Achieving a collaborative open source e-learning framework using

LAMSLearning Activity Management System

Andrew Logue

LAMS Internationalandrew@lamsinternational.com

The Challenge: Can we reverse this situation?

Problems

Problems we currently face with E-Learning

• Lack of structure/path/lesson-plan• Peer interaction outside of the classroom• Real time collaboration/contribution• Feedback• Where are my students (instant, effective

monitoring) ?

What’s it all about then?

What is LAMS?

• Open Source, lesson design and delivery framework

• Sequencing Collaborative activities

• Simple drag and drop authoring

• Distinct flow from one activity to the next

• Instant, clear and effective monitoring

• Encourages student interaction

• Sound pedagogical attributes

Sequencing Activities

Content Vs Process

• Structure of activities over time is the heart and soul of education– Difference between Library and Classroom

• Not just an online text book• Learning based around interactions with

teachers and peers, rather than just content• Lesson planning well understood in

education but loosely applied (if at all) to e-learning

Demonstration

Who is using LAMS?

• Use in all forms of education, most significantly secondary schools and universities.

• Organisations in 20+ countries including:– 40 UK Schools with DfES and Specialist Schools and

Academies Trust– 30 NZ Schools with New Zealand Ministry of

Education– 15 FE Colleges and 16 HE Universities with Joint

Information Systems Committee JISC– Oxford University– Cambridge University– Australian National University– Tasmanian Department of Education

Integrating with others

• LAMS is an ideal complement to an LMS or VLE– VLE to manage courses, students and resources– LAMS to design and deliver lessons

• Current projects:– Moodle 1.5 [OSS] (Final testing)– Blackboard 6 (Final testing)– Sakai 2.0 [OSS] (Final testing)– .LRN 2.1 [OSS] (In progress)– WebCT Campus 4.1 (In progress)– uPortal (In progress)

Community

• Open Source Teaching– The LAMS Community encourages the sharing

of LAMS sequences (digital lesson plans) under Open Content licenses, we recommend Creative Commons

– Initial usage promising - 1000 sequences downloaded since the launch in October 2005

• User and developer community– Forums for teachers, administrators and

developers to share knowledge– Share ‘best practice’ teaching

Want to know more?

• Andrew Logue, based in London– andrew@lamsinternational.com– +44 207 802 0922

• Websites– www.lamsinternational.com– www.lamsfoundation.org– www.lamscommunity.org

• Evaluations– Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)– British Educational Communications and

Technology Agency (Becta)