Services Provided by Optimized Learning

As more and more schools get excited about the possibilities of open source technology in the academic space, schools are also discovering that embracing open source software brings some unique challenges. Schools using the traditional online course management systems are eager to save money and enjoy the powerful customization features of open source alternatives, but there are some barriers to entry. These can include a need for hosting, need for training on new software, and faculty/student buy-in to an open source e-learning environment. How is Oli helping schools deal with these issues? Below are just a few solutions from our many services:

Piloting Opportunities

At OLi, we want to make it possible for all schools to experience open source solutions without dedicating extensive IT resources. We have a variety of hosting options, which range from a shared server environment to dedicated servers for our clients. We can work with large consortiums, individual schools, or even a department who want to explore what open source software can do. Regardless of the size of your open source pilot, Oli has a solution in place for you.

Hosting

Not all schools have the resources to acquire and maintain the hardware necessary for enterprise solutions. Many schools currently pay a commercial vendor to host their courses, and this solution has traditionally been a costly one. Optimized Learning, Inc., was founded to help schools save valuable IT dollars by offering competitive hosting pricing. Optimized Learning delivers to the educational community true FTE-based pricing. We can offer you professional hosting capabilities in our Tier 4 data center, at a fraction of the cost the bigger companies charge.

uPortal Technology

One of the biggest buzzes surrounding the open source movement in academia is the ability the user has to customize a portal to each and every user that accesses the online collaborative learning environment (CLE). The portal links the user to other campus news, events, and clubs that he or she is involved in. The community-building possibilities that these customizable portals offer are endless. OLi can help you build portals to enhance the overall communication throughout your institution.

Course Management Technology

OLi is working with the biggest names in open source educational technology, including Sakai and Moodle. Our knowledge of the developments in the open source marketplace and upcoming trends in this technology is invaluable to our customers. We do the research so that you don’t have to. Our customers enjoy monthly updates about the latest in the open source world, tailored to include the information that is both pertinent and of interest to their specific institution.

Open Source Email Solutions

OLi can install and host open source email solutions for our educational clients. Traditional email has created scalability problems on many campuses. OLi’s hosting services allow us to provide a low-cost, scalable, open source email solution for our clients.

Training

Any school that has made the jump to online learning knows that one of the significant start-up costs to adopting new technology is training. The promises of a better software solution (like open source CLEs) are lost if the users don’t know how to access or utilize the features. OLi understands the university environment, and we understand the challenges that schools face when adopting new technology. Our goal is to provide timely and on-target training to get you up and running on your new open source software as quickly and painlessly as possible. We are with you every step of the way, providing the level of training and support that is right for your institution.