The Best Software You are Not Using

Learning Activity Management System (LAMS) is an open-source e-learning tool that is well-suited to the a web2.0 classroom. It is capable of supporting a range of pedagogical approaches. It is also a hub for activities where teachers can see what other teachers are doing and adapt activities to their own class. Today, LAMS is a browser-based system, but it will likely run on iPhones in the near future.

The system provides frequent feedback to students - either automatically or from the teacher. Feedback and the workflow design allows students to move at their own pace and do optional tasks if they are moving faster than other students. The projects tasks can be easily adapted to actual students outcomes. Teachers may refine it with more or less tasks, reflection collaborations, or checkpoints.

LAMS provides the following great features:

• create multi-step assignment using a visual tool - students see a map that shows the overall project and their progress
  
• project steps can provide students different tasks choices - including optional tasks
  
• groups can be created either randomly, from a list or based on the score or answer of a previous step
• "branches" provide for individualized learning as sequences can change based on percent correct, number of attempts, or time to complete task
• teachers can collect data from students via tables
  
• "gates" are checkpoints where students must successfully complete a task before continuing
• students get a private notebook for reflection
• students can use websites within the LAMS browser, so it makes the websites seem integrated
• system tracks which resources have been used by which students
• students can build an online wiki, spreadsheet and mindmap, as well as, these other tools:

LAMS is an interesting curriculum tool. I have designed a few projects, but have not yet tried them in class. I am anxious to contact people who use it. Here is a list of users and a few reports evaluating LAMS (link)