Open Source Content Tools

Instructors and trainers, who would like to use an E-Learning platform, are often faced with the challenge, how best to convert their contents so that they can use them as e-Learning content. We have collected a list of the most important and best open source content tools, which are aimed at making life simpler for you.

 

eXe (E-Learning XHTML Editor)

The E-Learning XHTML editor (eXe learning) is for the development of learning modules and contents. It is based on standard conformal formats like XHTML/CSS and can export SCORM as well as IMS packages.


http://www.exelearning.org

 

RELOAD - Reusable Learning Object Authoring & Delivery

RELOAD is a free content package, meta data editor, and SCORM Player. The tool functions as a learning design editor and player. RELOAD is aimed at the professional segment, which requires above standard E-Learning knowledge.


http://www.reload.ac.uk/



CamStudio - Streaming Video Software

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).


http://camstudio.softonic.de/



Wink - Screen Capturing

Wink is a tutorial and presentation program, used mostly to illustrate how to use other software programs. It captures screen content as flash swf-files, explanation texts as well as titles can be added to the capture session.


http://www.debugmode.com/wink/



Open Office - Easily convert powerpoint slides

Open Office is a very helpful tool for the conversion of powerpoint slides. The slides can be converted to HTML pages that includes a table of contents for the navigation. There is also an option to convert the the powerpoint presentation to flash swf-files which further increases the usability with other systems.


http://de.openoffice.org/



Audacity: Free audio editor and recorder

With Audacity you can record live audio and while working on MP3- and Wave files by cutting, copying and mixing files. The program is available for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. With Audacity you can easily produce your own podcast.


http://audacity.sourceforge.net



Freemind - Mindmapping Tool

With Freemind you can easily create mindmaps. Beside supporting XML exports the mindmaps can also be exported as HTML and integrated into the learning modules of eXe learning using a Java-Applet.

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page



amCharts - Charts and diagrams in flash

With amCharts you can produce animated charts and diagrams in flash format. The free version places a link to the copyright agreement in the exported work.


http://www.amcharts.com/