script to access program use of PCs (Re: edubuntu for day-care centers, philippines)

[Philipp Schröder]

Hi,

maning sambale schrieb:

> I would like to ask if there is a package or script that can create
> logs on what programs the teachers and students use/access?
> 
> Will van der Leij discussed in the mail that analyzing logs alone is
> not an indication of active use and can be misleading [1].  We hope to
> incorporate log analysis into the qualitiative evaluation process.
> 
> Any ideas?  Thank you in advance.

Getting more information about the usage of applications in Edubuntu is 
a good idea. (And I agree about the warning that analysing logs alone 
can be misleading).

Are you aware of the 'Ubuntu Popularity Contest'?  see 
http://popcon.ubuntu.com/

There is currently work underway to enhance popcon [1].

The Ubuntu Counter Project is also somewhat related [2].

Best,
Philipp


[1] https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/simple-popcon-participation
[2] http://ubuntucounter.geekosophical.net/


> [1]
>>> 4.  As part of the project I would also like to monitor how the PC are
>>> being used (both by teachers and students).  One mechanism is to save
>>> the syslog (possibly on a diskette) and send them to me for analysis.
>> Monitoring application usage can be a helpful exercise but can also be
>> misleading. Using programme access logs as such does not really give an
>> indication of use. Children (and adults too I guess) can have an inquisitive
>> tendency to open up everything but not necessarily use it.
>> It can be helpful, though, in looking for anomolies, i.e.
>>  - is the workstation in the corner ever following the lesson plans
>>    during a lesson period
>>  - very popular applications will peak out in usage logs
>>  - and the opposite too
>>
>> The effectivity of a PC lab is not best measured by accounting for its usage
>> but rather for looking at its intended impact:
>>  - do the learners improve in attitude, confidence, exposure and basic
>>    knowledge of technology. A simple before & after Likert scale can be
>>    quite handy here.
>>  - where do the subjects/learners proceed to from there and are they
>>    better quipped? Etc.
>>
>> A much harder assessment to make is whether the technology intervention is
>> an improvement on or serves to compliment traditional teaching methods.
>>
>> Will van der Leij 

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Philipp Schroeder
DIN15 / Information Architecture & Interaction Design
www.din15.org, philipp at din15.org