Dear lists colleagues,
Here in Italy, within a large/medium sized Civil Service, we are deciding
which LMS/VLE adopt to set up the technological infrastructure to support
our "Technology-enhanced Learning" educational strategies (we don't like to
use the term "e-learning" because it seems, to us, to denote a
technology-driven approach to the use of technologies in education).
Technological infrastructure is required to support a large number of:
- Organisations (colleges, school, corporate training centre) that
will deliver their own education and training activities;
- pedagogical approaches and didactic strategies;
- subjects, learning objectives;
- learning media (" on-the-shelf" and "home-made" study packages,
knowledge base..).
We are guessing about the "best" choice to make between
commercial/proprietary or open source LMS.
The strengthen (mainly technical reliability) of commercial/proprietary are
clear to as, as the weakness (primarily the licence costs).
But, what about Open Source applications?
Speaking with colleagues and studying some international cases, we hare
realised that:
- the matter is highly controversial: there are no clear opinions in
favour or against their use (cost and reliability matters are involved);
- their use at a wholly cost-free is apparent because it is needed
to devote a lot of time to set it up and to adapt it to your needs;
- it is difficult, if not impossible, to implement within it other
OS or proprietary tools to build a wider and richer technological
environment.
I wish to profit from your international experience to clear the matter, and
I ask you for evidences and opinions about the use of Open Source LMS and
their weakness and strengthen.
Regards
Gianni Marconato
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