrics that ensure all manually graded submissions are evaluated against the same criteria.

4.A new grade-book interface that supports any grading period and provides improved workflow and reporting.

4.Enhanced surveys that improve their effectiveness as pre- and post-course assessment tools

6.More flexible system administration.

6.More powerful content management capabilities.

BLACKBOARD'S acquisition of ANGEL will introduce a range of benefits to institutions and the e-learning community, including:

i)A combined global community of practice of more than 5,800 K-12 schools, colleges and universities, government organizations and corporation

ii)A broader, unified platform for the general media, publishers and e-learning software developers that increases interoperability for institutions

iii)A world-class service and support organization benefiting from best-practices and infrastructure investments

iv)Industry leading e-learning technology expertise including specialization on Microsoft's .NET platform and Microsoft technologies

v)A stronger company with a greater capacity to invest in research and development for new solutions over time

[5]

Comparing the Solutions Providers

The difference between leading providers appear to be in the service.

Comparing Moodle and Sakai [6]

Activities

Which of these open source software have you used? Some believe that the differences lie in the service. Do you agree?

Do you think Moodle (OSS) and Blackboard will continue to co-exist in the e-learning arena? What would make you choose to use a software that is not Open Source?

Report Card

A+:

Excellent support system

Multi-featured

Flexible

Embraces change

Is current

Adequately meets the need of the e-learning market

Moodle A+

Google for Educators A

Open Office A+

Sakai B+

References

Schmid, J. (n.d.). Moodle: Bringing True eLearning to Your Classroom by Jonathan Schmid on Prezi. Prezi - The zooming presentation editor. Retrieved June 17, 2010, from http://prezi.com/ai9b0ktcastm/moodle-bringing-true-elearning-to-your-classroom/#embed

Next: Stability and Usability

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Course:ETEC522/2010ST1/OpenSourceTechnologies/Leading Solution Providers