The Open Learning Centre

The Libertus Eruditus package is designed for education. The appliance comes pre-configured with the world's most popular Open Source Virtual Learning Environment - Moodle. As an added bonus to get you off to a flying start we have installed a set of courses to support teaching of The INGOTs qualification in open technologies.

What is Moodle?

Moodle is a free and open source e-learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System, Learning Management System, or Virtual Learning Environment¹ (VLE). It is designed to help educators create online courses with opportunities for rich interaction. Its open source license and modular design means that anyone can (and do) develop additional functionality.

Moodle has a huge user base; approximately 50,000 registered sites with almost 30million users using around 2.5million different courses (as of February, 2009). You can see the current statistics here on the Moodle web site.

What is an INGOT?

INGOTs are International Grades - Open Technologies. In English the word INGOT is associated with a metal bar of high value. The INGOT certificates provide a motivating progression route from complete beginner to professional level expertise for users of ICT in a wide range of contexts including commonly used productivity tools found in the modern workplace such as word processing, presenting and searching for information. More importantly they prepare the student for citizenship in a rapidly changing technological world by learning through community participation. There are currently qualifications available at Bronze 1, Bronze 2, Bronze 3, Silver, and Gold levels. The awards are issued by The Learning Machine Ltd, an Awarding Body Accredited by QCA, DELLS and CCEA, the regulators for qualifications in England Wales and Northern Ireland.

You can use the Libertus Eruditus to install or create your own courses to support teaching of any subject, you are by no means limited to the INGOTs courses but it is a great way to get started with Moodle.

Why do I want the Libertus Eruditus?

For Moodle to work, it needs to be installed on a web server somewhere. This is where the Libertus Eruditus comes in...

• For a one-off cost we remove the hassle of having to install, configure and set-up a dedicated web server, database and operating system to support Moodle. With the Eruditus, we deliver, to your school or office, a fully working system; pre-configured, all set-up and ready to go. It's that simple. We also connect it to your network, give you introductory training and even work with you to get your school colours and logos on the pages of the VLE.
• Once your Eruditus is in and working, on a subscription fee basis, we also provide telephone and email support and a special remote backup service. Each night your server is remotely backed up. Should your server be involved in a disaster of any kind (fire/flood/cup of tea etc.) you can call us and we will dispatch a new Eruditus server complete with your restored data that you can just plug in and carry on using². All we ask is that you send us back the charred remains of your unfortunate previous server.

How do I get one?

That's the easy bit! The Eruditus is available now. Either call us on 0844 3576000 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

1 A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a software system designed to support teaching and learning in an educational setting, as distinct from a Managed Learning Environment (MLE) where the focus is on management. A VLE will normally work over the Internet and provide a collection of tools such as those for assessment (particularly of types that can be marked automatically, such as multiple choice), communication, uploading of content, return of students' work, peer assessment, administration of student groups, collecting and organizing student grades, questionnaires, tracking tools, etc. New features in these systems include wikis, blogs, RSS and 3D virtual learning spaces.

2 The hardware replacement service with restored data is only available to customers who also purchase the remote backup service.