Using Open Source & Freeware Using Open Source & Freeware

in in

Online EducationOnline Education

What’s Knowplace? What’s Knowplace?

An online learning community offering: An online learning community offering:

8 online certificate programs in co-operation with our 8 online certificate programs in co-operation with our public and private partners to guide people to transfer public and private partners to guide people to transfer their skills online;their skills online; Hosting and support to learning communities;Hosting and support to learning communities; Topic-specific online workshops and presentations;Topic-specific online workshops and presentations; Support for others to work with their clients or Support for others to work with their clients or students.students.

A Public/Private Partnership

&&

Working in partnership to offer…

3 Teach and Design Online Certificate Program

… 8 certificate programs in three areas

directly related to Online Teaching

Focus on the skills of course design and delivery

3 Open Source Certificate Programs

Certificate Programs cont.

Focus on the technical aspects of online course delivery

•2 Specialized Certificate Programs

Certificate Programs cont.

eModerator

eCareerCoach

EnvironmentEnvironment

Discussion boardsDiscussion boards Moderated forumsModerated forums BlogsBlogs Webpage PostingsWebpage Postings WebcastsWebcasts WebQuests/Search ToolsWebQuests/Search Tools Asynchronous and synchronous chatsAsynchronous and synchronous chats Instant MessagingInstant Messaging EmailEmail ListservesListserves

It’s about friendship, collegiality and sharing:It’s about friendship, collegiality and sharing:

Leading Edge technologyLeading Edge technology Well positioned to rival if not surpass proprietary Well positioned to rival if not surpass proprietary

systems in 3 – 5 yearssystems in 3 – 5 years Product always improves … quickly! Product always improves … quickly!

Open Source?Open Source?

Why does Knowplace use Why does Knowplace use Freeware and Open Source?Freeware and Open Source?

Great for not-for-profits or education institutions (our target audience) Can re-arrange open source to suit purposes They’re free, no set-up or recurring charges

Some ExamplesSome Examples

Open Source?Open Source?

An alternative to MS Office is: Open OfficeAn alternative to MS Office is: Open Officehttp://www.openoffice.orghttp://www.openoffice.org

An alternative to MS paint is GIMPAn alternative to MS paint is GIMPhttp://www.gimp.org/http://www.gimp.org/

An alternative to WebCT is MoodleAn alternative to WebCT is Moodlehttp://moodle.orghttp://moodle.orghttp://moodle.cahttp://moodle.ca

Some ExamplesSome Examples

FreewareFreeware??

search search engines: http://www.google.ca

instant message clients: http://messenger.yahoo.com/instant message clients: http://messenger.yahoo.com/

computer security: http://www.zonelabs.comcomputer security: http://www.zonelabs.com

Open Source?Open Source? A robust active A robust active

community of both community of both programmers and usersprogrammers and users

Well-written download Well-written download and installation and installation instructions instructions

Frequent, stable releases Frequent, stable releases of new versionsof new versions

Freeware?Freeware? Tools that work for Tools that work for

you!you!

What Constitutes Quality?What Constitutes Quality?

The BIG QuestionThe BIG Question

How do you coach a client or teach a student

you don't see in person?

The next question?The next question?

How does knowplace use open How does knowplace use open source and freeware with our source and freeware with our virtual: virtual:

• MembersMembers• StudentsStudents• ColleaguesColleagues• ClientsClients• PeersPeers

Learning Management SystemsLearning Management Systems

Track and manage Track and manage students students

Talk to the studentsTalk to the students Provide information and Provide information and

contentcontent

http://moodle.org http://moodle.org

An open source Learning Management System that An open source Learning Management System that has gained an international reputation as a feature has gained an international reputation as a feature rich, stable environment.. Moodle.org has over 1200 rich, stable environment.. Moodle.org has over 1200 registered sites in over 75 countries. Canada has registered sites in over 75 countries. Canada has approximately 46 active sitesapproximately 46 active sites

Moodle features include (but not limited to):Moodle features include (but not limited to): Synchronous Chats, Synchronous Chats, A variety of quizzes, A variety of quizzes, Private dialogues,Private dialogues,Glossary, Glossary, Personal Reflection Journals, Personal Reflection Journals, Lessons, Lessons, ResourcesResourcesSurvey, Survey, Grades (with customized scales), Grades (with customized scales), User logging and tracking User logging and tracking

Rooted inRooted in social constructivism theory, members are social constructivism theory, members are able to build on each other’s thoughts and ideas.able to build on each other’s thoughts and ideas.

Moodle has three asynchronous discussion forum Moodle has three asynchronous discussion forum formats :formats :

Social, Social, Topical, and Topical, and WeeklyWeekly

• Began April 2004 Began April 2004 • Approximately 40 membersApproximately 40 members

• It’s mission is to: It’s mission is to: • Concentrate on localized issues such as promotion, adoption and local Concentrate on localized issues such as promotion, adoption and local course development & sharing;course development & sharing;• Be an open resource to educators in K-12, colleges, universities and Be an open resource to educators in K-12, colleges, universities and private colleges and businesses to co-operate and talk to other moodle private colleges and businesses to co-operate and talk to other moodle users;users;• Complement moodle.org;Complement moodle.org;• Be an open repository to share course materials; andBe an open repository to share course materials; and• Any institution or school district that offers courses using moodle could Any institution or school district that offers courses using moodle could automatically claim to be part of the Moodle Consortium which may automatically claim to be part of the Moodle Consortium which may become a useful reference.become a useful reference.

http://moodle.cahttp://moodle.ca

Asynchronous ToolsAsynchronous Tools

Tapped In: Tapped In: http://ti2.sri.com/http://ti2.sri.com/ Knowplace: Knowplace: http://http://knowplaceknowplace.ca .ca Knowplace@Moodle: http://knowplace.ca/moodle_cvs Knowplace@Moodle: http://knowplace.ca/moodle_cvs

Asynchronous ToolsAsynchronous Tools

List Serves for our:List Serves for our:

Knowmads (people behind the scenes)Knowmads (people behind the scenes)

Knowmates (members)Knowmates (members)

KnowNEWS (people who want to stay in touch KnowNEWS (people who want to stay in touch with what we are doing)with what we are doing)

We use: Mailman: http://www.list.org/ which permits: We use: Mailman: http://www.list.org/ which permits: Archived messagesArchived messages Messages sent to “Poster only” or “whole membership”Messages sent to “Poster only” or “whole membership”

Synchronous CommunicationSynchronous CommunicationInstant Messaging / ChatInstant Messaging / Chat

FreewareFreeware

Buddy ListBuddy List

list of your contactslist of your contacts online status online status Login or logout noticeLogin or logout notice

Multi-Tasking with IM’sMulti-Tasking with IM’s

Multiple chats/Multiple chats/clientsclients Variety of windows Variety of windows Different clients at the Different clients at the

same time same time

Synchronous CommunicationSynchronous CommunicationInstant Messaging / ChatInstant Messaging / Chat

IM encryption software for instant messaging:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_ims.jsp?lid=im_nws

InvitationInvitation

Take a tour – visit and have a look aroundTake a tour – visit and have a look around

Enter as a guest via the ‘curious about us?’ link and Enter as a guest via the ‘curious about us?’ link and select “All Courses”.select “All Courses”.

http://knowplace.ca

http://knowplace.ca/moodle_cvs

For more infoFor more info

Contact: Contact:

Frances LongFrances Long flong@knowplace.caflong@knowplace.ca