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Indispensable Open Source Learning Tools

Open Source software has provides a wide range of technical solutions enhance teaching and learning. It is important for learning leaders, instructional designers, and technologists to keep up with the advances and functions of open source software since there is typically no advertising or sales rep responsible for keeping us updated as is the case with commercial software.

To help, here are some open source learning tools by category. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is a great start.

Top 25 Open Source Learning Tools by Category

Content Management Systems

drupal, great for creating learning portals
joomla, also great for creating learning portals
wordpress, blogging/content management tool

Learning Management Systems

moodle, very popular open source LMS
sakai, popular LMS aimed at higher ed
OLAT A well featured system, recent winner of “IMS Learning Impact Award"
.LRN, built at MIT, designed for commercial environments

Media Production

audacity, audio recorder/editor
open office, great alternative to MS Office

Collaboration Tools

dim dim, video conferencing tool
mediawiki, software that runs wikipedia

Social Networking

elgg, build you own facebook

Evaluation Tools

lime survey, survey/eval tool

http://www.opensource-it.com/

What is Open Source Software?

Communities of Practice