| Learning used to mean going to school, sitting in a | | | | need. |
| classroom, and listening to the teacher or | | | | Protection. Users are not subjected to "vendor |
| professor discuss the topic of the day. Today, | | | | lock-in" tactic. |
| Information Technology is being utilized to provide | | | | Integration. The free software can be integrated |
| a virtual learning environment for the students. | | | | to other open source software allowing the |
| Learning is no longer exclusively relegated to the | | | | application to be upgraded with the latest |
| classroom. Long distance learning can be done | | | | technology. |
| anywhere and anytime. With the introduction of | | | | Specialization. There will be a wider range of |
| smart phones, a student can learn the French | | | | specialized courses available as compared to |
| language while sipping coffee at the local | | | | commercial software developers that usually |
| Starbucks. | | | | develop courses for more popular subjects. |
| The evolution of technology made e-learning more | | | | Advantages of commercial elearning applications: |
| and more engaging and interactive. Commercial | | | | Guaranteed expertise in development and |
| software engineers race to top each other in | | | | implementation. Companies hire experts on |
| developing the best online learning tools available. | | | | courses and experienced programmers to |
| But there are still a lot of potential users who are | | | | develop and implement the software. The user is |
| turned off because of the cost. | | | | usually guaranteed a reliable system. On the open |
| The Internet somehow leveled the playing field | | | | source model, there are no guarantees that the |
| between corporate companies and individuals. | | | | application would be reliable and organizations may |
| Before the Internet, software giants like Microsoft | | | | not have the proper expertise to implement the |
| charged users a lot of money just for license | | | | program right away. |
| software but now, open source software like | | | | System Maintenance. The maintenance of the |
| Linux is challenging the traditional notion of | | | | application is usually stipulated in the agreement |
| corporations existing for profit. Open source | | | | between the provider and the customer. The |
| software are now being developed and used for | | | | customer may report errors or problems to the |
| web-based learning, giving everyone an | | | | providers and they are obligated to fix the |
| opportunity to learn new skills and develop their | | | | problem unlike community-based elearning support |
| potential. There is even learning management | | | | where support is not guaranteed. |
| system software available for free over the | | | | Open-source web-based learning has a long way |
| internet. | | | | to go before it can catch up with the |
| Advantages of open source web-based learning: | | | | commercially available ones but the sheer number |
| Virtually Cost-Free. With minimal to free courses | | | | of benefits from open software application like |
| available, corporations, organizations and individuals | | | | these is hard to ignore. |
| don't need to pay anything for lessons. Especially | | | | Reliable learning management system software is |
| for underprivileged working students and business | | | | needed to facilitate the virtual learning |
| start-ups, free is always welcome. | | | | environment. The industry needs experienced |
| Knowledge-sharing. Community-based learning is | | | | volunteers willing to donate their time and skills to |
| always a collaborative effort between individuals | | | | develop this open approach to e-learning so |
| with the same goal. | | | | students who can't afford to pay the commercial |
| Customization. The codes are also available to the | | | | courses can still grab the opportunity to learn. |
| public and can be re-designed to suit the student's | | | | |