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

Open Source vs. Proprietary

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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)

For the real DIY – forums

Online documentation

Paid support (personal support is never free)

Moodle

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.

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.

Martin Dougiamas

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.

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.

Sakai

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

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.

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)

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

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/

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/