Mahara (software)

Mahara is a free and open-source web application for creating electronic portfolios, social networking, and online learning platforms. Often referred to as an ePortfolio system, Mahara allows users to collect and arrange digital artifacts that showcase their skills, knowledge, and achievements.

Key Features and Functionality:

• Portfolio Creation: Mahara's core functionality revolves around creating personal and group ePortfolios. Users can upload various types of content, including documents, images, videos, audio files, and links. They can then organize these artifacts into themed pages and collections, adding descriptive text and reflections.
• Social Networking: Mahara incorporates social networking features, enabling users to connect with each other, join groups, and participate in discussions. This fosters collaboration and peer feedback.
• Group Collaboration: Mahara supports group work through shared workspaces where members can collaborate on projects, share resources, and discuss ideas.
• Learning Management System (LMS) Integration: Mahara can integrate with popular LMS platforms, such as Moodle, allowing users to seamlessly transfer information and demonstrate learning achievements. This integration can involve single sign-on and the transfer of portfolio artifacts.
• User Authentication and Authorization: Mahara provides robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to control access to portfolios and ensure data privacy.
• Customization and Theming: Mahara allows administrators to customize the platform's appearance and functionality to align with organizational branding and specific learning needs.
• Accessibility: Mahara aims to adhere to accessibility standards, making it usable by individuals with disabilities.

Use Cases:

Mahara is used in various educational and professional settings, including:

• Higher Education: Students use Mahara to document their learning progress, create portfolios for job applications, and showcase their research.
• Vocational Training: Trainees use Mahara to demonstrate their acquired skills and competencies to potential employers.
• Continuing Professional Development: Professionals use Mahara to track their professional development activities, collect evidence of their skills, and create portfolios for career advancement.
• Organizations: Organizations use Mahara for employee training, performance reviews, and knowledge management.

Technology:

Mahara is primarily built using PHP, utilizing a MySQL or PostgreSQL database for data storage. It employs a plugin architecture that allows for extending its functionality through custom modules. The platform follows web standards and promotes interoperability through open APIs.