An instructional designer and a faculty member from Humboldt State University discuss their experiences with implementing open source free software, referred to as Moodle, in lieu of traditional learning management systems (LMS). They also describe a pre-and post-test of Humboldt online students; one-half used Moodle as their LMS while the other half used a commercial application. The results of this pilot and the students' reactions offer provocative implications for instructional design. A diverse and broad community of educators is expanding applications for online access to course materials, instructional resources, pedagogical principles and interactivity to create effective online learning communities. From the Series:CSU Monterey Bay: Short Cuts