Why Chamilo?

Chamilo is an e-learning and collaboration platform which comes bundled as open-source software (or as purists will rightfully correct, Free Software) which can be adapted to educational or professional projects. It is distributed under the GNU/GPLv3+ license, which you are bound to accept when using it.

Chamilo (as a software) has two key aims:

1. to support the teacher in better responding to the needs of their students and

2. to make it so easy to build and edit high-quality digital learning materials that the teacher can not only create but be inspired to develop and continuously improve their courses' content.

The goal of the Chamilo Association, through the publishing of Chamilo, is to "Increase the availability of quality education worldwide".

A teacher using Chamilo can access a series of useful tools allowing them to easily and efficiently create an effective learning environment. On creating/editing a course he (or she) can:

• import or create documents (audio, video, images) and publish them,

• build tests and exams with automated scores and feedback as required,

• build or import (SCORM and AICC) compliant courses,

• set and receive virtual assignments,

• describe the components of the course through description sections,

• communicate through forums or chat,

• publish announcements,

• add links,

• create work groups or laboratory groups,

• set up a virtual classroom (through the videoconference extension),

• manage scores through the assessments tool,

• create surveys,

• add a wiki to create documents collaboratively,

• use a glossary,

• use an agenda,

• manage a project (through the blog tool),

• enable tracking of learners in your courses,

• register attendances,

• elaborate a class diary (course progress).

The Chamilo platform is extremely flexible. All its tools can be customized according to the needs of each course. It provides a friendly and intuitive user interface which requires no special prior technical knowledge or skills.