[Offtopic] e-learning systems

[Roland Gesthuizen]

I quite agree Ros.. there are better things we can all do with the money
such as keep it in Australia and spend it on better hardware, more staff
training and professional development, site level customization by drawing
upon some of the Moodle cottage industries that have sprung up, programmers
to contribute towards Moodle so that everybody benefits.

By analogy, sharing and improving on a good recipe doesn't stop me from
eating at good restaurants, does wonders for cooking new flavours and lets
me check that I got exactly what I ordered by letting me peek under the lid
off the saucepan for mystery additives.

Two edulists are worth joining are -
http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/opensource and
http://www.edulists.com.au/mailman/listinfo/moodle

Regards Roland

On 08/02/07, Meadows, Roslyn M <Meadows.Roslyn.M at edumail.vic.gov.au> wrote:
>
>  Many schools use Moodle, and there is a moodle mailing list on
> www.edulists.com.au
>
> We have also had some fun/informative/informal meetings with internet
> access where individual teachers have shown/spoken about what they are doing
> with moodle.
>
> Why purchase expensive software when there is an open-source alternative
> that also just happens to be the best!!
>
> Cheers
>
> Ros Meadows
>
>
>
> *Roslyn Meadows | Information Technology | Bentleigh Secondary College |
> meadows.roslyn.m at edumail.vic.gov.au | ph 03 9579 1044 | mobile 0412 614
> 062*
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: offtopic-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:
> offtopic-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of victor rajewski
> Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 9:00 AM
> To: Information Technology Teachers' Offtopic Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Offtopic] e-learning systems
>
>
>
> > According to its pledge, Blackboard says it will not "assert U.S. Patent
>
> > No. 6,988,138 and many other pending patent applications against the
>
> > development, use, or distribution of open-source software or home-grown
>
> > course management systems anywhere in the world, to the extent that such
>
> > systems are not bundled with proprietary software."
>
>
>
> There are various actions in motion to invalidate that patent; sounds
>
> like they're hoping that if they drop the threat to open source
>
> systems, these actions will drop. Not likely.
>
>
>
> > Of these, Sakai (sponsored by hundreds of unis worldwide, including ANU)
>
> > does seem a worthy, free alternative, though Moodle is also very
> popular.
>
> >
>
> > Any opinions regarding any of these systems?
>
>
>
> sakai seems like a good idea, but it's more focused at larger (read
>
> university) systems I think. It also seems to have a committee
>
> approach to its design and development (a camel is a horse that was
>
> designed by a committee), and I have read that it isn't great in
>
> practice. Having said that, I haven't used it myself.
>
>
>
> I quite like moodle myself, and it has become quite popular adding to
>
> it's strength as more people add more features. I've used it, as well
>
> as WebCT (now owned by blackboard), and moodle won hands down (this
>
> was a couple of years ago, however). I have read of studies with
>
> similar conclusions based on student perceptions.
>
>
>
> We're about to roll out an elearning system for our school, and the
>
> main contenders seem to be MyInternet/MyClassroom (which I have no
>
> idea about, but am about to evaluate), and moodle.
>
>
>
> ciao
>
>
>
> vik
>
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-- 
Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College
http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead
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