metacoon

metacoon
Basic data
developer	metacoon opensource network
Current  version	2.0.3 "Polaris" (November 2011)
operating system	Any system that supports PHP
category	Learning platform
License	GPL ( Free Software )
German speaking	Yes
www.metacoon.net

metacoon is a free platform for cooperative learning, working and the creation of management of learning and knowledge content. The system includes the functionality of a learning management system . Various authoring tools are available for creating learning materials (e.g. exercises and tests QTI , SCORM course materials). The metacoon software is under the GNU Public License . Some of the offline authoring tools are freeware.

Development began in autumn 2001 at the Bauhaus University Weimar.In the meantime, several universities and companies have cooperated on further development, but active development on it was stopped in 2016.

construction

metacoon entrance room with course overview

metacoon uses a room / house metaphor. A platform consists of:

1. an external platform website, for
   • the publication of information to unregistered users
   • Registration of new users
2. an entrance room with
   • Room overview - registration
   • Authoring environment
   • Platform management environment
3. any number of virtual learning and work rooms
   • a work and study area with tools put together individually for the purpose of the room
   • a room management area
   • an external website of the room (can be switched on / off)
4. Authoring environment (offline PC and online tools) see authoring environment below

The system is adaptable - it is based on a modular principle - each study / work space can be individually equipped with learning, communication, cooperation and authoring tools (e.g. for individual course didactics). The platform provides a number of standardized room types for learning and working:

Example of a study / work space

Guided learning or working

Here information and documents are divided into time or thematic blocks. Within such a block, documents / information are offered in the desired processing sequence. The blocks can be nested.

Self-determined learning or working

All information and documents are offered in pools here. Individuals / groups work in a self-determined and self-organized manner. Lecturers / project managers moderate the learning or work process.

Discussion-oriented learning / working

The focus here is on the discussion forum as a central tool and is therefore displayed first when you enter the room. Otherwise, the room is equipped with information and material pools (such as the room type “self-determined learning / working”).

Supported learning materials

Any learning material can be posted on the learning platform

• z. B. PDF files, slide sets, Office documents
• Media: images, videos, audio, animations, audio, simulations
• Import of HTML course materials
• Import of scorm courses

In addition, learning materials can be created with the system itself, see authoring environment below :

• Reference works (e.g. glossary), literature lists
• Hypertext materials / XML-based learning materials
• Video slide presentations and audio slide presentations
• Exercises and tests (QTI - standard)

Functionality - overview

Personal functions

• Display of occupied courses / rooms
• Enrollment in courses / rooms
• Management of personal data and the profile (password, user data, address information, personal business card / homepage, language selection, ...)
• Management of personal bookmarks / web links
• Creation and management of transcripts (WYSIWYG online editor)
• Conversation notes / minutes (personal or shared with other users)
• Appointment calendar
• Platform mailbox / messenger system
• Picture gallery
• personal file manager
• directory

Learning management

• Design of course processes with process control
• Administration of SCORM courses
• Administration of any learning materials in the learning material pool
• Learning status overviews
• Learning level-oriented activation of course sections
• Learning tasks, submission function (private or public), feedback / evaluation functions
• Distribution of information and tasks to learning groups or individual learners

Cooperative learning / working

• Formation of groups (with or without enrollment function)
• group-based rights to tools (individual learning / working environment depending on the tasks)
• group-based information and document distribution (releases, rights system)
• Cooperative file management with check-in / check-out, versioning
• Picture gallery
• Project function
• Calendar, tasks
• Minutes and transcripts
• cooperative "online writing" (similar to a wiki)
• Cooperative design of the room website and the internal room overview
• Survey / voting function

Communication functions

• Discussion forums
• Online chat (no installation on PC necessary)
• Messenger / platform mailbox
• Who's online function with Messenger
• Who was online when (can be activated / blocked)

Exercises and tests

• Authoring tool for QTI-compliant test questionnaires (metacoon supports the QTI 2.1 standard)
• Question types: multiple choice , single choice, fill in the blank test , arrangement, sorting, hot spot (point to parts of the picture)
• Configuration of questionnaires (random order of questions and answer options, repetition, scrolling, ...)
• Integration of questionnaires in online course material
• Who's online function with Messenger
• Who was online when (can be activated / blocked)

Authoring environment

• Creation of XML-based learning materials (Open Office with metacoon Chameleon plugin).
  • semantic labeling (introduction, example, definition, ...)
  • Tables, lists and other structural elements
  • Integration of media (images, videos, animations, simulations, audio)
  • Integration of PDFs or other inserted documents
  • Integration of reference works, literature database
  • Complete formula support (input with OpenOffice editor, depending on browser capabilities as MathML or image)
• Linking between learning content
  • Rendering of course materials in the provider's corporate design (stylesheets)
  • "Seen" and "understood" function
  • Export: HTML, SCORM
  • Print / PDF download function for learners
  • Metadata support
• Cooperative creation of reference works and bibliographies
• Creation of online lectures (slides plus streaming video / audio)
• Creation of exercises and tests IMS QTI
• a central repository can be used in a community of authors to manage the learning and knowledge content and can be configured so that it can be used as a free, cooperatively maintained knowledge database

administration

• central and decentralized management of platform / rooms
• customizable roles, expandable
• Rights system allows individual access to
  • Tools
  • Content, communication activities, ...
  • Rights can be defined for each room and group
  • Rooms without rights management for beginners
• Integration in IT infrastructure
  • Connection to central authentication (e.g. LDAP , NIS)
  • Interfaces to management systems for user data import
  • Connection to course management
  • Connection to the portal system ( Liferay Portal )

Web links

• Official website of the opensource project
  • Public documentation and information about metacoon

credentials

1. ↑ CHECKpoint eLearning
2. ↑ the metacoon archive - where learning lived -. Retrieved April 13, 2017 .