Open Source eLearning Software

One of the most sacred cows in Internetdom, is OpenSource software. Open Source refers to software that is developed and maintained free of charge for a (usually rabidly loyal) user community and is not only free for the downloading but users are free to modify the software in whatever ways they find useful. Most such "mods" are uploaded to the product's original website for free download by all and sundry. Developers work for love of the community and the believe in the product they are developing. Many will develop modules by special request if asked nicely, or at low fee. OpenSource software is usually supported if at all, through donations.

Those utilizing opensource eLearning software packages would be well advised to choose technical staff from among the seasoned developers community. It is common for the developers community of a widely-used open source product, such as Moodle to offer their services in set up, troubleshooting and maintenance on a for-pay basis. A relevant example is the site at Remote-Learner which offers Moodle hosting, troubleshooting and development news.

An excellent source for open source demos, downloads and product reviews is at:

OpenSourceCMS.com