| Is open source the right option for your | | | | buying the right to use the software in a |
| online training, teaching, or learning | | | | specific way, and in many cases the company |
| efforts? This articles compares the | | | | that developed it owns the software, and you |
| difference between open source and | | | | just purchase rights to use it. |
| proprietary software. Open source software | | | | |
| has become mainstream. Applications such as | | | | The main difference between commercial |
| the Firefox Web browser and Linux operating | | | | support for proprietary software and |
| system are available to aid in all areas of | | | | commercial support for open source software |
| operation, including teaching and learning. | | | | is that the proprietary software is |
| Open source software has become a strong | | | | obligatory and the open source software is |
| contender in online training and e-learning | | | | optional. If you opt out of paying for |
| sectors. As technology continues to evolve, | | | | support for proprietary software, you lose |
| more open source offerings will continue to | | | | the right to use it in most cases. The costs |
| emerge in the area of e-learning, | | | | incidentally tend to be quite high for |
| continuously changing the landscape of online | | | | proprietary software. |
| teaching and learning both in academia and | | | | |
| business fields. | | | | Perceived advantages of proprietary software |
| | | | include: 1) Reliable, professional support |
| Open source software has grown to include: | | | | and training available; 2) Packaged, |
| | | | comprehensive, modular formats; and 3) |
| Learning management systems (LMS) | | | | Regularly and easily updated. The downside |
| | | | however is that it is: 1) Costly, and 2) has |
| Learning content management systems (LCMS) | | | | closed standards that hinder further |
| | | | development. |
| Course authoring tools | | | | |
| | | | Open sources software has the advantage of: |
| Tools to create media elements such as | | | | 1) Low cost and no license fees; 2) Open |
| animations, audio, and video | | | | standards that facilitate integration with |
| | | | other systems; and 3) it is easily |
| Browsers and players to present content | | | | customizable. The down side is: 1) Lack of |
| | | | professional support; 2) Evolving developer |
| Courseware libraries | | | | communities; 3) Lack of release |
| | | | co-ordination; and 4) Erratic updates. |
| These resources has some important benefits: | | | | However, with such a large development and |
| | | | user-base, many disussion forums and help |
| Open source software is free to download | | | | sites are available for users. |
| therefore lower in cost. | | | | |
| | | | So what is the right solution for you and |
| Flexibility and customizability | | | | your organization? Generally, for smaller |
| | | | organizations and projects, Open source |
| Extensive active builder and user communities | | | | solutions seem to suffice. The difference in |
| that forms a good technical support base. | | | | cost more than makes up for the perceived |
| | | | disadvantages mentioned above. Larger |
| Many open source applications run on multiple | | | | organizations seem to require more robust, |
| platforms including Windows and Linux. | | | | high-quality product with high levels of |
| | | | service and support. |
| Adherence to established standards, which is | | | | |
| a high priority for open source software | | | | They want responsibility, reliable |
| development. | | | | assistance, and support from their suppliers. |
| | | | |
| Ability to use and link to other open source | | | | With rapid developments in technology, |
| software | | | | chances are you can find tools to meet your |
| | | | training needs in either the open source or |
| Most proprietary software comes without the | | | | commercial sector. But open source provides |
| source code, which is the code originally | | | | unique advantages which include filling the |
| written by the programmer. Without this code | | | | low-cost high-control niche that are |
| you do not have right to change the way the | | | | difficult, if not impossible, to achieve |
| software is developed. When you buy | | | | through commercial, proprietary avenues. |
| proprietary software you are essentially | | | | |