Tools & Resources

Open Source	"The Why and How of Open Education" With lessons from the openSE and openED Projects by Andreas Meiszner, United Nations University | UNU-MERIT The Netherlands
Authoring Tools
	eFront - (LMS) eFront is a user friendly Open Source Learning Management System, visually attractive and SCORM certified! eFront enables "community learning" and supports the principles of "collective knowledge".
	CamStudio - (Authoring Tool) CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs).
	LAMS - (Authoring Tool) LAMS is a revolutionary new tool for designing, managing and delivering online collaborative learning activities. It provides teachers with a highly intuitive visual authoring environment for creating sequenc
	Xerte - (Authoring Tool) The Xerte Project provides a full suite of open source tools for e-Learning developers and content authors producing interactive learning materials.
	MLOAT - (Authoring Tool) Multimedia Learning Object Authoring Tool enables content experts to easily combine video, audio, images and texts into one synchronized learning object. All assets are configured to be played back in a pre-configured order.
	eXe - (Authoring Tool) The eXe project developed a freely available Open Source authoring application to assist teachers and academics in the publishing of web content without the need to become proficient in HTML or XML markup.
Conferencing Tools
See:	BigBlueButton - (Web Conferencing) BigBlueButton is built for Higher Education. It enables universities and colleges to deliver a high-quality learning experience to remote students. The project is hosted at Google
	OpenMeetings - (Web Conferencing) OpenMeetings is a free browser-based software that allows you to set up instantly a conference in the Web. You can use your microphone or webcam, share documents on a white board, share your screen or record meetings.
	Mikogo is a free desktop sharing tool full of features to assist you in conducting the perfect online meeting or web conference. Take advantage of the opportunity to share any screen content or application over the Internet in true color quality with up to 10 participants simultaneously, while still sitting at your desk.
	Yugma free web conferencing allows anyone, anywhere to instantly share their desktop and ideas online with others. To start hosting your own meetings you have to sign up for FREE. Your Yugma Free web conferencing account allows you to invite up to 20 attendees
	Using WebHuddle, you have options and flexibility. Meetings can be conducted either in conjunction with an enterprise’s existing teleconferencing service, or utilizing WebHuddle’s optional voice over IP. WebHuddle also offers recording capabilities -- presentations can easily be recorded for playback over any web browser for those who missed the live meeting.
	With Vyew you can give a presentation to a hundred people online or post a document you've been working on for review by your colleagues at the convenience. Vyew is extremely flexible alloying you to bring online collaboration and conferencing into your workflow on your terms.
Learning Management
	eFront - (LMS) eFront is a user friendly Open Source Learning Management System, visually attractive and SCORM certified! eFront enables "community learning" and supports the principles of "collective knowledge".
	Moodle is a Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It is a Free web application that educators can use to create effective online learning sites.
Free Books
From: Christopher Pappas M.B.A., M.Ed.   http://blog.efrontlearning.net	CU Online Handbook - University of Colorado Denver Do you currently teach online? Have you thought about teaching online but for some reason haven’t done it yet? Here at CU Online, we believe in the power of online learning. Whether you currently teach online or you are thinking about doing it in the future, we are here to help you sort through this process and we hope that this handbook might help you along the way.
	Learning 2.0 for Associations by Jeff Cobb “In Learning 2.0 for Associations Jeff delivers an easy-to-read primer on how to leverage social media tools to expand the learning value that associations deliver. It’s a must-read for all association educators!” —Mickie S. Rops, CAE / President, Mickie Rops Consulting Inc. / Chair, ASAE Professional Development Council /
	Synchronous e-Learning - eLearning Guild The eLearning Guild’s Handbook on Synchronous e-Learning is intended for anyone who wants to produce, lead, or promote live, interactive learning events on the Web. Novices will find information on what other people are doing in this medium, which kinds of training and education are best suited to it, how to convert existing classroom content for delivery online, how to lead effective and compelling live learning events on the Web, and how to promote these events to obtain maximum participation. More experienced practitioners will find a wealth of ideas that they can use to improve or enhance their current processes. All readers will find job aids, references, examples, and information to significantly reduce the amount of time required to produce online learning events
	Designing Successful e-Learning by Michael Allen (Only Chapter 7: Designing Outside The Box) "While its target audience is instructional designers, this book should also be required reading for all training managers seeking guidelines on implementing world-class training. Allen bridges the gap from theory to practice on both training and educational programs. His guidance is as applicable to classroom-based as it is to e-learning based training."
	Theory and Practice of Online Learning - Athabasca University  Awarded the Charles A. Wedemeyer Award by the University Continuing Education Association. The Charles A. Wedemeyer Award recognizes publications of merit that make significant contributions to research in the field of distance education.
	98 Tips for Selecting and Working with e-Learning Service Providers - eLearning Guild  In this eBook you will find: 54 Tips for Selecting e-Learning Service Providers 44 Tips for Working Successfully with e-Learning Service Providers Improve Outsourced e-Learning Quality with Consistent Standards by Evelyn Jackson (re-print from Learning Solutions eMagazine)
	701 e-Learning Tips - The MASIE Cente  Thanks to The MASIE Center’s TRENDS readers and Learning Consortium Members, over 1000 e-Learning tips were received, analyzed, and categorized. These tips are from senior managers and training professionals from major corporations around the world. We have edited and compiled 141 pages and 14 chapters covering the ABC’s of getting started to global implementation strategies
	Facilitation Online - The Center for Education Technology.  The guide contains the course model, week-by-week learning activities, general guidance to the course leader on how to implement and customize the course and specific guidelines on each learning activity.
	Educating the Net Generation - An EDUCAUSE e-Book  The Net Generation has grown up with information technology. The aptitudes, attitudes, expectations, and learning styles of Net Gen students reflect the environment in which they were raised—one that is decidedly different from that which existed when faculty and administrators were growing up.This collection explores the Net Gen and the implications for institutions in areas such as teaching, service, learning space design, faculty development, and curriculum. Contributions by educators and students
	The Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Rapid E-Learning Pro by The Rapid e-Learning Blog  One of the great benefits of rapid e-learning is the ability to create e-learning courses much faster and easier than ever before. However, going faster and making your job easier are not the only considerations. That’s where this free 46-page ebook by Tom Kuhlmann comes in.
	e-Learning Practices - Editor: Prof. Dr. Ugur Demiray
	114 Tips on Synchronous e-Learning Strategy and Research - eLearning Guild Blending Synchronous Learning with Other Learning Modalities Designers of Synchronous Presentations, Courses, and Webinars Managers Who Lead Synchronous Learning Efforts Synchronous Speakers and Instructors Technical Production, Planning, and Preparation
	The eLearning Guild's Handbook of e-Learning Strategy - eLearning Guild  In many organizations, there is a need to better identify and document a comprehensive learning strategy and to answer the question, "What should we be doing in order to support improved learning and performance?" This e-Book will help you make a broad, fundamental connection between learning, e-Learning, and your organization's mission, business objectives, and the bottom line. Chapters address everything from crafting a focused strategy, to keeping your strategy focused, to change management. Refocus on e-Learning strategy and insure that your e-Learning technology and methodology investments pay off and so you can achieve your e-Learning goals!
	The Instructional Use of Learning Objects This is the online version of The Instructional Use of Learning Objects, a new book that tries to go beyond the technological hype and connect learning objects to instruction and learning. You can read the full text of the book here for free. The chapters presented here are © their respective authors and are licensed under the Open Publication License, meaning that you are free to copy and redistribute them in any electronic or non-commercial print form. For-profit print rights are held by AIT/AECT. The book was edited by David Wiley, and printed versions of the book are published by the Association for Instructional Technology and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. If you find the online book useful, please consider purchasing a printed copy
	E-Learning Concepts and Techniques by Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Department of Instructional Technology. E-Learning Concepts and Techniques is a collaborative e-book project by Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's Department of Instructional Technology  students and guest authors. It was a project-based assignment for the online class, E-Learning Concepts and Techniques Spring 2006.

Source : UN Univercity