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ATutor 1.6.2 Released

By CMS Report - Posted on 12 December 2008
ATutor 1.6.2 has been released. This is a significant release, with the addition of quite a number of new features, and further support for accessibility and interoperability standards. 
 
Download ATutor 1.6.2 Now 
http://www.atutor.ca/atutor/download.php 
 
ATutor 1.6.2 Demo 
http://www.atutor.ca/atutor/demo.php New in this release
  • IMS AccessForAll & ISO FDIS 24751
    • Accessibility AccessForAll support provides authors the means to add alternate forms of content to their content packages. Learners can define in their preferences how the ATutor environment is displayed, and define which forms of content they prefer, so content adapts to individual users' learning preferences. (Contributed in part by the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bologna).
    • ATutor AccessForAll Wiki Page for more details http://wiki.atutor.ca/display/atutorwiki/ATutor+Adaptability+with+AccessForAll .
  • IMS QTI Test Interoperability
  • Integrated Content Packaging - Content packaging has been upgraded (IMS CP v1.1.4), and AccessForAll content and QTI tests have been integrated with content packaging so alternate formats and tests can all be exported and imported together.(Contributed in part by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation)
  • Gradebook Integration
    • The ATutor Gradebook, available as an extra module for ATutor 1.6/1.6.1 has been fully integrated into ATutor, becoming a standard module. (Contributed in part by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation)
  • New System Preferences Administrators - can now set the local time zone offset for ATutor, and users can set their own local time zone if it differs. Administrators can turn public registration on or off, turn the student's Unenroll feature on or off, and can turn instructor requests on or off.
  • Guest Test Data Collection Instructors - can now create public, guest accessible tests, and collect data and personal information from guest submitters for review and data analysis. (Contributed in part by the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine) 
  • Module Import/Export - All ATutor maintained extra modules are now available on update.atutor.ca, and can be imported through the ATutor Module Manager directly from the module repository. Developers can use the module Export tool to package up modules for redistribution. Modules have now been extended with a module uninstall feature, so it is no longer necessary to remove modules manually.
  • Themes Import/Export - All ATutor maintained themes are now available on update.atutor.ca, and can be imported through the ATutor Theme Manager directly from the theme repository. Designers can export themes for redistribution, and submit them to the theme repository. 
  • Theme Designer Documentation - The ATutor Theme Designer Documentation has been integrated into the ATutor Handbook. 
  • Fluid Multi-File Uploader
    • The Fluid multi-file upload utility has been added to the ATutor File Manager so now instructors, and content authors, can upload batches of files on one step. The Fluid libraries have been upgraded to v0.5. (Contributed in part by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation)
    • Fluid Multi-File Uploader Wiki Page for more details: http://wiki.fluidproject.org/display/fluid/ATutor+Integration 
 
New Modules  
Merlot Repository The Merlot module has been upgraded to take advantage of the new Web services being offered by through the repository. Merlot provides multimedia educational resources licensed under creative commons that ATutor course designers can include with their course content. 
 
Translation  
With all the new functionality introduced in this version of ATutor, there are about 300 new language items to be translated. Translators can either install a local version of ATutor 1.6.2, and translate using the built-in translation tools, or translate using the atutor.ca translation site, accessed through MyATutor -> Translate  
 
MyATutor Translation Tools 
http://www.atutor.ca/my/ 
 
Translator Documentation 
http://www.atutor.ca/atutor/docs/translate.php 
 
Upcoming Developments  
Social Networking Work has already begun on implementing the Google OpenSocial standard in ATutor. Hundreds of social tools are available that can be used to create a social learning environment. Social networks can be linked together, both across ATutor installations, and across other social networks that support the standard. 
 
ATutor Social Networking Development 
http://wiki.atutor.ca/display/atutorwiki/ATutor+Social+Networking+Development 
 
IMS Common Cartridge Support Basic Common Cartridge support is already available in ATutor 1.6.2, for importing and exporting content and tests as part of a cartridge. Further work is underway to complete compliance with the standard.

Comments

#1 Standards, Accessibility, Adaptability, Interoperability

greg's picture
Submitted by greg (not verified) on December 13, 2008 - 11:38am.

What sets ATutor apart from the other Learning Management Systems is its support of accessibility and interoperability standards. There's nothing to stop a course designer from exporting a course, and moving it to another server, or even another system. There is no "lock in" as is the case with most other system. And, any user can access the system as a student, instructor, or administrator without the barriers that are present in virtually all other systems. A blind person can manage, design, or take a course.

Adaptability is another key focus of ATutor. A course is a collection of tools, which could simply be a single forum for example, to support a classroom course, up to a full collection of tools to support a independent online course. Learners can also adapt the system to their needs, controlling the look and feel of the system, controlling the navigation elements, and adapting content to work best for their abilities and learning styles.

#2 ATutor and Moodle

Bryan's picture
Submitted by Bryan on December 13, 2008 - 3:43pm.

Greg,

Thanks for additional information regarding ATutor. I agree that accessibility and no "lock in" are important features in a learning management systems to have these days.

I've talk about ATutor and Moodle from time to time but have never used either management systems. From your viewpoint, what do you see as the biggest differences between ATutor and Moodle? Why would someone choose ATutor over Moodle? Are there any situations where you would recommend Moodle over ATutor?

#3 ATutor and Moodle

greg's picture
Submitted by greg (not verified) on December 13, 2008 - 4:36pm.

Apart from "locked in" (which is a really bug one in my books), and Standards, Accessibility, Adaptability and Interoperability, if I were going to pick one other "biggest difference" I might say the audience. Virtually all LMSs today focus their efforts on the post secondary audience, with the little users pretty much ignored. In designing ATutor, keeping things simple has made it more accessible to the single teacher who wants to put up a couple courses, or small business that wants its training materials online, for instance, who may not have the benefit of a tech person to help manage their LMS.

ATutor is still quite capable of handling large installations, but its less of a focus us.

Other big differences are ATutor (rather the ATRC) is not-for-profit. We encourage providers to offer services and make money with our software, with no strings attached. ATutor is a content authoring, sharing, reusing tool.

I can't think of an instance where I might suggest another LMS. But I suppose I'm a little biased ;-) M***** does have its merits, and has had some lucky breaks. Much of its user base was gathered before other OS systems began to emerge, so the other systems are playing catchup with a system that has its users locked in. At some point soon its going to have to add content exporting (word is common cartridge, though I think that's an Open U project) after which its current users will have the choice to get out.

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