OLAT

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OLAT

OLAT screenshot
Basic data

developer University of Zurich
Current  version 10.4.9
(August 30, 2016)
operating system Windows , Linux , macOS , Solaris ,
FreeBSD and other Unix variants (based on Java )
programming language Java
category Learning platform
License Apache license 2.0
German speaking Yes
www.olat.org

OLAT is a learning platform (LMS) which, as a web application , supports various forms of web-based learning, teaching and moderation without major didactic restrictions. The product name OLAT is the acronym (strictly speaking, an initial word ) for O nline L earning A nd T raining. OLAT has been developed at the University of Zurich since 1999 and is available as free open source .

development

OLAT started in 1999 as a student project at the University of Zurich. In 2000 OLAT won the MEDIDA PRIX . With version 3.0, the system was completely redeveloped in 2004 and has since been available as a component-based Open Source Java application . OLAT supports various e-learning standards such as IMS Content Packaging , IMS QTI and SCORM 1.2. With version 4.0, various elements have been added to OLAT, which facilitate the extension of the LMS functionalities. Version 5.0 introduced the functions wiki , calendar, AJAX beta mode and full-text search. Version 6.0 primarily contained a new layout based on a usability study. Version 6.1 offers full scalability, so it can be operated with a cluster of several servers. This is crucial in order to ensure a good operating speed even with a very high number of simultaneous users. OLAT 7 now offers support for the REST API standards (for connecting plugins), IMS Basic LTI (for connecting other tools) and IMS QTI 2.1 support (for tests and quizzes). For authors there is a new course wizard that guides you through the creation of OLAT courses. And also from OLAT 7 onwards, the entire application is deployed as a WAR file and can thus be easily installed on any Java servlet engine.

OLAT modules

OLAT comprises many elements typical for e-learning platforms:

  • Content management
  • Discussion forums
  • File discussions
  • Wikis
  • Chat
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • E-portfolio
  • File folder with versioning functions
  • Project exchange
  • IMS Basic LTI
  • IMS QTI 2.1
  • calendar
  • Link list
  • questionnaire
  • Tests and self-tests with different types of questions
  • Task module (for submitting and correcting exercises)
  • Evaluation module (for the announcement of evaluations)
  • HTML editor with video player
  • Scalability: OLAT can be operated with a cluster
  • Multilingualism (OLAT is available in many languages ​​and supports UTF-8 )
  • OLAT integrates instant messaging system XMPP to enable synchronous communication and awareness to increase the user.

Other components

In addition to the typical LMS functions, OLAT offers a total solution for e-learning projects. The following aspects are covered by OLAT:

  • LMS: manage learners and their points and progress, coaching functions, logging database
  • LCMS: Create learning content with an integrated HTML editor, IMS CP editor and IMS QTI editor
  • Courseware: Create courses with different course elements, control course flow with access rules
  • VLE: Consume learning content, learning control , take notes, view points
  • Groupware: Working in learning or project groups, collaborative elements such as wiki, file sharing, forum, chat and IM etc.
  • Campus Management: course catalog for building a curriculum or course offering, rights management
  • Integration: REST, LDAP, Shibboleth

Current status and future development

As a strategic LMS of the University of Zurich , OLAT is continuously being developed. OLAT has been widely used in recent years, especially in European higher education. OLAT has similar goals to the Sakai project, but a longer development phase compared to this American initiative. OLAT was developed from the beginning to support campus-wide e-learning and can in principle be compared with commercial platforms such as Blackboard or open source platforms such as Moodle , but it does not come close to them due to the slow development in recent years.

OLAT is a fully developed LMS that is used at universities with thousands of users, e.g. B. University of Zurich: approx. 50,000 (including approx. 30,000 users from other Swiss universities), the University of Hamburg : approx. 30,000 and, since the summer semester 2011, also the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main : approx. 50,000 users.

In 2006, the spin-off company frentix GmbH emerged from the project with the aim of positioning OLAT outside of the University of Zurich and offering services relating to the open source system for companies and educational institutions on a commercial basis. frentix has remained true to the open source concept since the company was founded and has played a key role in the further development of the system. Through the commercial services, the spread in companies, technical colleges, schools and other training institutions has further consolidated.

Other service providers have emerged from the open source community. Most of them offer regionally specialized OLAT services (e.g. in Greece, Poland or China). OLAT is often marketed under a different brand, so it is extremely difficult to provide precise evidence of the existing installations.

Since the end of 2009 chemmedia AG has been offering a version of OLAT specially adapted for companies under the name OLAT Enterprise Edition . In Zurich, frentix GmbH also offers OLAT solutions for companies.

In 2011, the University of Zurich started an in-depth refactoring project and switched to Mercurial as the code management system. In the course of this restructuring, access to the developers' repository was blocked for the open source community and any influence from the community was blocked. Since then, the OLAT team's understanding of open source has been limited to the publication of finished code under the Apache license without a community process.

As a result, a fork under the name OpenOLAT was launched at the end of 2011 . OpenOLAT is an alternative development to OLAT, which promotes a transparent development process and the involvement of the community. The initiator of this new project is frentix GmbH, a company that was founded by one of the original OLAT inventors and offers commercial services for OLAT and which had contributed to important functions for OLAT in the past.

Awards

  • OLAT currently has the highest rating in the courseware section of the UNESCO open source portal.
  • OLAT won the MedidaPrix 2000.
  • OLAT won the Swiss Open Source Award 2008.
  • In 2009 OLAT won the IMS Learning Impact 'Leadership Award' 2009 for the best open source learning platform.

specification

OLAT runs without changes on Unix , Linux , OpenBSD , FreeBSD , Windows , macOS . The main requirements for OLAT are:

literature

Didactic use of OLAT:

  • S. Clematide, A. Bünzli, S. Roth, C. Mahlow, M. Hess: Dialog-based learning and evaluation in OLAT. Lecture at the OLAT conference 2008, 26. – 28. March 2008, University of Zurich. 2008. ( Abstract ( Memento of March 8, 2009 in the Internet Archive ))
  • C. Mahlow: Choosing the Appropriate E-Learning System for a University. In: Y. Kats (Ed.): Learning Management Systems Technologies and Software Solutions for Online Teaching: Tools and Applications. IGI Global, Hershey PA, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-1-61520-853-1 , pp. 57-80.
  • Olat in action. In: Hamburger elearning magazine. No. 3, December 2009 ( online ; PDF; 8.18 MB).
  • R. Streule, R. Oberholzer, D. Läge: The e-learning course "Psychopathology Taught Online" - flexibility and adaptivity thanks to OLAT and eLML. Lecture at the OLAT conference 2008, 26. – 28. March 2008, University of Zurich. 26.-28. March 2008, University of Zurich. 2008. ( slides online )
  • T. Zimmermann, D. Hurtado, M. Berther, F. Winter: Dialogue with 200 students - is that possible? Blended learning in a lecture with a large number of participants. In: The higher education system . Volume 56, No. 6, 2008, pp. 179-185. (on-line)
  • T. Zimmermann, K.-L. Bucher, D. Hurtado: Hybrid Dialog: Dialogic Learning in Large Lecture Classes. In: Y. Kats (Ed.): Learning Management System Technologies and Software Solutions for Online Teaching: Tools and Applications. IGI Global, Hershey PA, New York, ISBN 978-1-61520-853-1 , 2010, S, pp. 314-331.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The olat Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page . In: Open Hub . (accessed on July 18, 2018).
  2. ↑ Sakai Project. ( Memento from April 7, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ checkpoint-elearning.de
  4. ↑ openolat.org
  5. ↑ Free & Open Source Software Portal - Courseware Tools. ( www.unesco.org ( Memento of May 31, 2008 in the Internet Archive ); English)
  6. ↑ MeDiDa-Prix. www.medidaprix.org ( Memento of December 12, 2007 in the Internet Archive ), the most important e-learning award in German-speaking countries.
  7. ↑ www.medidaprix.org
  8. ↑ CH Open Source Awards - 2008 winners ( Memento from December 12, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ↑ imsglobal.org