How to design an open(source) e-learning platform. The ADA experience

Abstract

When speaking about «open» e-learning platforms, we generally mean that code should be readable and modifi able. While the advantages for programmers of adopting this developing method are well known, in this article, we look at it from a different perspective, assuming that the meaning of «open» may be extended to every user (open to programmers, but also open to teachers and to students) and to different levels (code level, document level, structure level, and interface level). We try to investigate the full meaning of the expression «open platform» from a pedagogical, technological and ethical point of view, by means of a description of the architecture of an opensource platform, ADA. We discuss modularity, accessibility, knowledge construction and evaluation in an open perspective and, fi nally, we outline a defi nition of open platforms as learning platforms.