Do It Yourself LMS: Open-Source and Hi-Tech Possibilities

Do-It-Yourself LMS Open-Source and Hi-Tech Possibilities Matt Crosslin UT Arlington, UT Brownsville

What is Open Source? http://www.opensource.org Access to source code Usually free, but don’t be cheap! True open-source vs. opening up the source code.

What is Proprietary? No access to source code User pays for a license to use a copy User does not “own” the program Cost of support is usually included

The Battle Open-source seen as valiant under dog, bravely fighting the evil proprietary empire.

The Battle Proprietary seen as the shrewd business company being constantly undermined by those pesky open-source people.

My Position? Always a need for something ready to go Open-source better fits the needs and nature of true academia Don’t support one LMS over another

Open Source: Benefits & Criticisms

General Benefits Cost Access to source code Customization and growth

New Breed of Instructional Designer Can create any type of instruction needed Not limited by tools available in the LMS Comes from educational background Well trained in open-source applications Need BOOKS written on quick customization techniques.

Analysis of Criticisms Open source is not secure Open source is not mature Open source is not compatible Open source has no support Open source can’t handle large stuff

What is Do-It-Yourself Open Source?

Answer: ALL Open Source is D.I.Y.!

Hosting a Site Platform – Java, PHP, etc Storage size Bandwidth Tools – phpmyAdmin, Control Panel X, etc

Mixing With Other Applications Authentication issues – how one program can talk to another Integrated vs. side-by-side

Customizations CSS files for styles and size Header and footer files for overall look Creating new features

Support – Where To Get Help For the real DIY – forums Online documentation Paid support (personal support is never free)

Facts About Moodle Created by Martin Dougiamas Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment Uses PHP and a database, like MySQL or postgreSQL Based on social constructionist pedagogy 8779 registered sites, 3,964,855 registered users Largest site: Online Campus of Open Polytech of New Zealand with 8282 courses and over 54,000 users.

Possibilities Can create custom features – blogs, etc Can create custom blocks – Skype presence Integrates well with other open-source stuff; also can support side-by-side very well.

Facts and Features Began at University of Michigan and Indiana University Uses Java platform CMS and Research Collaboration

Possibilities Can create custom features Not on the same platforms as most open-source, so integration is more difficult.

Web 2.0 and the Future of Open-Source

What is Web 2.0? The Web As Platform Harnessing Collective Intelligence Data is the Next Intel Inside (database management) End of the Software Release Cycle (perpetual Beta) Lightweight Programming Models (RSS, open-source) Software Above the Level of a Single Device (iTunes) Rich User Experiences (Google Maps, AJAX)

Open Source and Web 2.0 Read/write web – users define what they see, have more input AJAX – already being implemented into Moodle (drag and drop blocks) Writely, AjaxLaunch, and ODEO – side-by-side integration

Links Open-source definition http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php Moodle: http://www.moodle.org Moodle Philosophy: http://docs.moodle.org/en/Philosophy Sakai: http://sakaiproject.org O-Reilly What is Web 2.0: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html Writely: http://www.writely.com Odeo: http://www.odeo.com AjaxLaunch: http://www.ajaxlaunch.com/

Do It Yourself LMS: Open-Source and Hi-Tech Possibilities

More Related Content

What's hot

Viewers also liked

Similar to Do It Yourself LMS: Open-Source and Hi-Tech Possibilities

Recently uploaded

Do It Yourself LMS: Open-Source and Hi-Tech Possibilities