Archive for April, 2009

Berkery Noyes and Stanford University Sponsored Event Connects Venture Capitalists with Trends and Early-Stage Education Companies

When refer to Open Source Learning Management System, many people will think of Moodle. Well,there’s nothing wrong with Moodle, but it certainly isn’t the only open source LMS out there. There are 10 Open Source LMS alternatives to Moodle.

Because there is no licensing cost involved with open source solutions, its easy for organisations to just jump in and set up the first solution that comes along. There is however a cost to installation and support, either financial or time related. Anyone setting up an LMS has a responsibility to research and choose the solution that is right for the learners and the organisation.

As a starting point here are 10 open source alternatives to Moodle. These are deliberately brief descriptions, and I would encourage you to visit these sites and explore each solution in some detail.

Docebo In use in corporate and higher education settings. Offers support for a number of different learning models and is compatible with SCORM 1.2 and 2004. It offers interfaces to external systems such as video conferencing and HR systems.

eFront The base install is quite minimalist, but this is easily extended with modules available from the site. Commercial versions with additional features are also available.

Dokeos A very well featured LMS that also offers content authoring and video conferencing tools. Supports converting Office documents into Flash. Offers user synchronisation with HR management systems such as Oracle and SAP.

Claroline Aimed more at the educational than corporate arena, this system is based around specific pedagogical principles (as is Moodle). Supports SCORM content as well as a built in Wiki and other online content tools.

ATutor Actually an LCMS, ATutor also offers tools for the management of learning. The “A” stands for Accessible and it has excellent support for key accessibility standards as well as support for SCORM, IMS etc.

ILIAS Provides testing and assessment tools as well as collaboration tools such as chat and forums, and distribution technologies like RSS and podcasts.

OLAT A well featured system in its tenth year of development, but has quite steep server requirements.

Sakai Aimed at Universities, this project has a clear roadmap and has seem considerable development in the last few years. Backed by the Sakai Foundation which manages relationships with educational and commercial supporters.

.LRN Originally developed at MIT, .LRN claims to be the most widely adopted enterprise class open source LMS solution.

openelms Marketed specifically as a business solution, and claims a diverse customer base that ranges from Merrill Lynch to Queens Park Rangers football club.

Ganesha This LMS developed by Anema, has been around since 2001 and is in use in several large organisations. The site, and the LMS itself, are in French but it can be translated.

Originated from: http://barrysampson.com/2009/04/open-source-lms-10-alternatives-to-moodle/

Technorati Tags: atutor, claroline, docebo, dokeos, efront, learning management systems, Moodle, Open Learning Management Systems, open source

Liferay Portal has proved itself as the world’s leading open source portal platform in open source web development. Because of its reliability, cost effectiveness and capability to support the development of innovative internet-based applications, Liferay portal is increasingly being used globally across industries for their most challenging information technologyneeds. Liferay Portal is the only open source portal that is compatible with any application server, database server, or operating system. It also supports many different servlet containers.

Liferay Enterprise Edition Vs Liferay Professional Edition

Liferay Portal comes in two flavors: Professional and Enterprise editions. Below is a brief comparison between the two.

• Liferay Portal Enterprise edition is based on Java Enterprise Beans whereas the Liferay Professional version is based on POJO and uses Spring framework. Thus building EJBs should only be done using Liferay Portal Enterprise.

• Liferay Portal Enterprise requires a complete J2EE application server whereas Liferay Professional can run on any simple servlet container.
• Liferay Portal Enterprise Edition (EE), being the most stable version of the product, serves companies targeting to maintain one stable version of the product for an extended period of time.

Companies worldwide have been using Liferay Portal because of its high-end functionality, compatibility with most major application servers and database platforms, and scalability. One can consolidate, organize and access all the data and applications via a single point of access that the Liferay portal provides. Single sign-on allows end-users to log-in just once to access all their information needs. After signing in, it allows you to customize and gives controlled accessibility to users of sensitive information and add-on functionalities.

Following are some of noticeable benefits of the Liferay Portal solutions:

Liferay Portal is the world’s leading open source enterprise portal solution using the latest in Java and Web 2.0 technologies. Liferay Portal offers dynamic, intuitive and time saving features:

• It provides out-of-the-box tools offering over 60 portlets
• Liferay CMS and Liferay Collaboration offers content management, web publishing, collaboration and social networking options.
• Based on SOA strategy for enterprise application integration of existing systems
• Role-based access granting varying levels of control and editing rights
• Users can be grouped together with each group having their own separate mini portal
• Offers drag & drop feature allowing users to move different elements around in the portal.
• Out of the box support for 22 languages
• Personal space for users that can be customized for accessibility and look and feel.
• Can run on all major application servers, databases and operating systems
• Benchmarked among the most secure portal platforms

Created for enterprise use, Liferay Portal provides a virtual space where you can centralize, share and collaborate. Built with the end user in mind, user interface developed using Liferay Portal is easy to understand even by the technically ignorant user.

Technorati Tags: enterrpsie edition, Liferay, Liferay Portal, open source web portal, professional edition

From: http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html 

The Notice of Proposed Priorities is now available. We encourage you to submit your comments early. You can also:

• watch President Obama’s announcement of the Race to the Top,
• read Secretary Duncan’s op-ed in the Washington Post
• or view the Race to the Top Executive Summary PDF (132K)

The Department will host several conference calls—during the public comment period—for Governors, Chief State School Officers, and State Board of Education Leaders and state legislators. The conference calls are open to members of the public, and everyone is invited to participate.

CFDA Number: 84.395
Program Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grants

The Race to the Top Fund provides competitive grants to encourage and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform; implementing ambitious plans in the four education reform areas described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA); and achieving significant improvement in student outcomes, including making substantial gains in student achievement, closing achievement gaps, improving high school graduation rates, and ensuring that students are prepared for success in college and careers.

Eligibility

• Who May Apply: (by category) Governors
• Who May Apply: (specifically) Awards are made to States.

States that receive a Race to the Top grant must use at least 50 percent of the award to provide subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools identified as LEAs under State law, based upon LEAs’ relative shares of funding under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended.

The remaining funds are available to the State for State-level activities and for disbursements to LEAs and other eligible entities under such formulas, competitive processes, or other mechanisms as the State may propose in its plan. LEAs that choose to participate in their State’s Race to the Top proposal must agree to fully implement the State’s proposed plan and to use their funding under this grant in support of that plan.

Applicant Information

The Department plans to make Race to the Top grants in two phases. We anticipate that Phase 1 will open for applications late in 2009, and that awards will be made in early 2010. States that need more time may apply in Phase 2, which is planned to open in late Spring of 2010; these awards will be made in September 2010. States that apply in Phase 1 but are not awarded grants may reapply in Phase 2, together with States that are applying for the first time. Phase 1 grantees will receive full-sized awards and thus may not apply for additional funding in Phase 2. The Department will announce specific deadlines for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 in the coming months.

Notice of Proposed Priorities (July 29, 2009)

The application package for Race to the Top is not yet available. It will be made available in the fall of 2009. In the interim, you can read the Notice of Proposed Priorities.

Performance

If you are interested in learning about how we propose to evaluate the progress of states that win Race to the Top, please see the performance measures in the Appendix section in our Notice of Proposed Priorities.

Funding

Appropriation: $4,350,000,000
Number of New Awards: To be determined
Average New Award: To be determined
Range of New Awards: To be determined

Legislation, Regulations, and Guidance

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Section 14005-6, Title XIV, (Public Law 111-5)
  PDF (60K)
• View the Notice of Proposed Priorities.

Resources

• Watch highlights of the Race to the Top announcements
• Watch President Obama’s announcement or read the transcript
• Watch Secretary Duncan’s announcement or read the transcript
• Read the Secretary’s op-ed in the Washington Post 
• See a one-page overview—the Race to the Top Fact Sheet
• Read about the vision behind Race to the Top in Education’s Race to the Top Begins (Education Week, 8/2009)
• Read the key policy details of the Notice of Proposed Priorities in the Race to the Top Executive Summary
• Read the full Notice of Proposed Priorities

Read Secretary Duncan’s speeches on:

• Using data to inform instruction
• Developing and adopting world-class standards and assessments
• Turning around low-performing schools
• Great teachers and leaders

Contacts

Name: Beth Yeh
E-mail Address: racetothetop@ed.gov
Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Rm. 6W219
Washington, DC 20202
Telephone: 202-205-3775
Toll-Free Telephone: (800) 872-5327 or (800) USA-LEARN

Technorati Tags: ARRA, Ed.Gov, Education industry

By Kendra Van Wagner, About.com

Read the Social Learning White Paper

See More About:

• social learning
• albert bandura
• developmental psychology

“Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action.”
-Albert Bandura, Social Learning Theory, 1977

What is Social Learning Theory?

The social learning theory proposed by Albert Bandura has become perhaps the most influential theory of learning and development. While rooted in many of the basic concepts of traditional learning theory, Bandura believed that direct reinforcement could not account for all types of learning.

His theory added a social element, arguing that people can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people. Known as observational learning (or modeling), this type of learning can be used to explain a wide variety of behaviors.

Basic Social Learning Concepts

1. People can learn through observation.

Observational Learning

In his famous “Bobo doll” studies, Bandura demonstrated that children learn and imitate behaviors they have observed in other people. The children in Bandura’s studies observed an adult acting violently toward a Bobo doll. When the children were later allowed to play in a room with the Bobo doll, they began to imitate the aggressive actions they had previously observed.

Bandura identified three basic models of observational learning:

1. A live model, which involves an actual individual demonstrating or acting out a behavior.
2. A verbal instructional model, which involves descriptions and explanations of a behavior.
3. A symbolic model, which involves real or fictional characters displaying behaviors in books, films, television programs, or online media.

2. Mental states are important to learning.

Intrinsic Reinforcement

Bandura noted that external, environmental reinforcement was not the only factor to influence learning and behavior. He described intrinsic reinforcement as a form of internal reward, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. This emphasis on internal thoughts and cognitions helps connect learning theories to cognitive developmental theories. While many textbooks place social learning theory with behavioral theories, Bandura himself describes his approach as a ’social cognitive theory.’

3. Learning does not necessarily lead to a change in behavior.

While behaviorists believed that learning led to a permanent change in behavior, observational learning demonstrates that people can learn new information without demonstrating new behaviors.

The Modeling Process

Not all observed behaviors are effectively learned. Factors involving both the model and the learner can play a role in whether social learning is successful. Certain requirements and steps must also be followed. The following steps are involved in the observational learning and modeling process:

• Attention:
  In order to learn, you need to be paying attention. Anything that detracts your attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning. If the model interesting or there is a novel aspect to the situation, you are far more likely to dedicate your full attention to learning.
• Retention:
  The ability to store information is also an important part of the learning process. Retention can be affected by a number of factors, but the ability to pull up information later and act on it is vital to observational learning.
• Reproduction:
  Once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior you observed. Further practice of the learned behavior leads to improvement and skill advancement.
• Motivation:
  Finally, in order for observational learning to be successful, you have to be motivated to imitate the behavior that has been modeled. Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in motivation. While experiencing these motivators can be highly effective, so can observing other experience some type of reinforcement or punishment. For example, if you see another student rewarded with extra credit for being to class on time, you might start to show up a few minutes early each day.

More About Albert Bandura and His Theories

• Albert Bandura Biography
• Albert Bandura Quotes
• Self-Efficacy

Suggested Reading

• Developmental Psychology
• Developmental Psychology Study Guide
• Learning Study Guide

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• Albert Bandura Quotes
• Albert Bandura – Biography of Albert Bandura
• Major Developmental Theorists – Developmental Psychology Study Guide
• New Process Tests Addiction Theories
• Learning Theory – Learning Theory and Phobias

Technorati Tags: Albert Bandura, modeling, observational learning, social cognitive theory, Social learning theory