Peter Kupfer wrote:
I've been using OOo Writer extensively, both at home and at work, for about two years. I really don't want to teach MS-Word again!
Have you considered teaching both.
No no no. Teach them general word processor skills, but using OOo only. Trying to teach MS Word as well would increase the cost, and add a significant burden on both the instructor and the pupils.
Well, if they already have license, then then there is no cost, I wouldn't advocate buying Word necessarily.
My point was that it would be nice if the students were versatile. For me atleast, after a while all computer programs look the same. I can quickly figure out how to use any program because fundamentally they are all the same. Sometimes, the options are in weird places, like in OOo, the margins are under Format > Page, not File > Properties like in Word. (Not that OOo is necessarily the weird one, I don't want that debate again. :) )
If students learn skills in multiple programs, they will be able to find them again in a different program, say like AbiWord.
I understand what you are saying, and if teaching both is too much that is fine. But, in some ways just teaching OOo is just as bad as ONLY teaching Office. Granted there are some political reasons why using OOo is better, but to say that OOo is only good word processor is the same as saying Word is the only good word processor.
.02
BTW: I like INGOTs a lot, I hope it gains more popularity in the US. -- Peter Kupfer OOo user since 'OO4 http://peschtra.tripod.com/open_office/ooo_front.htm
