Linux for e-Learning in Jordan

IBM and Integrated Technology Group, a leading Jordanian software house, have announced the completion of a major project where they have ported an open standards version of ITG's EduWave e-learning platform to run on the Linux operating system.

As a result of this joint effort, IBM will support EduWave as part of its open source e-learning solution platform for Middle East markets. EduWave, the comprehensive K-12 e-learning platform in Jordanian schools, has been deployed in over 3,000 schools in Jordan and has also been deployed in a number of school districts in the US state of New Jersey.

'EduWave is a great product that has the potential to revolutionise learning and learning management in the Middle East and beyond and we are delighted to be able to work with ITG to bring this highly advanced product to our customers,' said Bashar Kilani, Manager of IBM Software Group Middle East and North Africa.

E-learning on Linux

The new version of EduWave will enable Middle East-based educational authorities to specify and deploy open standards-based national e-learning initiatives, using the Linux operating system rather than being 'locked in' to proprietary software environments.

The move to embrace open standards in the region has already seen the government of Bahrain adopting Linux as the core operating system of its national e-government initiative.

'We believe that the availability of EduWave on Linux is critical to Government education authorities in the Middle East and beyond as many are now evaluating, and in many cases adopting, open source platforms as they build national e-government and e-education initiatives. We're delighted to have worked together with the IBM team to enable this important move.' Said Walid Tahabsem, chief executive officer of ITG.

The move follows an intensive development effort between teams from ITG and IBM, which provided extensive assistance in porting the program to the open source Linux platform, running on IBM's WebSphere middleware. The Linux version of EduWave also uses IBM's DB2 open standards-based relational database technology.

Tech support from Cairo

Following extensive product evaluation by IBM's architects, the project was supported by teams of developers and consultants from IBM's Technical Development Centre in Cairo, which provides software development resources and support for Middle Eastern and global IBM projects.

'EduWave has an important role to play in the development of the Middle East's e-learning markets,' said Kilani. 'We will be supporting EduWave as part of IBM's e-learning offering in the Middle East and together with ITG, we will be able to offer the system to the regional governments who are now demanding a Linux based alternative.'

EduWave is a learning management, instructional management, schools management, and content management system that provides a single, integrated resource for 'e-learning'. The system integrates financial and management information capabilities for schools management with curricular and classroom management.

EduWave allows teachers to access curricular material and monitor student performance and attainment and gives online access to curricular content, school related information and student attainments to parents.

Two system editions

The system is available in two editions; EduWave (K-12) and EduWave (Higher-Ed), and has been deployed to serve over 3,000 schools in Jordan, some 1.2 million students, over 50,000 teachers and some 5,000 administrators. The system has been adopted by the Jordanian government as its core national e-learning platform.

EduWave is also being deployed as the core e-learning platform in a number of school districts in the US state of New Jersey. In addition, EduWave is being evaluated by ministries of education in several Middle East and European countries as they move towards building national e-learning initiatives.

'The opportunities in the regional and global e-learning market are enormous and EduWave stands as a unique product,' said Tahabsem.

'It is the only comprehensive system being used 'live' today on a countrywide level in the region, supporting multiple integrated features and languages. We have also developed a vast range of curricular content from K-12, designed specifically for the educational needs of this region. We believe that our strong and ongoing relationship with IBM will consolidate that strong leadership position.'