ERIC Number: EJ846621
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Mar
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1492-3831
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Open Source Software: Fully Featured vs. "The Devil You Know"
Hotrum, Michael; Ludwig, Brian; Baggaley, Jon
International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, v6 n1 Mar 2005
The "ILIAS" learning management system (LMS) was evaluated, following its favourable rating in an independent evaluation study of open source software (OSS) products. The current review found "ILIAS" to have numerous features of value to distance education (DE) students and teachers, as well as problems for consideration in the system's ongoing development. The current findings were compared with DE students' reactions to a similar LMS product, "ATutor," also rated highly in the independent OSS evaluation. In comparing an "ATutor" course website with a simple HTML-based version of the same site, the ten students voted unanimously to retain the simpler site. This result is consistent with previous evaluation findings in the current series of reports, and indicates that increasing integration of product features does not necessarily improve a product's ease of use or educational effectiveness. (Contains 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Management Systems, Distance Education, Computer Software, Program Effectiveness, Evaluation, Tutorial Programs, Web Sites, Foreign Countries
Athabasca University. 1200, 10011 - 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8, Canada. Tel: 780-421-2536; Fax: 780-497-3416; e-mail: irrodl@athabascau.ca; Web site: http://www.irrodl.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
