Using Open Source for E-Learning

I just reproduce an interesting posting in a blog on E-learning.....
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I just read a very interesting article, Two Ships Passing in the Night, posted by Rick Nigol on the elearncampus.com newsletter “Breakthrough Briefing”. Basically, he compares the very different approaches to e-learning that for-profit and non-profit take.
Big business (for profit), at least in what I’ve read and seen advertised, relies heavily on technology. However, they’re big business for a reason…they don’t have a lot of time to spend on development (hopefully more GUI design rather than learning, but you never know). Therefore, they look for shortcuts and technology is one of them.
Non-profit relies on tools that will cost less but do a good job. The focus is more on learning design and the technology that supports that particular design. Open Source and free software/technology is a good solution to those needs.
And, while working for a small/medium sized for-profit corporation, we’ve used Open Source and free software to fulfill some of our needs for e-learning development. There’s lots out there. Zoho.com, Google Docs, Wikispaces are just a few that we use on a regular basis. I think, personally, that pricier learning technologies are not necessarily better. On the other hand, open source and free technology don’t have a lot of customer support (for the most part) and may not fit your needs as your development grows.
But I do believe this: learning design should come first and the technology should only be used to uphold and promote that design (form follows function).

Source : http://naturalelegance.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/using-open-source-for-e-learning/

BIS e-content awards presented

The Bahrain Internet Society (BIS) has established e-Content awards in memory of Layla Fakhro, one of the pioneers in information and communication technology (ICT) in Bahrain.
Mrs Fakhro died in September last year, and her husband and Al Nadeem Information Technology director Ubaydli Al Ubaydli presented the first three awards yesterday.
The ceremony was held as part of the Bahrain e-Content Award 2007 ceremony held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.
"The family of Mrs Fakhro selected three most distinguished ones from the 30," said BIS chairman Ahmed Al Hujairy.
"The family has established the Layla Fakhro e-Content Fund by putting a seed money of BD3,000, half of which will be used for the three cash awards of BD500 every year.
"The balance amount will be managed by our society to support individuals who carry out e-Content researches."
The first three winners were the e-Government website, Women Gateway and Jihat Al Shi'r (Qassim Haddad).
"We thank Mrs Fakhro's family which has encouraged us to institute such an award in memory of a person who pioneered the ICT movement in Bahrain," said Mr Al Hujairy.

‘From learning content to e-learning content’

‘From learning content to e-learning content’ is a guide that
has been designed to help e-content developers to take their first steps in electronic learning
content.
This guide is an ELEC project product, supported by the ESF (European Social Fund).
The BE-ODL (Belgian network for open and distance learning) was responsible for the
production of this guide together with twelve Belgian partners
• Five sector partners: Cevora, Fopas, IPV, Logos and Vibam
• Four private training providers: eXplio, GiVi, Opikanoba and U&I Learning
• Two colleges: Artevelde College and Karel de Grote College and
• One public training organisation: VDAB.


To read the document online please visit,
http://www.be-odl.org/images/E-content%20guide.pdf