Gartner had projected by 2015, 90 percent of the world’s business would be using open source software. This software differs from freeware and shareware and can be defined as both the idea and application of making program source code openly accessible. Developers and users have access to the major designing functionalities which enable them to add or modify features to the source code and redistribute it. MORE

Pearson not letting people know about their open source LMS that is in the works – you had to specifically ask them. I would play this at home – too many game based learning solutions look like freeware or the old Atari games from the 80s. With great anticipation I entered the huge expo at ASTD International show earlier this week. Lots of vendors, lots of potential. However with hope comes disappointment, and that disappointment appeared numerous times. MORE

Windows and Mac only: Software for Starving Students has released a 2007 edition of its collection of freeware and open-source software. Lifehacker has a great link to this download of usefull software. Sure students are strapped for cash, but schools are too. What a great little set of tools for educators as well. MORE

My experience has mostly been in higher ed, so I’ve always needed to do grading or more tracking than what this reader needs: I am the sole person involved with e-Learning in my branch, and I am mostly limited to using freeware. Is there an open source solution that isn’t a full LMS but does what’s needed here? A reader asked a question that I’m not really sure how to answer. MORE

It looks like freeware. Maybe these systems believe that their platform is open source and everyone knows coding and programming. One of the things many people do not know about the infamous Beverly Hills is that there used to be a town crier (you know some dude dressed up in some coat with tails) who would welcome people as they drove into the area – specifically rodeo drive. . MORE

100% freeware software. CamStudio is open source, free software, to create AVI videos of all audio and video activity on your screen. Ezvid is freeware video and screen capture software. In addition to recording videos, Camtasia also lets you import HD video into your recording from an external source. Videos are excellent tools for visual and auditory learners. They can be used to: demonstrate processes step-by-step in a tutorial. MORE

Panda3D is Open Source and free for any purpose, including commercial ventures. Game Maker comes preloaded with a collection of freeware images and sounds to get you started. The Gamebook Engine: This is a free open source, multi-platform framework for reading and writing gamebooks, such as the Choose Your Own Adventure, Lone Wolf, and Fighting Fantasy series. If the software does not have the requirements you need you can program it with the source. MORE

This open source toolkit enables you to produce interactive learning materials in a productive online environment. Wink is a freeware for creating tutorials and presentations aimed at instructing how to use software. Guest post by Robert Morris. The upswing of the eLearning industry is showing no signs of slowing down. MORE

Integration with existing systems: the freeware has probably been built to do one job by developers who are unfamiliar with or unconstrained by corporate systems. Installation costs: although the code for Moodle and other software may be free, installing it can be as expensive as a proprietary LMS e.g. Open University has spent over £1m installing and customising its Moodle LMS. MORE

Good post by Harold Jarche - Where are open source learning applications? In it he points to the learning space and says that the current status of open-source learning applications is: Innovators - Elgg Learning Landscape and several others Early Adopters - Moodle and a few others Early Majority - nobody Late Majority - forget about it I would tend to agree with him that there are relatively few open-source learning applications, but would add a few thoughts. MORE

Leverage technology, in the form of tools such as JIRA Software systems , some of which, such as Taiga and Freedcamp , are open-source and freeware that you can use without obligation. From planning your project to tracking issues and open items, to releasing and managing follow-ups; technology will enable your team to become more agile, by allowing them to focus more on the job at hand as opposed to managing and tracking issues, tasks and deliverables. MORE