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'''eFront''' is an [[open source]] [[eLearning]] platform ''(also known as a Course Management System (CMS), or Learning Management Systems ([[Learning management system|LMS]]), or Virtual Learning Environment ([[Virtual learning environment|VLE]]))''.
eFront is designed to assist with the creation of online learning communities while offering various opportunities for collaboration and interaction through an icon-based user interface. The platform offers tools for content creation, tests building, assignments management, reporting, internal messaging, forum, chat, surveys, calendar and others. It is a [[SCORM]] 1.2 certified<ref>{{cite web |title=SCORM 1.2 Certification |url=http://webapps.adlnet.gov/CertifiedProducts/Certification.aspx?ID=156 |accessdate= 2010-06-16}}</ref> and [[SCORM]] 2004 / 4th edition compliant<ref>{{cite web |title= SCORM 2004/4th edition Adoption | url = http://webapps.adlnet.gov/SCORMAdopters/Adopter.aspx?i=539 |accessdate= 2010-06-16}}</ref> system translated in 40 languages <ref>{{cite web| title= Language packs|url=http://www.efrontlearning.net/download/language-packs.html|accessdate=2010-06-16}}</ref>.
eFront is commonly included in lists of well known open-source learning systems<ref>{{cite web |title work = Techworld: | title = 10 open source elearning projects to watch | url = http://www.techworld.com.au/article/223565/10_open_source_e-learning_projects_watch| accessdate= 2010-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | publisher = Web Resource Depot | title = 7-widely used and open source elearning applications | url= http://www.webresourcesdepot.com/7-widely-used-and-open-source-e-learning-applications/ | accessdate=2010-06-29}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web |title work =ITmanagement: | title = 50 open source tools that replace popular education applications |url= http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/features/article.php/12297_3888901_3/50-Open-Source-Tools-That-Replace-Popular-Education-Apps.htm | accessdate =2010-06-20}}</ref><ref> Ozarslan, Y. (2008). [http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8vrY4OEQsbRODU5MTg0MTYtODNjNS00ZWM4LTk2OTktOGEzOTUzYTk2MTA2&hl=en Uzaktan Eğitim Uygulamaları için Açık Kaynak Kodlu Öğrenme Yönetim Sistemleri], Akademik Bilisin, 2008 (in Turkish)</ref> or is referred to as a [[Moodle]] alternative<ref>{{cite web | title=Open-source LMS: Beyond Moodle | url=http://keemanxp.com/blog/2009/open-source-lms-beyond-moodle.html | year = 2009 | publisher = KeemanXP | accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref><ref> {{cite web | title=Barry Sampson: Alternatives to Moodle | url=http://barrysampson.com/2009/04/open-source-lms-10-alternatives-to-moodle/ | accessdate= 2010-06-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | publisher = Aplicaciones Empresariales | title = eFront article | language = Spanish | url= http://www.aplicacionesempresariales.com/efront-mas-rapido-y-productivo.html | accessdate= 2010-06-20}}</ref><ref> {{cite web | titlework = Edutechwiki | type = article on| title = LMSs | url=http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/LMS | accessdate= 2010-06-16}}</ref>. Independent comparison matrices between learning management systems often favor eFront, especially under usability characteristics.<ref> {{cite web | publisher = Edutools | title = Comparison matrix for LMSs | url = http://www.edutools.info/item_list.jsp?pj=4 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | publisher = Innovate | ___location = DE | title = Comparison matrix for LMSs | url= http://matrix.innovate.de/elsystems | accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref>. Several research papers and technology portals describe the system under functionality<ref>Ozarslan, Y., Ozan, O. (2010). [http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8vrY4OEQsbRZDczNTAxNjgtZDZmMS00ZDUzLWEyODAtOTQ2OWY1MzdkYjFl&hl=en&authkey=CM_K_fEP eFront Öğrenme Yönetim Sistemi], Akademik Bilisin, 2010 (in Turkish)</ref><ref> Kor, B. & Tanrikulu, Z. (2008). [http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8vrY4OEQsbRZjY1MDQxN2UtOWViMi00ZmJiLWE1NDktMjMxYjUxYzNkN2Fh&hl=en Evaluation of Learning Management Systems with Test Tools]. In J. Luca & E. Weippl (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications, 2008 (pp. 5261–66), Chesapeake, VA: AACE</ref> <ref>{{cite web | publisher = Genbeta | title = eFront | language = Spanish) | url= http://www.genbeta.com/herramientas/efront-intuitiva-plataforma-de-e-learning | accessdate = 2010-06-15}}</ref>, usability<ref>Zaharias, P (2007) [http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8vrY4OEQsbRMzQ4NmYyYjgtMTNlYS00YTc0LWE2NDgtMGQ5NDQ4Yjc2Y2Vk&hl=en Heuristic evaluation in e-learning context: Selecting the appropriate tasks and reporting usability problems]. International Conference on eLearning (ICEL), 2007</ref> and standards perspectives <ref> Tesseris, G. (2010). [http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8vrY4OEQsbRN2JjMTM4Y2UtODk5YS00NjdiLTg3ZjYtN2ZhNzI1MGZjZDFl&hl=en Towards standards based e-Learning tools and technologies]. MSC dissertation, University of Crete, 2010</ref>.
== History ==
Initial development of the platform began in 2001 as a research prototype funded by the Greek government. SCORM development together with a shift on [[AJAX]] technologies lead to the publishing of a stable 2.5 version during 2005. eFront was then rewritten from scratch, making essential changes to the core structure of the system and released under an open-source license in September 2007 <ref> {{cite web | title=eFront interview on| lms-selection.comwork = LMS Selection | url=http://www.lms-selection.com/en2/?p=87 | accessdate = 2010-06-20}}</ref>. Enterprise extensions were integrated with the platform on version 3.5. Social extensions were the most significant addition to version 3.6 <ref> {{cite web | title=eFront 3.6: What's new? | url=http://www.efrontlearning.net/product/whats-new.html | work = eFront learning | accessdate=2010-06-15}} </ref>.
== Editions ==
Apart from the community edition that is distributed as open source software, there are three commercial editions with a modified features set, targeted at learning professionals, educational institutions and enterprises <ref>{{cite web | title=eFront editions | work = eFront learning | url= http://www.efrontlearning.net/product/functionality-matrix.html| date= 2010-06-15}}</ref>. All versions are provided with their source code but only the community edition uses an [[Open Source Initiative]] (OSI) accepted license. The commercial versions of eFront are distributed via a partners network <ref> {{cite web | title=eFront partners map | work = eFront learning | url=http://www.efrontlearning.net/partners/partners-map.html | accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref>.
== Awards ==
In April 2010 eFront won a coveted bronze award for technology excellence in the Learning Management Technology for Small- and Medium-sized Businesses category from Brandon-Hall Research <ref> {{cite web | titlework =Brandon-Hall | title = eLearning Technology Awards for 2009 | url=http://www.brandon-hall.com/awards/award_winners/lta2009_winners.shtml | accessdate=2010-06-15}} </ref>.
== Features ==
* Certifications
* Reports generators
* [Extensibility via Modules<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.efrontlearning.net/download/modules.html Extensibility| viapublisher = eFront learning | title = Dowload | contribution = Modules]}}.</ref>
* Payments integration (through Paypal)
* Social tools (Lesson & system history, user wall, user status, Facebook interconnection)
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