Preface

This starter guide provides a brief introduction to the e-learning software “Chamilo LMS”. It is designed to be read through alongside a hands-on exploration of the software, and introduces the main tools to facilitate authoring and managing materials, designing tests, constructing learning paths, monitoring students’ progress and encouraging interaction and collaboration. It introduces how these tools are designed to support and motivate students and suggests ways teachers can best use the software to optimise the effectiveness of their e-courses.

Chamilo LMS is an extensive, multi-faceted software package, and a full description of every aspect of its features is well beyond the scope of this brief introduction. Readers wanting a more extensive and detailed manual can download the official Teachers Guide.

We have directed this guide primarily at teachers who have just discovered Chamilo LMS and are interested in learning how to use it to develop online courses and enhance teaching and learning. It doesn’t assume any prior technical skills or previous experience with Learning Management Systems or e-learning. As such we’ve avoided going into the technical and administrative details of the Chamilo platform here. Instead, to help understand how the system works and learn through hands-on experience, a free live teacher’s trial account can be created at http://campus.chamilo.org. We hope this guide will also be useful for teachers with prior experience in Learning Managements Systems, who would like to explore how Chamilo LMS compares with other e-learning platforms.

Those interested in learning how to install a Chamilo portal and administer all aspects of the software should have a look at the official admin guide to Chamilo. Further technical support is available from the forum on the official Chamilo Association website. If you are looking for professional hosting and support for a Chamilo project, any of our Official Chamilo Providers can offer quality hosting and professional support.

Chamilo LMS is Free Software (and so is also Open Source software), distributed under the GNU/GPLv3 license. This means that it is free software, in the sense that it involves the freedom to use, study, change, distribute and share the software (and changes made to it), in accordance with the terms of the license. It is trademarked to the Chamilo Association, a non-profit organisation established with the main goal of keeping the software free and open into the future, according to the spirit of Free Software philosophy. The Association welcomes the contributions and support of anyone who wishes to be involved with Chamilo, as a developer, translator, writer, designer or as an enthusiastic user with ideas to share or time to help.