Abstract:

There are a number of open source e-learning platforms for producing Internet-based courses and Web sites. In this way the objective of this paper is to provide a detailed list of open source e-learning platforms aimed to enhance the educative process in collaborative environments.

Moodle is a Course Management System (CMS). It is a free, open source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators to create effective online learning communities. It can be downloaded and used on any computer (including webhosts), yet it can scale from a single-teacher site to University.

ATutor is an open source Web-based Learning Content Management System (LCMS) designed with accessibility and adaptability in mind. Administrators can install or update ATutor in minutes, develop custom templates to give ATutor a new look, and easily extend its functionality with feature modules. Educators can quickly assemble, package, and redistribute Web-based instructional content, easily retrieve and import pre-packaged content, and conduct their courses online. Students learn in an adaptive learning environment.

.LRN is a global community of educators, designers, and software developers who partner together to drive educational innovation. Because the software is open source, organizations can invest their precious dollars in people and curriculum development instead of expensive licensing and support fees.

ILIAS is a powerful Web-based Learning Management System (LMS) that allows users to create, edit and publish learning and teaching material in an integrated system with their normal Web browsers. Tools for cooperative working and communication are included as well. ILIAS is available as open source software under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Universities, educational institutions, private and public companies, and every interested person may use the system free of charge and contribute to its further development.

The Sakai Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the development and distribution of the free, open source Sakai Collaboration and Learning Environment (CLE), and nurtures the global community of developers and users that creates it. The Sakai CLE enables online learning, teaching, research and collaboration within and across distributed communities. The Foundation is made up of an evolving international community of Universities, colleges, companies and individuals who contribute to the Sakai CLE, and support its use in hundreds of schools and institutions, from small colleges to state-wide University systems, around the world.

Claroline is a free application based on PHP/MySQL allowing teachers or education organizations to create and administrate courses through the Web. Claroline is a free online collaborative learning platform translated into more than 30 languages.

Keywords:

Collaborative environment, education, e-learning, open source.