EFront (eLearning software)
Encyclopedia
eFront is an open source
eLearning platform (also known as a Course Management System (CMS), or Learning Management Systems (LMS
), or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE
)).
eFront is designed to assist with the creation of online learning communities while offering various opportunities for collaboration and interaction through an icon-based user interface. The platform offers tools for content creation, tests building, assignments management, reporting, internal messaging, forum, chat, surveys, calendar and others. It is a SCORM
1.2 certified and SCORM
2004 / 4th edition compliant system translated in 40 languages .
eFront is commonly included in lists of well known open-source learning systems or is referred to as a Moodle
alternative . Independent comparison matrices between learning management systems often favor eFront, especially under usability characteristics . Several research papers and technology portals describe the system under functionality , usability and standards perspectives .
technologies lead to the publishing of a stable 2.5 version during 2005. eFront was then rewritten from scratch, making essential changes to the core structure of the system and released under an open-source license in September 2007 . Enterprise extensions were integrated with the platform on version 3.5. Social extensions were the most significant addition to version 3.6 .
(OSI) accepted license. The commercial versions of eFront are distributed via a partners network .
It also has several features needed in an enterprise environment:
, Windows
and any other operating system that supports PHP
5.1+ and MySQL
5+. The platform is being built using the object oriented programming paradigm and its architecture is based on the 3-tier design approach separating the system's presentation from its logic and data . The platform is maintained through a community driven process. This leads to small development cycles that produce incremental improvements to the system, followed by bigger development cycles that integrate features requiring architectural changes. The development and testing procedures utilize several aspects of extreme programming
.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
eLearning platform (also known as a Course Management System (CMS), or Learning Management Systems (LMS
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...
), or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE
Virtual learning environment
Defined largely by usage, the term virtual learning environment has most, if not all, of the following salient properties:* It is Web-based* It uses Web 2.0 tools for rich 2-way interaction* It includes a content management system...
)).
eFront is designed to assist with the creation of online learning communities while offering various opportunities for collaboration and interaction through an icon-based user interface. The platform offers tools for content creation, tests building, assignments management, reporting, internal messaging, forum, chat, surveys, calendar and others. It is a 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 certified and 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...
2004 / 4th edition compliant system translated in 40 languages .
eFront is commonly included in lists of well known open-source learning systems or is referred to as a Moodle
Moodle
Moodle is a free source e-learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System, Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning Environment...
alternative . Independent comparison matrices between learning management systems often favor eFront, especially under usability characteristics . Several research papers and technology portals describe the system under functionality , usability and standards perspectives .
History
Initial development of the platform began in 2001 as a research prototype funded by the Greek government. SCORM development together with a shift on AJAXAjax
- Mythology :* Ajax , son of Telamon, ruler of Salamis and a hero in the Trojan War, also known as "Ajax the Great"* Ajax the Lesser, son of Oileus, ruler of Locris and the leader of the Locrian contingent during the Trojan War.- People :...
technologies lead to the publishing of a stable 2.5 version during 2005. eFront was then rewritten from scratch, making essential changes to the core structure of the system and released under an open-source license in September 2007 . Enterprise extensions were integrated with the platform on version 3.5. Social extensions were the most significant addition to version 3.6 .
Editions
Apart from the community edition that is distributed as open source software, there are three commercial editions with a modified features set, targeted at learning professionals, educational institutions and enterprises . All versions are provided with their source code but only the community edition uses an Open Source InitiativeOpen Source Initiative
The Open Source Initiative is an organization dedicated to promoting open source software.The organization was founded in February 1998, by Bruce Perens and Eric S. Raymond, prompted by Netscape Communications Corporation publishing the source code for its flagship Netscape Communicator product...
(OSI) accepted license. The commercial versions of eFront are distributed via a partners network .
Awards
In April 2010 eFront won a coveted bronze award for technology excellence in the Learning Management Technology for Small- and Medium-sized Businesses category from Brandon-Hall Research .Features
eFront has a number of features typically found in eLearning platforms:- User management
- Lessons, Courses, Curriculum and Categories management
- Files management
- Exam builders
- Assignments builders
- Communication tools (Forum, Chat, Calendar, Glossary)
- Progress tracking
- Authentication methods
- Enrollment methods
- Certifications
- Reports generators
- Extensibility via Modules
- Payments integration (through Paypal)
- Social tools (Lesson & system history, user wall, user status, Facebook interconnection)
- Customizable notification system through email
- Skinning via themes
It also has several features needed in an enterprise environment:
- Organization structure management
- Skills management
- Job positions management
- Automatic assignment of courses to specific job descriptions
- Skills gap tests management
- User card with training history
- LDAP support
Specifications
eFront runs without modification on LinuxLinux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and any other operating system that supports 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...
5.1+ 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...
5+. The platform is being built using the object oriented programming paradigm and its architecture is based on the 3-tier design approach separating the system's presentation from its logic and data . The platform is maintained through a community driven process. This leads to small development cycles that produce incremental improvements to the system, followed by bigger development cycles that integrate features requiring architectural changes. The development and testing procedures utilize several aspects of extreme programming
Extreme Programming
Extreme programming is a software development methodology which is intended to improve software quality and responsiveness to changing customer requirements...
.