Linux as a platform

[John RIdge]

On 11 Oct 2006, at 10:20, Andy Trevor wrote:

> John RIdge wrote:
>> Dom:
>> Agree with all your points.
>>
>>> Cross platform is the key.
>> I think Linux (Ubuntu) will be the predominant platform in UK
>> education within 5 years.
>>
> I wish it were so.  Unless there is a major change in thinking at the
> top of education I feel that this will not happen.
>> It got there from the ground up.
>  It will be a force
> but not the main platform.
>>

>> Moodle is the main reason for my optimism.
>> It is rapidly becoming the VLE for FE and HE in the UK. (apologies for
>> acronyms)
>> It got there from the ground up.
>> 5 years ago it was not even a blip on the radar.
>
> Moodle rocks, but it is non controversial technology.  It is an
> extension to current environments.  It is delivery platform 
> independent,
> therefore causes no waves and major rethinking of deploying ICT.

Except that it works faster on LAMP servers and executes more cleanly 
with Firefox.
>
> Technology like this will make major in roads into UK education.  Linux
> on the desktop is a way off yet.
>>
>> Open source, shared learning.
>> Works really well.
>> Appears to work exponentially
>>
>> sorry for borrowing your soap box
>>
>> john
>>
>>
>>
>> On 10 Oct 2006, at 20:39, Andy Trevor wrote:
>>
>>> Dom,
>>>
>>> lets go back to your original question.
>>>
>>> "establishing Linux as a superior platform to deliver IT to 
>>> education"
>>>
>>> Currently Linux is an inferior platform to deliver IT in UK 
>>> education.
>>>
>>> A bold statement from someone who makes a living from deploying Linux
>>> for UK education.  Let me expand.
>>>
>>> It is inferior for a number of reasons, little of which has to do 
>>> with
>>> Linux itself.
>>>
>>> The biggest one of all is lack of good quality curriculum specific
>>> education applications.  The UK schools have become heavily reliant 
>>> on
>>> software bought by ELCs.  Most of the packages are baby sitting 
>>> rubbish
>>> but some do have real value.  Until this is addressed by ISVs 99.9% 
>>> of
>>> these apps will stay windows only.  The trouble is they see little
>>> market for converting them to Linux due to the small numbers of 
>>> schools
>>> using it as their primary delivery platform.  Schools will not deploy
>>> Linux due to the lack of apps.  Chicken and 
>>> egg.......................
>>>
>>> Secondly,  there seems to be a lack of political will to push OSS
>>> forward in education.  Ourselves and colleagues speak to Becta via
>>> various channels and get mixed responses.  The introduction of KS3
>>> online (term used loosely) testing has proven to be a stumbling block
>>> for us in a couple of schools.  It is heavily geared to MS products,
>>> making OS platforms especially thin client a real issue.  Same 
>>> applies
>>> for Mac based schools.
>>>
>>> Thirdly is the lack of will of current educators to think outside the
>>> box and accept change.  There are those out there who can and do, but
>>> they are a minority.
>>>
>>> Linux as the main delivery platform especially thin client is a
>>> financial and management no brainer.  It works and saves money.  The
>>> issue lies with the above and will continue to do so for a while yet.
>>> Linux installs will be the exception rather than the rule for the
>>> foreseeable future.
>>>
>>> The quickest way in my opinion to change this is to provide good 
>>> quality
>>> "CROSS PLATFORM" education related apps.  These will need to be
>>> curriculum specific in a lot of cases making a world wide suite a 
>>> little
>>> tricky.
>>>
>>> Cross platform is the key.  Take away the need for a specific 
>>> platform
>>> and people we go for the cheapest most stable and easy to manage 
>>> system
>>> (Linux thin client)
>>>
>>> Soapbox going away now
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Andy Trevor
>>>
>>> Technical Director
>>> Cutter Project Limited
>>> http://www.cutterproject.co.uk
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> This message has been scanned for viruses and
>>> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
>>> believed to be clean.
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> edubuntu-devel mailing list
>>> edubuntu-devel at lists.ubuntu.com
>>> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/edubuntu-devel
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Regards
>
> Andy Trevor
>
>
>
> -- 
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.
>
>
> -- 
> edubuntu-devel mailing list
> edubuntu-devel at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/edubuntu-devel
>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text/enriched
Size: 4388 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/edubuntu-devel/attachments/20061011/c5f2462c/attachment.bin>