Surely students are spending more time on their social network site than any other educational websites like wikipedia, howstuffworks, discovery etc, and there’s no way on earth anybody can stop them from doing so.

But the least any school can do is while those students are online is to give them little bit touch of education from their teachers or fellow friends. We can do this by getting the e-learning system up and running where teacher share learning materials, quiz, discussion, chat, document management and perhaps some social activities between friends.

These are some of the most powerful open source learning management system that can easily adopt by any school, institution or any communities. Most of the systems support SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model - a collection of standards and specifications for web-based elearning). 

1. Moodle

Probably one of the most recommended cms available today, it can serve from a teacher personal sharing website to hundreds of thousands of students university system. Moodle have more than 100 modules build by developers and teachers around the world. The standard favorite tool includes wikis, forum, assignments, quiz, exam, messaging, document, chat etc.

Moodle also have been adapted by schools and universities around the world that they proudly listed on their website.

2. ATutor

Atutor is also teacher’s favorite for online collaboration among students, it has good documentation and modular system for developers to build more features. Educators can quickly assemble, package, and redistribute Web-based instructional content, easily import prepackaged content, and conduct their courses online.

3. Claroline

Claroline allow teacher to easily build online courses and manage students activities for educational purpose. Initiated by University of Louvain, Belgium, it has been translated into 35 languages and have active members conduct training and conference  around the world.

4. Dokeos

Dokeos is a learning suite with complete feature includes standard Learning Management functions, OOgie Rapid Learning to build online learning from templates or powerpoint, reporting system and video conferencing sessions.

5. Docebo

Docebo received important upgrade since version 3.0 and got itself good attention. It supports 18 languages and can support different didactic models. Including: Blended, Self-Directed, Collaborative and even Social Learning through Chat, Wiki, Forums and 53 other different functions.

The latest version is 3.6 Beta that provide new reporting system, Ajax based and several update on the features.

6. eFront

eFront aims at building the most beautiful elearning cms on the web. It also focused on user friendliness and of course powerful features.

eFront includes a wide variety of components that help user create lesson structure and add content, build online-tests, communicate with others, track users history and progress, conduct surveys, assign projects, and create certifications.

It also have an active members and developers with latest updates and support.

7. SyndeoCMS

SyndeoCMS was built as follow up from SiteAtSchool intended for primary school system which is the reason it take great care on the simplicity for non technical staff to manage.

8. Ilias Learning Management

Ilias is a powerful Learning Management System coordinated by the University of Cologne Germany.  It receive wide acceptance in the european countries like  Denmark, France and Italy. The system provide complete features from course mangement, podcasting, google maps support and web service interface.

It has good documentation and support as well.

9. DrupalEd

Drupal is one of the most popular Content Management System in the same level with joomla and wordpress. DrupalEd is the spinoff to give more emphasized on educational functions.

DrupalEd was build to create a flexible framework that allows users to set up a social learning environment or a more traditional learning environment.

10.Interact

Interact although build for elearning purpose is focused on the social interactivity aspect of teaching and learning.