{"id":1502,"date":"2018-11-13T16:52:33","date_gmt":"2018-11-13T16:52:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/?p=1502"},"modified":"2018-11-13T16:52:33","modified_gmt":"2018-11-13T16:52:33","slug":"open-source-lms-for-e-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/open-source-lms-for-e-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Source LMS for e-Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luckily, if you\u2019re looking for a free or open source\u00a0learning management system<\/a>(LMS), you don\u2019t have to break out the tin foil.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve collected a list of the very best freemium\u00a0(any software that has a basic free version with the option to pay for additional features), totally free, and\/or open source LMSs out there, and it\u2019s all below, no enduring of awkward stares on the sidewalk required.<\/span><\/p>\n

The software on this list was chosen for being free and\/or open source, useful for corporate training, and is arranged in order of popularity based on Capterra\u2019s reviews at the time of publication. The order of the list might change in future updates.<\/span><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Moodle<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Moodle is\u00a0open source and\u00a0totally free, but certain optional peripherals and support from third parties can cost money.\u00a0Users should keep in mind\u00a0that open source solutions can cost as much or more than proprietary software because of the internal tech resources\u00a0needed\u00a0to implement and maintain them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Moodle\u2019s welcome screen<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Moodle has most of what you would expect in an LMS,\u00a0including\u00a0student dashboards, progress tracking,\u00a0and support for multimedia classes.\u00a0Additionally, it\u00a0includes mobile friendly themes, support for third\u2013party plug\u2013ins and add-ons,\u00a0and the ability to sell courses using PayPal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Because Moodle is\u00a0a\u00a0big player in the\u00a0open-source\u00a0LMS space, it is supported by a\u00a0large,\u00a0active community with tons of plug\u2013ins and options to customize it to your exact specifications. It also benefits from a lot of online documentation for help with support issues or questions,\u00a0as well as loads of\u00a0preconstructed\u00a0courses that may just save you from having to create your own content.<\/span><\/p>\n

All this comes at a price, however, and Moodle has\u00a0been criticized\u00a0as overly complex and difficult for a layperson to learn and set up. Other potential downsides include incomplete reporting and no easy way to manage groups of learners.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0CourseSites by Blackboard<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

CourseSites\u2014a free version released by Blackboard Learn\u2014is aimed at individual instructors and, like Blackboard\u2019s other offerings, caters to the academic rather than the corporate market.<\/span><\/p>\n

The software is web-based and free, and\u00a0it\u00a0allows the creation of up to five active \u201ccourse sites\u201d (each representing one discrete class).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"An<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

An example of creating a lesson plan in CourseSites<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

CourseSites\u00a0gives users\u00a0the ability to\u00a0log in\u00a0using popular web services\u00a0such asFacebook and Gmail, and supports an unlimited number of students and easy integration with Blackboard\u2019s other offerings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

CourseSites is not open source software, so it avoids some of the issues which plague those (lack of support, a requirement that you be tech savvy to implement,\u00a0etc.). It is, however,\u00a0missing some of the functionality\u00a0of Blackboard\u2019s paid offerings, which may make it less useful for institutions and organizations. These include white-labeling and branding features, custom scripts, single sign-on, integration with a wider enrollment system,\u00a0and the ability to batch and archive things\u00a0such as\u00a0grades.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0<\/b>Sakai 11<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

Another open\u2013source solution, Sakai differs from Moodle in a few key\u00a0ways. It is built on Java, as opposed to LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP) and while it is\u00a0open source, only certain key stakeholders and commercial affiliates are allowed to contribute to the source code. It is aimed at academic institutions as opposed to corporate training.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sakai 11 update aimed to make the interface cleaner (and more optimized for mobile), as well as improve navigation. Sakai also overhauled the gradebook and assessment systems and added tools to lesson design.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Calendars<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Calendars within Sakai<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating\u00a0<\/b>f<\/b>eatures<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Sakai integrates with Google Docs, and includes tools\u00a0such as\u00a0a wiki, online testing, presentation slides and the ability to use Dropbox.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Sakai enjoys the support of a well-endowed educational foundation,\u00a0which oversees the strategic development of the software. This means that significant resources can be brought to bear should any major issues arise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sakai serves a narrower clientele and so there is not as broad a community of support, plug\u2013ins and add-ons.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0LatitudeLearning<\/b><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n

LatitudeLearning\u00a0is a \u201cfreemium\u201d LMS that is free to use for up to 100 learners and then starts at\u00a055 cents per user per month.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a largely web-based system and targets corporate training and B2B environments. Clients include Chrysler, GM,\u00a0and the American Board of Emergency Medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A course in LatitudeLearning LMS<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

LatitudeLearning\u00a0includes certification, integration with WebEx and GoToMeeting, as well as collaborative whiteboards, and support for nine different languages. It also has extensions (such as\u00a0eCommerce) that can be purchased.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

LatitudeLearning\u2019s\u00a0focus on corporate training sets it apart from more academically focused solutions. For businesses and training professionals this focus is definitely a pro. However,\u00a0LatitudeLearning\u00a0does not yet have mobile support, or a\u00a0third-party\u00a0content library, and its add-ons can be costly if you need to extend any of its functionality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Dokeos<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Dokeos is another\u00a0open\u2013source\u00a0solution, this time built on PHP\u00a0instead of\u00a0Java. It originates from France, and has seen wide adoption there and in Belgium (as well as 60 other countries comprising over 6,000 total installations).\u00a0Dokeos\u2019 open-source version is only available as a download, rather than being cloud-based.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lessons<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Lessons in Dokeos<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Dokeos boasts a built-in course authoring tool, as well as\u00a0premade\u00a0quiz templates, private groups, and a chat tool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

With Dokeos\u2019 \u201cOogie Rapid Learning\u201d feature,\u00a0users can\u00a0convert both PowerPoint and OpenOffice Impress to SCORM. Dokeos does suffer from difficulty in customizing user levels, and\u00a0users have reported\u00a0that response times for questions\/issues on the forum are long so that support may be an issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Schoology<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Schoology is a freemium LMS aimed primarily at educators (similar to Blackboard\u2019s CourseSites). It\u2019s web-based and the Basic Package is free for instructors, with the option to upgrade to an Enterprise Package if you want specialized support or integration with\u00a0a student information system (SIS). Schoology does not share the prices for the Enterprise Package on its website.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A course in Schoology<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Stand-out features for Schoology include mobile access, Google Drive integration, content creation tools, and access to a library of public courses and other content.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Schoology\u2019s mobile functionality and workflow are\u00a0highly praised in\u00a0reviews, and the modern interface and integration with\u00a0cutting edge cloud apps\u00a0helps to bring it out of the pack, though it doesn\u2019t include private messaging between students.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0ILIAS<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

ILIAS is an\u00a0open\u2013source, web-based LMS developed at the University of Cologne in Germany, where it enjoys a wide user base of installs. Its user base (5,000 current installations) is a mix of universities and government and defense organizations, primarily in Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A course in ILIAS<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

ILIAS is security certified by NATO and used in NATO\u2019s high-security intranet as well as by several national defense departments and armed forces. Additionally, the system\u00a0allows users\u00a0to set different user roles and control access to separate parts of the software.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

ILIAS has a long pedigree (13+ years) and has managed to retain a growing user base and coherent code-base, so if you\u2019re looking for something with strong security,\u00a0that\u2019s likely to be around for a while, this may be the LMS for you. Additionally, an\u00a0active community\u00a0that even sponsors its own\u00a0annual conference<\/a>ensures support issues will be dealt with. However, it suffers from a clunky interface design, and\u00a0some\u00a0features\u00a0included with\u00a0other LMSs (\u00a0such as\u00a0mobile integration) require the installation of plug\u2013ins or other add-ons\u00a0with ILIAS.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

8.\u00a0ELMSLN<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Similar to\u00a0LMSs that are built on WordPress<\/a>, ELMSLN is a free extension for open\u2013source content management system Drupal. \u00a0ELMSLN has been installed in over 12,000 Drupal systems, including those of Penn State University and University of Wisconsin-Madison.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"ELMSLN<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

ELMSLN pretest<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

ELMSLN is a very active open-source project, with a\u00a0large community\u00a0of developers working on it and the advanced functionality it offers reflects this,\u00a0including\u00a0Open Badges support\u00a0and\u00a0Tin Can\/xAPI integration<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re not familiar with Drupal, ELMSLN may present a difficult learning curve. \u00a0Yet an active development community, and\u00a0frequent\u00a0updates will ensure a useful, feature-rich system if you already know, or are willing to learn, Drupal\u2019s\u00a0back end.<\/span><\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Myicourse<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Myicourse allows users to create online \u201ccolleges\u201d which house multiple courses.\u00a0 If you decide to make your courses public, creating and running them is totally free (Myicourse makes money through ads), but if you\u2019d prefer to keep them private, the software is only free up to 100 students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Example<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Example of a public Myicourse college<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

White\u2013labelling, as well as the ability to sell courses (Myicourses takes 10%),\u00a0make\u00a0this system as a good option for corporate training. \u00a0Being able to track student traffic, course sales, and more also adds a layer of quantitative detail that makes it a great fit for those offering certifications.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

If your course content is sensitive and not something you want online for everybody to see,\u00a0the free version may not be for you, as your material\u00a0will<\/i>\u00a0be posted publicly. The free version of this tool is limited, and students will have to deal with banner ads. \u00a0However, the tool itself is straightforward with built-in course creation functionality.<\/span><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Open SWAD<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Open SWAD (which stands for \u201cshared workspace at a distance\u201d) is a product of the University of Granada.\u00a0 It\u2019s open source, but also available for free as a cloud-based system.\u00a0 SWAD is currently used by the National University of Asunci\u00f3n in addition to the University of Granada.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A sample class in OpenSWAD<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

As an\u00a0open\u2013source\u00a0platform, the SWAD system is\u00a0highly\u00a0configurable, allowing you to edit mail domains, banners, degree types, notifications, and more. \u00a0You can share files\u00a0on the platform, and\u00a0there are\u00a0built\u2013in forums and chat along with an Android app.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

OpenSWAD was developed primarily by Spanish speakers, and this can be apparent in some of the terminology or grammar in the English-translated pages, and the tool doesn\u2019t support newer functionality\u00a0such as\u00a0gamification. \u00a0However, the ability to access the tool online for free, and the\u00a0fact that it offersthe basics in a small implementation package make it worth a look.<\/span><\/p>\n

11.\u00a0Open edX LMS<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

The product\u00a0of a collaboration between Stanford, MIT, and Google, Open edX is an open\u2013source platform for creating and hosting\u00a0MOOCs<\/a>, as well as smaller classes and training courses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A course within the Open edX LMS<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

The biggest differentiator here is not any special functionality, but the fact that this tool is supported very\u00a0publicly\u00a0by such heavyweights as MIT and Google. Not only is there a huge, active community around Open edX, but tons of guides and help getting started with it. \u00a0The tool also comes with more\u00a0features\u00a0than just the Open edX LMS (which itself includes progress tracking, a built\u2013in discussion wiki, and detailed reports) such as Open edX Studio,\u00a0which lets you create courses and content.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Open edX LMS has wide adoption and a big user base, but that\u00a0also\u00a0means\u00a0it must cater to a\u00a0broader audience. For instance, it may not include\u00a0certainadvanced functionalities,\u00a0such as\u00a0gamification,\u00a0out-of-the-box. That said, with such a huge community, and tons of\u00a0prebuilt\u00a0course content already available for free, if you want something that does the basics and does them well, this could be a good fit.<\/span><\/p>\n

12.\u00a0Chalkup<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Chalkup is an LMS that doesn\u2019t like calling itself an LMS. The\u00a0origin story\u00a0on Chalkup\u2019s website suggests\u00a0it was born out of a frustration with traditional learning management systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever you call it, it has the features you\u2019d expect from any good LMS (course creation, online hosting,\u00a0Dropbox-esque submissions, etc.).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chalkup\u2019s<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Chalkup\u2019s instant messaging feature<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Instructors\u00a0can grade projects from in-app rubrics. Chalkup also features an instant messaging function with group and direct options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Chalkup has Google Drive integration, which is useful for many businesses. It\u2019s primarily used by schools,\u00a0specifically\u00a0K-12, but there\u2019s nothing about it that should inherently bar it from being used by corporate trainers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

13.\u00a0Chamilo<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Chamilo is a free LMS developed in Spain. It\u2019s open source, cloud-based, and designed for the corporate world. It\u2019s an offshoot of Dokeos, which does not have a free version.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A Chamilo profile page<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Chamilo is\u00a0a customizable system with an edit-friendly source code. It has user customization options, including profile pages, which can be helpful for\u00a0social learning<\/a>. Thanks to its Spanish origins, it also comes in several languages, including Spanish, English, French, and Italian, so if you\u2019re working in English, you have options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Chamilo is a clever system, however, it is absolutely a\u00a0fork<\/a>; it can\u2019t quite stand up on its own,\u00a0that is to say, it doesn\u2019t add much to the original Dokeos. The open source code has a strong online support community, but the memory cost is fairly large since it comes with a lot of files.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chamilo reviewers recommend<\/a>\u00a0that you try it extensively before deciding if it\u2019s right for you. They also suggest you avail yourself of the tech support Chamilo offers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

14.\u00a0Claroline<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Claroline is sometimes heralded as the\u00a0original LMS<\/a>. The argument is that most \u201cLMS\u201ds are actually \u201cTMS\u201ds\u2014meaning they manage and are geared toward the teachers far more than the\u00a0learners. Claroline attempts to be learner-focused instead,\u00a0by keeping the system as streamlined and as intuitive for the learner as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A Claroline course<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The system is extremely simplified, which allows for it the be very streamlined and stripped down. There isn\u2019t a lot of clicking around to find what you need. There are also social learning aspects, such as the ability to have students peer-edit one another. Claroline also comes mildly\u00a0pregamified\u00a0with achievement badges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The streamlining\u00a0and\u00a0simplicity\u00a0have\u00a0a downside in that, aesthetically, the software looks a bit\u00a0low tech. And while English versions are offered, the main site and\u00a0other web resources\u00a0are\u00a0in French, so turn your\u00a0autotranslate\u00a0on if your browser has it.<\/span><\/p>\n

15.\u00a0Coggno<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Focused on corporate training, Coggno is a web-based LMS that is offered free of charge to all businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Coggno\u2019s<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Coggno\u2019s results reporting<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Coggno is free because\u00a0the vendor doesn\u2019t actually\u00a0sell software.\u00a0It\u00a0provides\u00a0the software as a host for the courses\u00a0it\u00a0designs, which you can buy separately from the LMS. This is a pretty innovative angle, especially since\u00a0you can\u00a0use the LMS for as long as you want, for as many people as you want, without forcing you to buy any courses. If you do want to buy\u00a0premade\u00a0courses, they have a\u00a0marketplace\u00a0that lets you choose a la carte. You can also sell your courses in this marketplace, and retain a portion of the profits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

While many LMSs can be adapted to either education or corporate training, Coggno is definitely designed for corporate training, and won\u2019t be able to meet the needs of a school (schools\u00a0might want to check out\u00a0free school administration software<\/a>\u00a0instead). Coggno isn\u2019t fully customizable, though.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

16.\u00a0Forma<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

A Docebo fork, Forma is billed as an add-on that can play more like an upgrade, or even a stand-alone software platform.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Forma.lms<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Forma.lms course list; Forma comes in multiple languages, including English<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Much like Coggno, Forma allows you to sell your courses through\u00a0itsmarketplace. Some of the more interesting features include\u00a0en masse\u00a0editing tools for user management (which is nifty if you\u2019ve ever spent\u00a020\u00a0minutes meticulously clicking single boxes on a list), and a customizable reporting function.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

While aimed at corporate training, we have a\u00a0Forma review<\/a>\u00a0that reports that Forma has worked great for educational settings, too. Many of the aspects of Forma are fairly standard for an LMS, but there is a lot of power \u201cunder the hood,\u201d as one user\u00a0says. The reporting and management tools are\u00a0also\u00a0more extensive than they may appear.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

17.\u00a0iTunes U<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

iTunes U is a surprisingly effective LMS with a lot of potential, if you\u2019ve got a lot of Mac users and you\u2019re willing to get creative. Apparently, at least one university\u00a0dropped Blackboard<\/a>\u00a0in favor of iTunes U.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"iTunes<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

iTunes U library view<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

It comes free and\u00a0preinstalled\u00a0on all iOS devices, it has loads of content\u2014a good chunk of it free\u2014and allows for custom course authoring.<\/span><\/p>\n

The content library offers both business and school materials, and you can work with in-app worksheets and complete lessons. If you have a small group of learners, it could pleasantly surprise you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Going all-in on iTunes U is unexpected, and the balance between novelty and use may make it a hard sell to your users (or your managers). However, it will really differentiate your courses. If you don\u2019t have a lot of Apple fans, you\u2019ll be in for an expensive hurdle to get the proper devices, but if your students or organization are Mac-friendly already, there\u2019s really no reason\u00a0not<\/i>\u00a0to try iTunes U.<\/span><\/p>\n

18.\u00a0Opigno<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Based on\u00a0Drupal, Opigno is a cloud-based LMS that is free with limited functionality for up to five users. After that, prices begin at $35 per month for ten users, and another $.35 for each additional user.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

A lesson page in Opigno<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Opigno offers certificates for completion of certain courses. You can also lock courses to\u00a0prerequisites, requiring that some lessons be completed before others can begin. You can also offer a subscription service to your courses, so if you\u2019re offering a course that is optional, rather than required, you can track and manage who\u2019s enrolled and who isn\u2019t easily.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Some features that you\u2019d see standard with other free LMSs are only available on Opigno\u2019s paid version. In-app messaging and IM, for instance, are available only on the paid version, as are the\u00a0live meetings. Then again, if you don\u2019t mind juggling different applications, there\u2019s always Skype\u00a0for that purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

19.\u00a0Totara<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Another fork, Totara uses Moodle\u2019s open-source system as a skeleton for its own open-source LMS. Appropriate for corporate training and for colleges, it\u2019s a well-rounded system overall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Record<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Record keeping on Totara<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Differentiating features<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Totara\u00a0makes a point\u00a0of having\u00a0its\u00a0code be fully open rather than partially open.\u00a0Some\u00a0notable\u00a0features are badges for course completion and performance recognition, and mobile functionality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Considerations<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

You have a lot of control over Totara, with options\u00a0such as\u00a0the ability to set courses with an expiration date to keep learners deadline-focused. There\u2019s also reporting for compliance and, yup, it\u2019s both Tin Can and SCORM compliant.<\/span><\/p>\n

Review it here!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

More?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Who did I miss? Would you consider something like Edmodo a free LMS, or is it more a teacher\/student discussion tool? Sound off (or include pictures of yourself dressed as an LMS) in the comments or tweet me @drgovinddas<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luckily, if you\u2019re looking for a free or open source\u00a0learning management system(LMS), you don\u2019t have to break out the tin foil. I\u2019ve collected a list of the very best freemium\u00a0(any software that has a basic free version with the option to pay for additional features), totally free, and\/or open source LMSs out there, and it\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-aside","hentry","category-uncategorized","post_format-post-format-aside","category-1","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1502\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medi-wiki.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}