| With open source applications being the order | | | | |
| of the day, LMS are not to be left behind. | | | | Ilias |
| There is a proliferation of open source LMS | | | | |
| in the market, with some having come of age | | | | A web based LMS and collaboration platform, |
| and proving tough competition to their | | | | Ilias controls access to documents flexibly, |
| commercial counterparts. The use of these | | | | depending upon roles. This allows course |
| open source LMS in higher education is being | | | | scenarios to be more pedagogically effective. |
| hailed by academicians and students alike, | | | | Authoring tools are made available to |
| which has seen copious educative institutions | | | | students, with the facility of hosting |
| and universities adapting them. These LMS | | | | multiple clients on one installation. Finding |
| offer unique features which cater to varied | | | | functions is difficult, and requires too many |
| requirements. Hence, no LMS can fit the bill | | | | clicks. A diverse group of developers are |
| of the best LMS. Trying to incorporate | | | | responsible for the project, giving rise to |
| remotely connected features in a single LMS | | | | uneven quality and usability concerns. |
| would be a sure recipe for failure. Thus, | | | | Designers are presented with innumerable |
| there cannot be a best LMS, but there sure | | | | possibilities that are a little confusing. |
| can be one that is tailor made for your | | | | |
| requirements. We have discussed the features | | | | Moodle |
| of some of the most popular LMS here, to help | | | | |
| you in your search. | | | | An open source LMS, Moodle is easy on first |
| | | | timers by allowing them a jump start. Quick |
| ATutor | | | | establishment of a course like content pages, |
| | | | forum, and quizzes, is one of its best |
| ATutor is an open source web-based Learning | | | | features. The ability of the software to |
| Management System (LMS), that provides easy | | | | maintain advanced tools like wiki, |
| interface and navigation. While courses can | | | | assignments, glossary, survey, and lesson, |
| be easily created with the available course | | | | without impinging upon the quality of its |
| platform, course creation is difficult with | | | | interface is something to cheer for. But, |
| different types of content. SCORM and IMS | | | | advanced features in the documentation can |
| compliant content packages can be imported | | | | cause much despair because of ill designed |
| and exported, but the course elements cannot | | | | documentation. |
| be bookmarked. Functions too cannot be easily | | | | |
| added to by the developers, but overall, | | | | OLAT |
| ATutor is designed for easy accessibility and | | | | |
| adaptability. | | | | One more open source LMS, Olat allows |
| | | | creation of random working groups by users |
| Claroline | | | | with features such as file storage, |
| | | | discussion forum, chat, mail and announcement |
| Designed with a shipshape interface, | | | | tools. The frame free design makes it |
| Claroline is marked by ease of use and a | | | | intuitive for authors and students alike. |
| typical assortment of functions. Course | | | | Easily customizable CSS controlled look, |
| creation can be quick and requires no | | | | clean interface and well documented technical |
| training. Features such as a private document | | | | architecture are added benefits. On the other |
| repository are beneficial for a group. But, | | | | hand, there is no keyword search in course |
| the browse back control is erratic and all | | | | content and discussion forums, no bookmarking |
| course elements cannot be bookmarked. The | | | | facility, and no browse back option. The |
| access to documents is not controlled | | | | development and contributions come from a |
| rendering them prone to security concerns. | | | | rather small community; hence productive |
| Limited customization options and weak | | | | installations are less in number. |
| documentation leave much to be desired.dotLRN | | | | |
| | | | Interact |
| This open source LMS is based on open ACS - a | | | | |
| toolkit - which is certified by the | | | | Designed with a view to ease online |
| consortium of dotLRN. Tools like RSS feeds, | | | | interaction, Interact allows you to |
| emails and SMS notifications, surveys, IM | | | | experiment with the learning structure rather |
| chat, polling, blogs and FAQs support | | | | than adhering to a predefined way of |
| collaborative and community learning. | | | | presenting content and interacting. |
| Innovative features such as homework drop | | | | |
| box, assessment, content organization and | | | | Conclusion |
| SCORM display are add-ons. Student tracking | | | | |
| data can be exported while exchange of | | | | All these above mentioned learning platforms |
| learning objects is also made possible. But, | | | | are efficient in their own ways, but |
| the diverse interface with its | | | | different nonetheless. |
| inconsistencies is its major drawback. | | | | |