Perceptions of Open Source Versus Commercial Software: Is Higher Education Still on the Fence?
This article takes a totally different perspective from most about CMS’s or LMS’s because it focuses partially on the different (and competing) roles between the CIO / CTO’s and the CAO’s interests in LMS features. The CAO might be more focused on pedagogy, whereas the CIO is focused on technology. The two should communicate more seems to be the message so needs of both groups are met.
Other interesting article information about open source is basically that it’s not a given that it’s cheaper to go open source-having to customize the interface(s) means manpower which can be expensive.
Seems many institutions are wary of the support for these tools-the community support. Open source tools are driven by their communities and until there are committments to these communities, seems people are wary of adopting open source tools. Basically they think open source is a good idea, but very few are willing to adopt open source tools in place of commercial tools. The open source research has to build and be explored further, for practical applications-seems it’s still too new.
That’s it in a nutshell, as far as I’m concerned. Granted, I read it while there was a half carafe of red wine on the table, so perhaps my interpretations are slightly more “creative” than others : )
Nope you got it. The article was a bit more academic than I wanted, but it did give a good background. I’ll give out a more practically based on tomorrow in class.
I have tried to install content management systems like Drupal and Moodle. I guess I came closest when we took that database class together. A skill set is definitely needed.
I do however, really hate BlackBoard. There are so many features that are “dead” About commercial systems, they are so stuck in being stable that they can be deathly boring.
I am critical of NYU ITS because I feel like the issues with BB are longstanding and they should try to at least customize so that the features people do not like are fixed. For instance, the discussion boards are dismal and I have always wondered why you cannot set them so that students and teachers get notified when users have made posts. Any content management system should be first and last about allowing folks to communicate more without being costly in any way.
Well tired here and no wine
See you tomorrow…
PS. Word Press is much prettier than Blogger, isn’t it!