OpenClass

OpenClass bills itself as a "dynamic, scalable, fully-cloud based learning environment" which is, all its other perks and potential benefits aside, completely free. The basic concept behind OpenClass is to provide a free Learning Management System to manage courses. Towards that end, it can important your existing content from other LMS programs like Blackboard and Moodle. In this capacity, it has many of the features we've come to expect - a mechanism for submitting assignments, gradebook functionality, calenders for scheduling, etc. However, OpenClass also aspires to integrate a vast quantity of social networking functions into the system, including chatting and Skype discussions, both between instructors at different institutions, instructors and students, and peer-to-peer conversation. Accompanying the social functions, it has a new up and running iPad app, with Apple iOS and Android apps on the way.

Perhaps the most intriguing thing about OpenClass, however, is "OpenClass Exchange," a system for sharing and exchanging OERs developed by third-party contributors such as Khan Academy and Ted-Ed, OpenClass faculty users, and Pearson, the developer. Pearson espouses a committment to developing born-digital content for OpenClass, designed with its mobile and digital capabilities in mind. The advantage of using OpenClass's networked OERs, according to Pearson, is that mass-use allows them to "harness the power of Big Data." Since anyone can access content from OpenClass, Pearson can use the analytics gathered from massive and diverse user populations to optimize their content and adapt courses as they learn what does and doesn't work.