The objectives of the JOIN Project includes the exploitation of synergies, the sharing of resources and the addressing of common issues within the open source Learning Management System (OS-LMS) user community.

Employing open source software for e-learning saves expenses for any organisation that wants to provide e-learning. But on the other hand employing open source software is a risk since it is more difficult to measure quality and future availability of the OS-LMS. JOIN will set up a webpresence addressing these questions, but additionally build support and information centres for coping with this and other problems: These centres will provide consultance on the choice of software as well as native language support concerning non-technical issues as didactics, organistaion and copyright.

This kind of support is vital during the initial phase of e-learning. The partners will therefore prepare material adressing recurring questions during the initial phase of e-learning. These competence centres will serve as a model for fostering e-learning in the other European countries using OS-LMS. The JOIN project is targeted at practitioners and learners. The projects will provide effective support for the Open Source LMS community in Europe. This group is quite heterogenous: Teachers and trainers in schools, universities, adult training organisations, and SMEs.

The project aims at addressing the special needs of these subgroups and provide them with detailed guidelines and best practices in order to start, but also to sustain existing e-learning offers.
In France, Spain, Italy, and Germany support and information centres will be established. These centres offer support for the whole process of e-Learning, including all didactical and organisational questions, in the respective native languages. These centres also serve as a paradigm for similar service centres in other European countries of SIG members. The special benefit for the target group consists of the provision of service and consultance in their native languages.

Approach:
This project addresses key strategic issues in e-learning. They are:

• transfer of experience within the user community
• addressing recurring questions of a specific usergroup in workshops
• native language support
• train-the-trainers units
• open door days with briefings held every month in all four local support centers
• addressing recurring questions of e-learning in elaborated guidelines

Expected results:
The projects results will consist of a package of software, service and information for users of open source Learning Management Systems in European countries.
The projects results in an effective infrastructure providing technical and trainings services.

The Partners:

• University of Cologne, Germany (Co-ordinating organisation)
• University of Vigo, Spain
• Académie de Bordeaux, Ministère de la jeunesse, de la recherche et de l'Education, France
• Ksolutions spa, Italy