As a matter of principle, the OER Foundation uses Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). In practice, partnership with the OERu provides access to world-leading expertise in hosting open source technologies.
Rather than providing learning materials through a single application Learning Management System (LMS), the Foundation has implemented a component-based approach selecting “best-of-breed” technologies to assemble an open source, Next Generation Digital Learning Environment (NGDLE).
There are many benefits in adopting this approach, including:
- the low cost of the scalable open source technology infrastructure used to support the sustainable delivery of online courses
- the protection of learners’ privacy and data
- free hosting of institutionally-branded versions of OERu courses for local reuse
- the opportunity for partner institutions to replicate OERu technologies with detailed technical support from the tech.oeru.org blog.
