and the
FOSS revolution
How Open Source has changed the
e-Learning landscape

Who is this?

Who is this?

Who is this?

Who is this?

what is in...
this presentation

what is
FOSS?

what is
?

a case study of
the Riverview
experience

what is ...
FOSS

FOSS is ...

FOSS is ...
Free and Open Source Software
Software which is liberally licensed to grant the
right of users to study, change and
improve its design through the
availability of its source code.
Free as in FREEDOM

FOSS is ...
Free and Open Source Software
Software which is liberally licensed to grant the
right of users to study, change and
improve its design through the
availability of its source code.
Free as in FREEDOM
(often also free as a free beer/gratis)

misconceptions
open source
of

misconceptions
open source
of

open source
FREE!
is

no
There is
support
available

open source is
less functional

open source is
less secure

open source
hard to use
is

open source is
not documented

open source
doesn’t scale

open source
software is
low quality

Integrating open source
and Windows
is very difficult

open source is
unreliable

Additional benefits
open source
of

You can modify
to get your
specific needs

non-Proprietary
and
Open
Standards

Global
Collaboration
with
Skilled Developers

You
are not at the
mercy
vendor
of the

is...

an
open source
freely available
Learning Management System

fun with
TLA’s

fun with
TLA’s

DMS
Document Management System

CMS
Content Management System

LMS
Learning Management System

Modular
Object
Oriented
Dynamic
Learning
Environment

an adjustable
environment for
learning communities

an adjustable
environment for
learning communities

a software package
designed using
pedagogical
principals

the result of a
PhD Thesis
by Martin Dougiamas

is used by...

38,218
21,151
9,318
Aug 2008
2,501 Feb 2008
Feb 2007
Feb 2006
Feb 2005
600
Feb 2004

over 47,600
47,653
learning communities
38,218
21,151
9,318
Aug 2008
2,501 Feb 2008
Feb 2007
Feb 2006
Feb 2005
600
Feb 2004

over 1,400 in
Australia alone

by over
21 million
users

by over
21 million
users

in over
180 countries

in over
75 languages

Thai Deutsch
Eesti
Italiano Polski
in over
English
75 languages Norsk
Sinhala
Tongan
Suomi

why use ...

stimulates
student centered
learning

easy customisation
for users with different needs

easy customisation
for users with different needs

easy customisation
for users with different needs

delivery of learning
activities
and publishing of
resources

allows for
differentiation
of task

Stamp Collections
Story writing
Podcasting
allows for Certificates
Image Galleries
differentiation
of task
Repositories Audio conferencing
Journals
Book resource
Surveys Portfolios

Class Resources

Class Resources

Image Galleries

Image Galleries

Podcasting

Podcasting

encourages
collaboration
and
communication

encourages
collaboration
and
communication

compatibility
with different standards

compatibility
with different standards

making e-learning
interactive

Mahara Portfolio’s

Learning Objects

supports progression
university
to
and life-long
learning

Thankyou
Julian Ridden
Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview
jsridden@riverview.nsw.edu.au