[opensuse-edu] question about reviewing apps

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Re: [opensuse-edu] question about...

Sarah

18 Mar 2007 18 Mar '07

20:51

Hello, I have a few questions about reviewing educational applications for the project. What information and format are most valuable in a review? Are there any examples or templates I should follow? Where should I post my feedback? Thanks, Sarah -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

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Rajko M.

19 Mar 19 Mar

02:11

On Sunday 18 March 2007 15:51, Sarah wrote:

...

Hello, I have a few questions about reviewing educational applications for the project. What information and format are most valuable in a review? Are there any examples or templates I should follow? Where should I post my feedback?

Thanks, Sarah

It is a good question, not only for educational software, but any software review published on openSUSE. Right now it is pretty much free form and one can find all kind of them, from the most rudimentary info to some that give quite a few details. Maybe one of the first things would be to look for good form. Please look at some initial idea what has to be included in one software review that was put on openSUSE wiki some time ago: http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Software_Overview and tell me what do you think, or better, if you can find time please look around and add/change above article. Some examples from Wikipedia, that might be easy to apply, as the openSUSE wiki is using the same software: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openoffice -- Regards, Rajko. http://en.opensuse.org/Portal -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

James Tremblay

13:11

On Sunday 18 March 2007 22:11, Rajko M. wrote:

...

Maybe one of the first things would be to look for good form. Please look at some initial idea what has to be included in one software review that was put on openSUSE wiki some time ago: http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Software_Overview and tell me what do you think, or better, if you can find time please look around and add/change above article.

Some examples from Wikipedia, that might be easy to apply, as the openSUSE wiki is using the same software: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Openoffice

-- Regards, Rajko. http://en.opensuse.org/Portal

I would have to put my vote on what Rajko has pointed out here . Keep in mind that I'm not well suited to writing reviews and My work with this wiki is my only experience with this kind of task. So I tend to look around and "re-use" layouts and templates as much as possible. ctrl-c\ctrl-v are my best friends. LOL The review of OpenOffice he points to seems to meet all my criteria. James -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

Karl Sarnow

07:09

Dear all, dear Sarah, I am editing a DVD with educational material based on Knoppix. Personally I have written a book about SuSE Linux in schools. So even as a "split" personality I would be _very_ interested in getting any review of educational software running under Linux. Please also have a look here: http://www.xplora.org/ww/en/pub/xplora/library/software.htm May be OpenSUSE and Xplora can work together in publishing reviews of educational software? All the best Karl Sarah schrieb:

...

Hello, I have a few questions about reviewing educational applications for the project. What information and format are most valuable in a review? Are there any examples or templates I should follow? Where should I post my feedback?

Thanks, Sarah

-- Karl Sarnow Science portal manager Xplora - The European Science Education Gateway E-mail: karl.sarnow@eun.org -------------------------------- Rue de Treves 61 B-1040 Brussels Belgium Tel.: +32.2.790.7578 Fax.: +32.2.790.7585 -------------------------------- Visit us at EUN: http://www.eun.org Xplora: http://www.xplora.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

Rajko M.

23:02

On Monday 19 March 2007 02:09, Karl Sarnow wrote:

...

Dear all, dear Sarah, I am editing a DVD with educational material based on Knoppix. Personally I have written a book about SuSE Linux in schools.

So even as a "split" personality I would be _very_ interested in getting any review of educational software running under Linux.

Please also have a look here:

http://www.xplora.org/ww/en/pub/xplora/library/software.htm

May be OpenSUSE and Xplora can work together in publishing reviews of educational software?

Hi Karl, There is nothing that may prevent reuse of content published on openSUSE wiki, it is published under GFDL. The Xplora Creative Commons should be good enough to allow exchange. -- Regards, Rajko. http://en.opensuse.org/Portal -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

Karl Sarnow

20 Mar 20 Mar

07:30

Rajko M. schrieb:

...

On Monday 19 March 2007 02:09, Karl Sarnow wrote:

...
Dear all, dear Sarah, I am editing a DVD with educational material based on Knoppix. Personally I have written a book about SuSE Linux in schools.

So even as a "split" personality I would be _very_ interested in getting any review of educational software running under Linux.

Please also have a look here:

http://www.xplora.org/ww/en/pub/xplora/library/software.htm

May be OpenSUSE and Xplora can work together in publishing reviews of educational software?

Hi Karl,

There is nothing that may prevent reuse of content published on openSUSE wiki, it is published under GFDL. The Xplora Creative Commons should be good enough to allow exchange.

Sure. Feel free to link to our reports or use it somehow, with a link to Xplora. Karl -- Karl Sarnow Science portal manager Xplora - The European Science Education Gateway E-mail: karl.sarnow@eun.org -------------------------------- Rue de Treves 61 B-1040 Brussels Belgium Tel.: +32.2.790.7578 Fax.: +32.2.790.7585 -------------------------------- Visit us at EUN: http://www.eun.org Xplora: http://www.xplora.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

James Tremblay

13:26

To all my education friends, I have been spending lots of time with Novell's education team since arriving at Brainshare Monday morning. I can tell everyone that Novell is very excited about our work. They asked that we continue to target desktop software for review and that we try and post the locations of source code or RPM's for as much GPL'd (the license is very important) software as we can find into the wishlist and or directly into the build service. That we review them and when possible show a uses case. I know that over the past few months I have been very quiet , this is not because I have lost interest. It is only a sign of how busy I am. I can and will be available to have discussions with anyone with questions or answers. LOL -- James Tremblay Director of Technology Newmarket School District Novell CNE 3\4\5 CLE \ NCE in training. http:\\en.opensuse.org\education -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

Phil Thane

13:56

On Tuesday 20 March 2007 13:26, James Tremblay wrote:

...

To all my education friends, I have been spending lots of time with Novell's education team since arriving at Brainshare Monday morning. I can tell everyone that Novell is very excited about our work. They asked that we continue to target desktop software for review and that we try and post the locations of source code or RPM's for as much GPL'd (the license is very important) software as we can find into the wishlist and or directly into the build service. That we review them and when possible show a uses case.

I know that over the past few months I have been very quiet , this is not because I have lost interest. It is only a sign of how busy I am. I can and will be available to have discussions with anyone with questions or answers. LOL

-- James Tremblay Director of Technology Newmarket School District Novell CNE 3\4\5 CLE \ NCE in training. http:\\en.opensuse.org\education

Hello, I keep quiet on this list, but I'm moved to answer two mails today, here's the second... I used to be a full time teacher specialising in Design & Technology (for those not in the UK I don't think there is anything like it outside the UK and a handful of former colonies. It's a sort of practical science combined with design drawing and workshop skills). I then spent 8 years as Support Manager for a (Windows) CAD/CAM system supplier that specialised in small systems for schools/colleges. Now I'm a full-time writer on education and technology related matters (and part-time teacher when necessary). I've been using FLOSS for about 4-5 years, these days I only use Windows when reviewing Windows software, and I'm trying to influence the education system here in Wales to use it too, though without notable success so far. A serious sticking point for my ex-colleagues in D&T is CAD. To put it bluntly there isn't a decent Open Source 2D/3D package. Most schools in England and Wales run TechSoft 2D Design (TechSoft is my former employer) and PTC's ProDESKTOP. 2D has been around since the early 90s (and developed from an earlier product on Acorn computers) so the schools have long since forgotten the cost, it is free now. TechSoft don't do a Linux version, but it runs OK under WINE. PTC did a deal with the UK govt about 5 years ago to put ProD free into all schools. Distribution, training and support was organised by the Design & Technology Association who charge for training only. Result - software that is 'Free' in the sense that "the beer is free but we're going to want £500 to teach you how to use it." But again that was a while ago, now they have it, it's free this year, and it won't run on Linux. Most schools also use some sort of CAM. The machines run on serial, parallel or USB ports, usually requiring special drivers, rather like printer drivers in many cases. The drivers are usually Windows only. Ironicaly TechSoft sell a 3D printer for rapid prototyping. It has an x86 PC embedded inside running Linux, but the control software and 'driver' that makes contact with the machine is for Windows! D&T teachers are usually the most IT literate outside of the actual IT dept in a school, the most enthusiastic and heaviest users. FLOSSIE stands no chance without their support, and they need CAD/CAM. Anyone out there prepared to take all the FLOSS CAD and build a decent schools package out of it? Or start from scratch? I'm not a developer, but I'm prepared to be a consultant, tester and publicity person. The best application I have seen for school use is Varicad (free demo available) but it's not FLOSS and it isn't especially cheap. -- Regards Phil Thane Bryn Villa Penycoed Road (off Brook St) Llangollen LL20 8LR 01978 861677 07971 987623 phil@brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk www.brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

Lars Vogdt

15:45

Welcome Sarah, hi James & @ll ... First of all: Welcome to openSUSE! Nice to see this list growing! Sarah writes:

...

I have a few questions about reviewing educational applications for the project.

Which applications do you mean?

...

What information and format are most valuable in a review?

Currently I'm a bit confused - and want to summarize some things (please forgive me for that ;-): 1) If you want to write some help for using application XY, you should talk to the original developers. They are normally very happy when somebody writes user documentation for them and integrate your work in their project. In this way every user on every distribution can benefit from your work. 2) If you want to create some reviews, you can do this at the openSUSE Wiki. I agree with Rajko that we need some templates for this. As not everybody has clicked on the links, Rajko has posted (thanks!), I like to create a first content template here in this list - please discuss it here. Not all of the content is useful for every software review, but we should provide as much as possible for the template. So this should be the first answer for your Question:

...

Are there any examples or templates I should follow?

= Name of the program = 1 Overview 1.1 History (if useful) 2. Features 2.1 Application area (could even be useful to list the recommended school type here) 2.2 Standards supported 2.3 Security remarks 2.4 ??? 3. Alternative Applications and Forks 4. Development 5. See also 6. References/ Notes 7. External links If you have additional chapters or sections, please add it ...

...

Where should I post my feedback?

Looking around I think we can collect the current work in the openSUSE Wiki. I've created a first starting point at: http://en.opensuse.org/Reviews the Categories for the Software Reviews are the same as on the Wishlists. I'll start a template for reviews, when we've discussed the proposal above. 3) I think it could be a good idea to add some curriculums and software recommendations for different school types here, too. BUT: *Forgive me for my heretical ideas below* ;-) I think this is something for _all_ distributions around the world. If no one intervenes, I try to talk to Edubuntu, Skolelinux, Ofset and other Organisations. I think we should think about a central place for such things like edu-software-reviews, curriculums and so on. As most of the other plattforms also using a MediaWiki for storing their Articles, we can just start on the openSUSE Wiki and migrate or just copy the content to a "cross-plattform-education site" later.

...

I know that over the past few months I have been very quiet , this is not because I have lost interest. It is only a sign of how busy I am. I can and will be available to have discussions with anyone with questions or answers. LOL

Please add me to this statement ;-) Regards, Lars -- Lars Vogdt Autobuild Team SUSE Linux Products GmbH GF: Markus Rex Nuernberg, Germany HRB 16746 (AG Nuernberg) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

fsgaston＠schooltechperson.com

19:18

New subject: [opensuse-edu] Social Studies Applications

I'm the technical consultant for the Indiana Access project http://doe.state.in.us/inaccess and we have some schools which are starting to intergrate their linux desktops in Social studies classes. Does anybody have any good sites or any suggestions of software for the following areas: Economics Geography and History of the World Psychology Sociology United States Government United States History World Geography World History and Civilization Almost all of our 12,000 desktops have been in English, so Social Studies is a new avenue with new apps needed etc. Thanks again for your help. Forrest Gaston Consultant INACCESS Project 317-289-6843 fsgaston@schooltechperson.com BS Elementary Ed, MS CICS, MBA -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

James Tremblay

21 Mar 21 Mar

04:02

On Tuesday 20 March 2007 11:45, Lars Vogdt wrote:

...

Welcome Sarah, hi James & @ll ...

First of all: Welcome to openSUSE! Nice to see this list growing!

Sarah writes:

...
I have a few questions about reviewing educational applications for the project.

Which applications do you mean?

...
What information and format are most valuable in a review?

Currently I'm a bit confused - and want to summarize some things (please forgive me for that ;-):

1) If you want to write some help for using application XY, you should talk to the original developers. They are normally very happy when somebody writes user documentation for them and integrate your work in their project.

In this way every user on every distribution can benefit from your work.

2) If you want to create some reviews, you can do this at the openSUSE Wiki. I agree with Rajko that we need some templates for this. As not everybody has clicked on the links, Rajko has posted (thanks!), I like to create a first content template here in this list - please discuss it here. Not all of the content is useful for every software review, but we should provide as much as possible for the template.

So this should be the first answer for your Question:

...
Are there any examples or templates I should follow?

= Name of the program = 1 Overview 1.1 History (if useful) 2. Features 2.1 Application area (could even be useful to list the recommended school type here) 2.2 Standards supported 2.3 Security remarks 2.4 ??? 3. Alternative Applications and Forks 4. Development 5. See also 6. References/ Notes 7. External links

If you have additional chapters or sections, please add it ...

...
Where should I post my feedback?

Looking around I think we can collect the current work in the openSUSE Wiki. I've created a first starting point at: http://en.opensuse.org/Reviews the Categories for the Software Reviews are the same as on the Wishlists. I'll start a template for reviews, when we've discussed the proposal above.

3) I think it could be a good idea to add some curriculums and software recommendations for different school types here, too.

BUT: *Forgive me for my heretical ideas below* ;-)

I think this is something for _all_ distributions around the world. If no one intervenes, I try to talk to Edubuntu, Skolelinux, Ofset and other Organisations. I think we should think about a central place for such things like edu-software-reviews, curriculums and so on.

As most of the other plattforms also using a MediaWiki for storing their Articles, we can just start on the openSUSE Wiki and migrate or just copy the content to a "cross-plattform-education site" later.

...
I know that over the past few months I have been very quiet , this is not because I have lost interest. It is only a sign of how busy I am. I can and will be available to have discussions with anyone with questions or answers. LOL

Please add me to this statement ;-)

Regards, Lars

-- Lars Vogdt Autobuild Team SUSE Linux Products GmbH GF: Markus Rex Nuernberg, Germany HRB 16746 (AG Nuernberg)

I agree with Lars and always follow the leads offered me by the wonderful members of the OpenSUSE team. They have lead me to create what we already have here without any misdirection..Thank you Lars ;) so his template ideas would get my vote in discussion and since this a limited democracy please members speak your mind. I think that we can change the perception of what is "standard" , as Phil Thane pointed out, buy associating software with OpenSUSE in these repositories. soon people will start to say " it's listed in the OpenSUSE repository it must be "standard" and Phil I too need a CAD program for my high school. so please if you have any influence with one, talk to them about opensourcing with OpenSUSE's help, they could be the first in the market to do so and be the default choice in the future! -- James Tremblay Director of Technology Newmarket School District Novell CNE 3\4\5 CLE \ NCE in training. http:\\en.opensuse.org\education -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org

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fsgaston＠schooltechperson.com
James Tremblay
Karl Sarnow
Lars Vogdt
Phil Thane
Rajko M.
Sarah