add somehwere examples of howw OSS will enhance the education process and reduce teacher workload, nothing else will count in the long run IMHO.
> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of > Craig Sanders > Sent: Tuesday, 30 July 2002 10:54 AM > To: Ann Moffatt > Cc: Mail List - LINK; Mail List - SLUG > Subject: Re: [LINK] Re: [SLUG] NSW DET to be urged to use OSS > > > On Mon, Jul 29, 2002 at 04:35:02PM +1000, Ann Moffatt wrote: > > jeff waugh wrote > > "What sort of strategies do you suggest for educating the DoE, > both at the > > bureaucratic and teaching levels, Jon? We need to get cracking > on our side > > to encourage this (worthy) goal." > > > > first, we need to educate board members and senior exec on technology > > issues. as the only technology literate member of the board of > nsw tafe for > > the 2 years i served on that board i spent a considerable > amount of time & > > energy bringing other board membs & senior exec up to speed on > technology > > issues. > > part of this can be done by coming up with a list of advantages of open > source software, both general advantages and specifically educational > advantages. > > each point on the list should be a simple, easily understood concept of > one short sentence. it should then be backed up with explanation and > wherever possible, real-life examples (esp. examples within the > education sector). > > as i see it, there are two main types of advantages relevant to schools. > the first i'll call "Economic and Administrative". the second is > "educational". > > > just off the top of my head, here are some starting entries... > > > Economic and Administrative Reasons: > > 1. open source software costs less #1 > > (explanation and examples about reduced (zero) cost of software) > > 2. open source software costs less #2 > > (expl. and examples about reduced cost of hardware - e.g. linux runs > well on older, cheaper machines) > > 3. less money spent on software means more is available for other uses > > e.g. books, teacher salaries, equipment, maintainence, etc etc etc. > > 4. OSS avoids licensing problems > > (e.g. got a new machine? no problem, just install linux with no need > to worry about whether you have enough licenses) > > 5. OSS is tamper-proof > > (eg a classroom full of linux machines is inherently "locked-down", > preventing students from installing viruses and games, or over-riding > security controls. anyone who's worked with a class full of windows > machines knows that's next to impossible with windows, requiring > frequent reinstalls of each workstation) > > 6. OSS principles can be applied to courseware development > > schools can share the electronic courseware they've developed with > each other & improve on it. refer back to Mac's HyperCard from the > late 1980s - this program was an amazing hit with teachers and > schools all over the world. Hypercard itself wasn't open-source, > but many of the courseware applications created with it were. > > as well as sharing individual pieces of courseware, schools can group > together to fund development of shared material. > > > Educational Reasons: > > 1. students get to learn how computers actually work > > (e.g. linux users are not treated with a patronising contempt that > assumes they're too stupid/ignorant to understand the machines they > work with) > > this is an extremely important point - a closed box that nobody is > allowed to understand teaches students to become dependant lackeys. > > 2. OSS teaches collaboration and co-operation on larger projects > > it also provides a compelling example to students that such efforts > CAN produce significant and worthwhile results. > > 3. OSS allows access to cutting-edge research software > > most software developed in universities for research purposes is > available only for unix. the software embodies many of the > principles being taught in class. this is particularly appropriate > for science, engineering, and other "technology"-related courses. > > > i've written about as much as i have time for today.....the above will > have to do for a start. > > > note: this list is public domain. feel free to use, add to, delete > from, or change - with or without attribution. > > > > [...] most think the average tech head is a smart arse who just wants > > to spend money on trinkets & toys!! > > most open-source advocates like to promote the idea that you can do a > lot more with a lot less. why waste thousands on software when that > money would be better spent on hardware, or on more general > school/academic expenses (books and salaries rather than software)? > > craig > > -- > craig sanders <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Fabricati Diem, PVNC. > -- motto of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch > -- > SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group - http://slug.org.au/ > More Info: http://lists.slug.org.au/listinfo/slug -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group - http://slug.org.au/ More Info: http://lists.slug.org.au/listinfo/slug
