[ubuntu-za] Free and Open Source Software in Schools

[Vijay Makanjee]

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good post
raises important issues.


Vijay Makanjee
Ergo | P O Box 19801 | Tecoma 5214 | South Africa
Ph +2782 6014353 | Fax: 0866563858
vijay at ergo dot co dot za


Péter Nel wrote:
> This schools approach is a great idea.
> 
> Some random, yet semi-structured thoughts:
> 
> * what exactly does "FOSS in Schools" mean? Is it,
>   ** that STUDENTS should use FOSS in all subjects in School, and/or
> at -Home- to do their assignments?
>   (I'm unsure of what kids use PC's for in school these days, when I
> was in school it was mainly for the "computer science" subject and
> home assignments)
>   ** that The school itself should run its admin systems on FOSS?
>   ** The teachers should run FOSS @ home setting up
> notes/assignments/exams, etc
>   ** the computer lab?
> 
> I think focusing on one area, or dividing the Wiki into specialized
> areas, would be more effective. For instance Sections (from most to
> least general) on:
> * School administration software.
> * Software for teachers
> * Software for general subjects
> * Software and resources for Computer Science in schools
> * The School Computer Club
> 
> Remember alot of schools are already sold on Windows -- are they lost
> to us? what about info/links on dual booting, or virtualizing?
> 
> This being true in in my case, CompSci students often know more than
> their teachers in some (most) areas, and are sometimes able to
> initiate projects or interest in extra ciricular activities like the
> "Computer Club"; ... "HOWTO: Start a Computer Club in your School! --
> link-> "...
> They may also (being the the star CS student) be able to influence the
> CS teacher.
> The CS teacher, can in turn influence other teachers, and then
> eventually the school itself.
> 
> Also, some of these students tend to go on and study computing
> further, eventually making it their profession - even though the whole
> school, or even the computer science lab, had not been converted, they
> would carry that influence with them into the world - and the really
> bright and enthusiastic ones, might actually become more influential
> in the IT world than their cookie-cutter i-wanna-be-bill-gates
> counterparts; or at least lower FOSS resistance in their workplaces.
> One could therefore also have links to introductory material on "stuff
> not covered by the syllabus" - esp. cross-platform stuff (like java
> programming), and/or software packages that run both in linux and
> windows (e.g. OO.org, FireFox, etc.) - things that would lower the
> barrier to experimental cross-over; we used to code in pascal.. there
> are for instance versions of free pascal in the ubuntu repos (can
> anyone say bonus marks!?).
> 
> * Kids are easier to inspire, than adults..
> * Teenagers tend to respond to ideas of freedom, and self-empowerment.
> * Teachers reward young people that take initiative, and would put in
> extra effort to open doors for them (even go read up on FOSS)
> 
> It would be more likely that a computer club would adopt and
> experiment with FOSS, than converting a whole school would be.
> 
> 
> et cetara
> 
> Péter Nel
> _______________________________________________
> "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security,
> deserve neither liberty nor security"
>            - Benjamin Franklin
> 
> 
> 
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>> Today's Topics:
> 
>>    1.  Free and Open Source Software in Schools
>>       (William Walter Kinghorn)
> 
> 
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:53:38 +0200
>> From: William Walter Kinghorn <williamk at dut.ac.za>
>> Subject: [ubuntu-za] Free and Open Source Software in Schools
>> To: "ubuntu-za at lists.ubuntu.com" <ubuntu-za at lists.ubuntu.com>
>> Message-ID:
>>     <81DF9FB413A687439AC309E7E914C8E408CE43B936 at SMLSMBXSTF01.dut.ac.za>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
>> Hi All,
> 
>> Please add Documents, URLs, Programs in Ubuntu or not in Ubuntu, to
> this wiki, these must be free, so that schools have free use of them
>> http://wiki.ubuntu-za.org/Free_and_Open_Source_Software_in_Schools
> 
>> you will need to register
> 
>> William
> 
>> "This e-mail is subject to our Disclaimer, to view click
> http://www.dut.ac.za"
> 
> 
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