Metacoon
metacoon is an Open Source platform that can be used for online learning, cooperative work and for the creation of learning material. The system offers the functionality of a Learning Management System. The developer team also offers tools for the creation of learning and knowledge content(e.g. QTIquestions and tests or SCORM ). The software is published under the GNU General Public License. The offline authoring tools are freeware.
History
The project started in 2001 as a project for the development of learning content at the Bauhaus University in Weimar. After being used as the internal platform of the project the system was used for online courses at the university in 2002. Due to the interest of other educational organisations it was published under the GPL in 2004.[1] The name of the system derives from the Greek word meta and the word Cocoon (the Apache framework of the same name used in the project).
Features
The platform uses a room metaphor. A metacoon platform can be imagined as a vitual house with a number of rooms for projects or courses. For system offers different room-types for different purposes:
- guided learning or working (In this room type the information and documents are structured in so called "blocks". Inside each of these blocks informations and documents can be arranged.)
- self determined learning or working (This room type offers all informations and files in "pools". The users or groups of users use these offerings self organized. Tutors or project managers moderate the process. )
- discussion-based learning/working (The forum forms the central tool of this room. It is the first tool the user sees upon entering the room. Apart from that the room features the same pools for information and content as the room type "self determined learning/working". )
The room types can be furnished with the tools of the metacoon framework to use them in different scenarios:
- as learning environments (possible user groups at educational organisations: sudents, tutors)
- as a virtual project environment (possible user groups: project managers, co-worker, partner, customer)
- as an alumni portal (possible user groups: administrators, alumni, current sutdents)
- as a platform for career services (possible user groups: administrators, alumni, current sutdents, partners, companies)
Personal Desktop
The platform offers each user a so called "Personal Desktop" offering the following tools:
- list of courses / rooms the user is enrolled in
- list of courses available with sign in functionality
- profile data including password, userdata, address, business card / personal homepage, language, …)
- personal bookmarks, addresses, file manager, notes
- calendar
- messenger-system
- picture gallery
Learning Management
- creation of courses
- management of SCORM-courses
- management of QTI 2.1 packages[2]
- implementation and management of learning material such as images, PDF, Office documents, videos, audio, HTML courses
- assignments (private, public)
cooperative working / knowledge management
- group-management
- permission management
- file management
- image gallery
- calendar
- polls
Specifications
- PHP 5.x
- MySQL 5.x
- Tomcat and Cocoon for the rendering of the cross media publishing framework (optional)
See also
Learning management system
References
- ^ CHECKpoint eLearning
- ^ release info
External links