[ubuntu-uk] HLUG Open Source Schools Project

[Rob Beard]

On 29/07/11 10:06, Sarah Chard wrote:
> Hi
> I wanted to let you know what is happening here in Herefordshire.
> As a part of ISFD we are running an Open Source Schools Project -
> partially inspired by discussions here on education and open source.
>
> Herefordshire LUG contacted schools across the county and we now have
> around 7 schools primary, junior and secondary who are interested in
> taking part.
>
> We are creating a lubuntu based distro called tuxedu
> http://www.tuxedu.org.uk/ for use in primary schools - this is designed
> to run live but is locked down so it is a completely safe and secure
> environment. We also intend to produce a secondary version that does
> allow internet access.
> Because it is based on lubuntu it is lightweight and will run on older
> less high spec machines.
>
> Following our HLUG meeting on weds we now have support from the ICT
> consultants at the council who organise ICT across the county's schools
> - they are introducing us to the schools network techs - so that we can
> explain our project and ensure that they will allow us access to run
> tuxedu on the schools networks.
>
> We intend to do workshops with students at the schools and also run a
> session with teachers and possibly interested parents at each school -
> this will all take place in the autumn term.
> If it is successful we may be able to expand the project to other
> schools in the county
> It is a very exciting project and our hope is that it can be used as a
> base for similar projects in other areas.
>
> Sarah
>
>

That's great going, I'd certainly be interested in giving it a try.  I'm 
currently working on a project here in Torbay to provide a couple of old 
laptops to a local Sure Start Centre as a sort of mobile computer suite 
(well 2 laptops and a printer) and maybe something like this would work 
well rather than me re-inventing the wheel :-)

I'll be sure to forward this e-mail to my local LUG, we have a couple of 
people in our LUG who have some involvement with schools and nurseries 
so maybe of interest to them.

Rob