E-Learning / LMS options

Discussion in 'Integration' started by skippybosco, Aug 21, 2008.

  1. skippybosco

    skippybosco CGI-Central Partner Staff Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2006
    Messages:
    2,526
    I'm investigating E-Learning / LMS setups for a new project I'm working on and wanted to toss the question to the community.

    I have mostly basic needs:

    1) needs the notion of Course -> Subject (Car Maintenance -> Oil Change)

    2) Content should be html, flash, audio, video

    3) Should have assessment (quiz, gradebook) based on subcategories (this is the sticking point)

    Example:
    Car Maintenance -> Oil Change -> Drain Oil
    Car Maintenance -> Oil Change -> Clean Up
    Car Maintenance -> Oil Change -> Fill Oil

    In this scenario, imagine a quiz with 9 questions (3 from each subcategory). Reporting would show your success / failure on roll up category Drain Oil as a whole as well as by subcategory (perhaps you are just deficient in clean up, but top notch on the rest)

    Car Maintenance 58%
    Oil Change 58%
    Drain Oil 100%
    Clean Up 0%
    Fill Oil 75%

    I have been investigating:

    Moodle
    Dokeos
    Sakai
    ATutor
    EFront

    Moodle is obviously the default standard it seems, has existing plugins for Amember, etc. I've always had that "clunky" feeling when using it, however, even with a polished theme. Anyone else feel that way?

    Out of the list, EFront seems to come the closest for me, but still in investigation phase.

    Can anyone share their LMS / ELearning experiences? What software are you using? Pros / Cons?

    Thanks!!
  2. chemistry2004

    chemistry2004 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2007
    Messages:
    78
    Hey skippybosco,

    Moodle is the best LMS in the market. Others are no way near to this (including commercial ones). Features, grading options, ease in handling quizzes, handling different type of quizzes, workshops many more. I would just go for moodle. version 1.9 is highly customizable and make it quite thin for general users.
  3. skippybosco

    skippybosco CGI-Central Partner Staff Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2006
    Messages:
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    Thanks for the feedback chemistry.

    I've built a few sites up on the Moodle stack and you're right, it has a huge following and install base. I've personally found it a bit lacking from a usability and visual standpoint that I was never able to develop around without significantly modifying the core code.

    Moodle is still in the running, but is a three dog race between Efront and Ilias.

    Have you had any experience with either of those products?
  4. skippybosco

    skippybosco CGI-Central Partner Staff Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2006
    Messages:
    2,526
    Just to follow up from this thread.

    I have selected eFront as the LMS we will be going with.

    As always, I will be releasing the aMember plugin and integration for free to the community. I have the product and user management coded and am working on the final touches for single sign on.

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