Fwd: Edubuntu Feisty

[David Trask]

My take on the following:


"Scott Ledyard" <scott at redboot.biz> writes:
>
>my argument with the teachers was:
>- teach them linux and windows. later the kids can decide on their own
>depending 
>on where they work and what they work on

+++++++++++++++++++

It shouldn't be "teach them Windows or teach them Linux", but rather teach
them concepts vs. applications and OS's.  Once you teach concepts....the
OS is largely irrelevant.  I'll use my own school as an example.  Today's
eighth graders entered this school in the fall of 1998 as kindergarters. 
At that time, many of the computers in this school were not hooked up to
the Internet at all (I came on board in the fall of 1999 and fixed all
that)  The computers were old LC580's and LC II's (Apple) running System
7.1 or 7.63.  They ran applications like Clarisworks, Netscape, and
others.  The few PC's we had were running Windows 95 or 98 and all sorts
of older software.  Fast-forward to today (a few short years later)....we
have Linux thin-clients in every classroom....a lab of Linux
thin-clients....Apple iBooks in the hands of every single 7th and 8th
graders (provided by the State)....a lab of eMacs (Apple) which can boot
or run as a session - Linux, Windows, or Mac OS X....and a scattering of
eMacs in special education classrooms to run Lexia Reading software. 
Now...if we had expended all of our energy teaching Clarisworks....or
Windows 95....where would we be now?  Instead we focused on things like
how to save documents, proper keyboarding, keyboard shortcuts like CTRL-S,
and so forth.  As time went on, the kids were able to adapt quickly, sit
down, and get to work...regardless of the OS.  They now float effortlessly
between computers, laptops, and OS's as if they made no difference and
they don't).  The other day, I had a 1st grade teacher come and ask me for
another Linux terminal so her kids could type more.  She made the comment
that she prefers the Linux machine because the clipart is better.  (go
figure!)  :-)


One other note....roaming profiles is a huge key to success in many of
these case...especially in a thin-client terminal environment.  Anytime
you can make it so that the users documents. preferences, etc, follow them
regardless of where they log on or sit....you'll have a much easier time
with the transition.

++++++++++++++++++++

>
>- if they know linux, it is easier to adopt to windows, then the other way
>around

+++++++++++++++++++
not necessarily....I've found that it makes no difference....90% of it is
the attitude with which you approach the change.
+++++++++++++++++++
>
>- give them something interesting (which windows not is). all those
>issues like
>violence is in many cases caused by the fact that the kids don't have
>anything 
>to do and no place to go to. although this is not an issue in my town, I
>say:
>give them something to do that they like, using the computer.

+++++++++++++++++
or better yet, teach them how to "go out and play"
+++++++++++++++++
>
>- unlike the current generation, kids should understand what is inside
>the 
>computer. harddisk, slots, memory, etc. they should know what that is and
>how
>it works.
>- you can easily combine the lessons in math, chemics, languages, etc
>with the
>computer. the kids can do something useful and waste their energy. or you
>can 
>integrate the computer in school projects.

+++++++++++++
true, the trick is to make the computer another tool in the process rather
than the process itself
+++++++++++++
>
>
>
>I totally agree. The above points are made in an  EXCELLENT  podcast by
>Mike Huffman and Laura Taylor in an interview by Steve Hargadon at [
>http://educationbridges.net/k12opensource/?p=8 ]
>http://educationbridges.net/k12opensource/?p=8. They discuss the state of
>Indiana's inAccess program. The "A" stands for affordable. Schools get
>government money to buy computers but only if they run Linux on them.
>Some interesting quotes: "The word "Linux" never comes up." Teachers only
>care that each student gets their own computer that can support the
>curriculum. 
>
>
>
>
>teachers are by the way a big problem. they have in general no
>understanding 
>of computers, they don't know what possibilities there are and they do
>not have
>a lot of time to educate themselves. I believe teachers need to be in the
>boat
>as well. that is important.

+++++++++++++++++
And....administration needs to have the guts to say "Get with the program
or get out of the profession....in this day and age there is NO excuse for
not educating yourself on the use and integration of computers in the
classroom.  Schools can provide professional development opportunities to
a certain extent, but at some point it becomes the individuals
responsibility to learn on their own.
+++++++++++++++++
>
>
>ok. this is all for the moment. a mixture of hope, entusiasm and
>resignation is 
>the best description of how I feel when I discus with them. but I know it
>takes
>time and so I don't give up. 

++++++++++++++++++
Yes, don't give up...and don't push....just steer
++++++++++++++++++
>
>
>
> 
> 
>Yes, please be patient with them. As a teacher, I must add that each
>year, teachers are asked to jump in a new "boat", that is a new learning
>system or behavior management program and they natually get pretty
>cynical about it. But when teachers see something that works *reliably*
>they will use it. 
>
>
>
>what I see here in
>europe is that the kids nowadays grow up with at least three languages:
>german,
>englisch and then the language of e.g. a spanish father, an italian or
>french
>mother just to name some. in school they usually learn englisch and
>french or
>englisch and spanish.


++++++++++++
that's a very cool thing about Europe!  :-)
++++++++++++
>
>
> 
>As an aside, this is such a strength for the kids of Europe. Foreign
>languages typically aren't introduced here in the U.S. until 9th grade.
>Having started to learn Spanish in my 40's, all I can say is it's muy
>difícil!.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
true (dammit)...........I took 4 years of French....I live next to Quebec
and need to be able to order beer when I travel across the border  ;-)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++


Hey...above all....keep fighting the "good" fight  :-)
>



David N. Trask
Technology Teacher/Director
Vassalboro Community School
dtrask at vcsvikings.org
(207)923-3100