{"id":208,"date":"2012-10-16T12:02:19","date_gmt":"2012-10-16T16:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/blog\/?p=208"},"modified":"2026-04-08T01:55:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T06:55:42","slug":"top-open-source-learning-management-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/blog\/top-open-source-learning-management-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Open Source Learning Management Systems."},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Open source <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.paradisosolutions.com\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Learning Management Systems<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong> have become extremely popular in recent years, but what does open source mean? Open Source technology is technology where the source code is \u201copen\u201d, that is, the code is available to the public and free to be modified. Improvements can be made by developers and it can be spread or sold to the wider community. So, why should an organization choose an open source Learning Management System as opposed to a homegrown or proprietary LMS?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0Firstly, if a company uses a proprietary LMS, they must rely on the provider to maintain and service the LMS, as well as provide support when problems occur.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">As the code is widely available in <a class=\"mybluelink1\" href=\"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/open-source-lms\">open source LMS<\/a>, many developers read and examine the code, resulting in bugs being identified and fixed much faster than proprietary programs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Open Source technology<\/span> is very beneficial to schools, universities and other educational institutions as well as corporations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Open Source LMSs are fully flexible and customizable, so they can be designed in line with your school\/organization brand image. See <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BfIGpqHaUPg&amp;feature=relmfu\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">this\u00a0video<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong> for an example.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">There are no license or hardware costs associated with open source technology so it is free to start using it and carries minimal risk.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Open Source LMSs can also be converted to social learning platforms. You can create an online community through your LMS. For example your learners can chat, blog, connect to social network sites (facebook etc.) and have polls on your open source LMS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><em>Top 6 Open Source Learning Management Systems<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>With the huge number of Learning Management systems available today, making the decision on which platform to choose can be quite overwhelming. Below I have written brief explanations on 6 of the best systems currently available.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Moodle<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-211\" title=\"moodle\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/moodle1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"182.6\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Moodle is an abbreviation for \u201cModular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment\u201d although when it was first developed the M stood for Martin\u2019s after its developer, Martin Dougiamas. Moodle has been around for over ten years, with the first version in August 2002.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Very, very easy for first time users.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Easy generation of PDF documents.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Quick establishment of courses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">All grades for assignments and quizzes etc. can be viewed on one sheet and downloaded as a spreadsheet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Teachers\/Instructors can add multiple files very easily by dragging and dropping.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>.LRN<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-212\" title=\".lrn\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/lrn.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"336\" height=\"270\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">.LRN (dot learn) was originally developed at MIT and is used by almost 500,000 people in educational institutions, corporations and government in over 18 countries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Homework drop box.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Scorm Display<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Student tracking data can be exported<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Different roles are supported for .LRN Classes, such as students, professors and administrative staff<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">.LRN has been internationalized to support multiple languages, dialects and timezones<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">However, its main flaw is that it has a very diverse interface with many inconsistencies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>eFront<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-213\" title=\"e-front-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/e-front-logo.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"252\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">The basic version of eFront is exactly that, basic, but this can be amplified with modules downloadable from the eFront site. The thought process behind this decision was so that users spend time learning new skills, not learning how to use the platform. There are two efront LMS platforms, an educational edition and an enterprise edition. The enterprise edition was aimed at medium sized enterprises with between 100 and 10,000 employees. Extensive research on organizations of this size was conducted before development began.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Visually attractive interface<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Very fast and modern as it is Ajax enabled<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Unicode, LDAP and SCORM supporting<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Multilingual<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Advanced security characteristics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Dokeos<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-214\" title=\"dokeos\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/dokeos.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"205\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">This particular LMS is available in three versions, the original free open source version, a pro version and a specific medical version. It is possible to build visual learning without graphical expertise.<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Convert Office documents into Learning Paths<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Content authoring tools<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Video<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> conferencing tools<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Synchronization with HR Management systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Print Certificates<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Sakai<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-215\" title=\"SakaiCLEMurcia\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/SakaiCLEMurcia.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"375\" height=\"243\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Sakai was designed by universities, for universities. It was built by MIT, Stanford and Berkeley amongst others so they did not need to use homegrown systems or pay vendors. It aims to be very well suited to group projects and describes itself as a Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">site roster<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">view site usage statistics<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">display external web pages<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Create new Sakai sites from templates with pre-loaded tools<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Contains tools for portfolio based activities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Because Sakai is mainly coded in Java it can cause problems, especially if using older versions of browsers. It can also be difficult to find programmers with Java skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>ATutor<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-216\" title=\"atutor\" src=\"https:\/\/stagingps.paradisosolutions.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/atutor.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"369\" height=\"300\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">ATutor differs slightly from the other systems as it is actually a Learning Content Management System (LCMS). The A stands for accessible, and accessibility is its best feature. Also, user navigational patterns can be tracked so instructors can see students use of the site and students can track their own use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Print Compiler to print notes or transcripts of discussions<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">SCORM and IMS packages can be imported<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Easy course creation (although difficult with different types of content)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Easily accessible and adaptable<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">The file storage feature has a version control feature to keep track of changes and drafts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">A negative aspect of this particular platform is that the Java Runtime Environment must be installed on the client side for SCORM tracking. Also, course elements can\u2019t be bookmarked.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><em>Conclusion<\/em><\/strong><\/span> &#8211; To conclude, of the six Learning Management Systems listed above, Moodle is by far the most popular, and in our opinion, the best. It has over 62 million users worldwide. On top of the features listed above, here are some other reasons we believe Moodle should be your number one choice for an open source Learning Management System.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Repositories<\/strong> &#8211; With Moodle it is very easy to import files from Flickr, Google Docs, Dropbox, Youtube etc. These files can all be saved together in one location for ease of access later.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Discussion boards<\/strong> &#8211; The\u00a0<strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/moodle.org\/community\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Moodle\u00a0Community<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong> is full of discussion boards in many different languages, therefore users can communicate with people from outside your organization as well as your employees.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Support<\/strong> &#8211; There are a plethora of support options for Moodle users. On the Moodle site you can find books and manuals, documents including frequently asked questions, and a forum where you can ask questions. The forums usually have plenty of other users and even computer programmers who are happy to offer help, advice and recommendations, whatever the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">For more info on our moodle services, please feel free to <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.paradisosolutions.com\/about-us\/contact-us\" class=\"broken_link\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">contact us<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong> by phone or email!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Open source Learning Management Systems have become extremely popular in recent years, but what does open&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1230,"featured_media":8402,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[500,501,4],"tags":[277,458],"class_list":["post-208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-corporate","category-educational","category-moodle","tag-open-source","tag-open-source-lms"],"contentshake_article_id":"","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v15.5 - 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