Hi guys, this isn't directly related to Trisquel, but I don't know of any
more general free software community forums or mailing lists. I hope you
don't mind.
So, here's my problem: my Math teacher at the university I go to requires us
to use a website called WebAssign (webassign.net) to do our homework
assignments. WebAssign is basically a site which allows professors to not
have to grade the homework.
Even though this site is an example of software as a service, since all it
entails is grading math problems, I don't have a huge ethical problem with
using it to submit my homework in and of itself. What I do have a huge
problem with is WebAssign routinely requires the use of Flash for many of the
problems (basically, any non-multiple-choice problem with an answer more
complex than a simple fraction requires a "special" box for entering formulas
which uses Flash, and graphs also have to be plotted with some Flash thing),
and it is incompatible with Gnash (requires Flash 10).
The class syllabus does not speak of any alternative methods for submitting
homework, though it doesn't explicitly say that the professor is unwilling to
accept an alternative grading method. It simply says that "[we] will be using
the WebAssign homework system."
Now, I want to approach my Math professor to ask about this, but I'm worried
about some obstacles:
First off, the university I go to is extremely terrible at software freedom
(though I don't know if it's terrible in comparison to other universities).
Use of proprietary software, including Windows, Microsoft Office, and iOS is
actively encouraged, as is the use of "E-books" which are in a proprietary
format, and the atmosphere in general is extremely supportive of proprietary
software, where it seems (though it is not the case, as at least I am an
exception) that no student or teacher on the entire campus uses anything
other than Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, or Android. There doesn't even seem to be
any awareness here that free software exists; I once experienced a mixture of
amusement and sadness when a classmate claimed that Microsoft Office is the
only office suite choice. The wording of my math class's syllabus is another
example of this; the fact that WebAssign is used is just mentioned as
something completely uncontroversial, as if it's a given that everyone can
use it with no problems, and the fact that it uses Flash is completely
ignored.
Second, I've been giving in and using WebAssign regardless up to this point
(by doing my work on Windows, since I still refuse to install Flash on
Trisquel), so it is plainly obvious that I am /able/ to do it. What can I
possibly tell my professor? Given the general culture of my university, if I
tell him that I have an ethical issue with using Flash, even though it is
true, I don't know if he'll believe it, especially when it's so sudden.
Third, as far as I can tell, I don't have any leverage in this; if I refuse
to do the work on WebAssign, he just gives me an F. It seems I'm entirely
dependent on the goodwill of the professor.
Do any of you have any suggestions for how I could deal with this problem?
Namely, what should I say to my professor? Would it be more effective to talk
to him in person, or to send him an E-mail?
And hopefully this will not be the case, but if it turns out that my
professor is completely unwilling to accept another method for doing my
homework, or at least the parts of it that require Flash on WebAssign, what
should I do then?
- [Trisquel-users] Adobe Flash required by mat... onpon4
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