Open Source Learning Management Systems in E-Learning and Moodle

Abstract

In the last decade, the effect of Internet usage in education has increased gradually and new technologies have improved student's learning. By using distance learning tools, the student education can be more flexible with respect to place and time constraints. So, students can access information in every time and everywhere either in libraries or during the lectures. As is widely known that, distance learning is costly, and cost-effectiveness becomes more important as the institutions become large-scale providers of distance education. Cost which is the most important disadvantages of distance learning according to traditional learning environments can be removed with the extensive features of the Open Source Software. Generalizing the usage of Open Source Software will provide development of learning tools and increases the educational quality. As far as the literature is reviewed, not much research has already been conducted about the comparisons of open source learning management systems in distance education. In this study, some analyses and comparisons were made about open source learning management systems and Moodle was outstanding with many features among other LMS that aims to improve the educational quality and include the tools that an e-learning system should have. © 2010 IEEE.