JoomlaLMS
Encyclopedia
JoomlaLMS is a commercial component for Joomla Web content management system
. The Learning Management System
is PHP
and MySQL
based.
JoomlaLMS enables users to create native LMS courses or import SCORM
1.2 and SCORM 2004 courses either created using Rapid Elearning authoring tools or off the shelf acquired SCORM packages.
.
The source code of JoomlaLMS is encoded by ionCube
coding software. Professional version comes with open source code providing possibility to modify the source code.
but requires Joomla to run, which means that the copyleft
terms of the GPL
may apply to JoomlaLMS.
The license price is based on the number of current LMS students rather than on concurrent connections, but is generally less expensive than other vendors
JoomlaLMS was presented on many international educational conferences. Partners and vendor’s representatives participated in LearnX (Australia), NECC (USA), Uddannelsesforum (DK), BETT (UK), eLearnExpo (RUS).
Web content management system
A web content management system is a software system that provides website authoring, collaboration, and administration tools designed to allow users with little knowledge of web programming languages or markup languages to create and manage website content with relative ease...
. The Learning Management System
Learning management system
A learning management system is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, and reporting of training programs, classroom and online events, e-learning programs, and training content...
is PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
and MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
based.
JoomlaLMS enables users to create native LMS courses or import SCORM
SCORM
Sharable Content Object Reference Model is a collection of standards and specifications for web-based e-learning. It defines communications between client side content and a host system called the run-time environment, which is commonly supported by a learning management system...
1.2 and SCORM 2004 courses either created using Rapid Elearning authoring tools or off the shelf acquired SCORM packages.
Background
JoomlaLMS was introduced by Elearningforce company which initially provided Joomla components, extensions and modules developed by Belitsoft outsourcing software developer. The idea for JoomlaLMS emerged due to the absence of Learning Management System for Joomla at that time. The first release was announced on March 8, 2007. The system gained its initial popularity due to being listed at Joomla extensions directory. In January 2009 Joomla officials removed Elearningforce extensions from their directory because of a change to the Joomla directory license policy requiring extensions to use the GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
.
Licensing model
The vendor encodes the product license to be valid for specific domain names.The source code of JoomlaLMS is encoded by ionCube
Ioncube
ionCube Ltd. is a software company based in the United Kingdom.ionCube was founded in 2002, and introduced tools to protect software written using the PHP programming language from being viewed, changed, and run on unlicensed computers...
coding software. Professional version comes with open source code providing possibility to modify the source code.
Criticism
JoomlaLMS is not released under the GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
but requires Joomla to run, which means that the copyleft
Copyleft
Copyleft is a play on the word copyright to describe the practice of using copyright law to offer the right to distribute copies and modified versions of a work and requiring that the same rights be preserved in modified versions of the work...
terms of the GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
may apply to JoomlaLMS.
The license price is based on the number of current LMS students rather than on concurrent connections, but is generally less expensive than other vendors
Software features
In addition to the standard learning management systems features such as Chat, Discussion, Homework and DropBox, JoomlaLMS offers the following features:- Documents management tool, which helps to create, edit, sort, store documents and create links to documents used in other document libraries.
- Build-in authoring tools - quizQuizA quiz is a form of game or mind sport in which the players attempt to answer questions correctly. In some countries, a quiz is also a brief assessment used in education and similar fields to measure growth in knowledge, abilities, and/or skills.Quizzes are usually scored in points and many...
maker and Question Pool, which allows the teacher to create quizzes and keep a pool of questions for future use in quizzes or exams. - Live conference tool to create a Virtual Interactive Classroom based on Adobe Flash Media ServerAdobe Flash Media ServerFlash Media Server is a proprietary data and media server from Adobe Systems . This server works with the Flash Player runtime to create media driven, multiuser RIAs . The server uses ActionScript 1, an ECMAScript based scripting language, for server-side logic...
. - Learning PathLearning pathwayThe chosen route, taken by a learner through a range of e-learning activities, which allows them to build knowledge progressively. With learning pathways, the control of choice moves away from the tutor to the learner. "The sequence of intermediate steps from preconceptions to target model form...
allows the teacher to arrange the course elements into structured learning program which ensures better understanding of the material by the learner and prevents the learner from skipping parts of the lesson. - GradeBook to record students' grades and issue course certificates if necessary.
- Course Statistics. Each course has a statistics report containing such information as the most active users, which areas/tools are used in the course in what proportion. This can be filtered down to an individual student/group.
- Embedded Subscriptions module is used for selling paid courses on-line.
Marketing
The product vendor uses international resellers network to sell most of their product licenses via its partners.JoomlaLMS was presented on many international educational conferences. Partners and vendor’s representatives participated in LearnX (Australia), NECC (USA), Uddannelsesforum (DK), BETT (UK), eLearnExpo (RUS).