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INTRODUCTION

Open-source software is type of software that has been developed by a community of users. It is often licensed as free software where you can donate if you find it useful. The licensing is also such that the code is open and can be modified by anyone in the community. In these tough economic times, this free and open source software may be useful to your institution.

In this collection of adventures, you will have a chance to explore several software packages that are free and or open-source. While not usually as powerful as their commercial equivalents, they are often powerful enough for use in most school learning environments.

Adventure 1: Investigate the tools available through Open Office
Adventure 2: Investigate the capabilities of Moodle as a Leanring Management Systems (LMS)
Adventure 3: Explore the possibilities of xMind- a FREE and powerful mind mapping program

ADVENTURE 1

Objective: Here you will have a chance to explore the possibilities of working with the latest version of Open Office rather than a commercial office productivity suite.

DIRECTIONS

This computer is equiped with a full installation of Open Office. Open Office is a FREE multiplatform (Mac, Windows, Linux). You Simply navigate to programs on this computer and select the Open Office application you want to explore. Your options are:

  • WRITER- Word processor (Word)
  • CALC- Spreadsheet (Excel)
  • IMPRESS- Presentation tool (PowerPoint)
  • DRAW- Drawing tool
  • BASE- Database (Access)
 

Open any of the above programs that are installed on this computer and explore your options

For more information on Open Office, visit their website at: http://www.openoffice.org

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ADVENTURE 2

Objective:To explore the open-source learning management system known as Moodle

DIRECTIONS  

Background:

Learning management systems (LMS) are programs that allow teachers to bring together many different functions, used for teaching a distributed course, into one online learning environment. Moodle is a FREE and open-source version of an LMS

There are many reasons to use an LMS in your teaching. The question is, how will you leverage the collaborative and accessibility powers of this type of tool? What does teaching and learning look like in these types of environments? Most of us would use these tools in a blended format- augmenting our traditional face-to-face classes. How might a tool like this change the way you use your class time?

Moodle is free to download as it is open-source. While this cost is free, it is far from free to effectively implement. It is also less feature rich than the LMS's that must be purchased. However, there are many successful Moodle installations and the community is growing. If you have the technical knowledge at your school and are not looking for all the features available through commercial offerings, Moodle may be right for you.

ABOUT MOODLE: http://moodle.org/about/

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ADVENTURE 3

Objective: Explore the possibilities of xMind- a mind-mapping software package that is open-source and FREE

DIRECTIONS  

This comptuer has a copy of XMind installed. You can find a shortcut posted on the desktop or by going through programs. Here are a couple things you can try.

  • Create your own map
    1. Launch the Program
    2. Add the Central Topic
    3. Enter twice
    4. Add subtopic and enter twice
    5. Continue until main subtopics created
    6. Click on subtopic then press tab to create a "child" of a subtopic
    7. Continue until finished
    8. Optional: upload to community site by clicking on UPLOAD button at top. Use the following login information if required:
      • Login: cofdemo2
      • Password: naiscofdemo

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