The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

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Thomas Dyer

15 Jan 2005 15 Jan '05

10:34

Firstly, I went to the BETT show on Thursday, and I was really gobsmacked. So many people selling so many things, for so much money, where so many of them are simply "money-grabbing".

...

From a "technologists" perspective, I found the school admin, print costing, lockdown, no-spam, no-virus, no-billion-dolla-from-nigeria actually rather sad. I've had "locked down, print costed, no-spam and no-virused installs for clients for a long time".

I'd been invited down by SchoolLinux who had a stand upstairs. They have a "cut down, locked down" 50meg CD image, based on fedora, gnome, etc with some really nice additions. They've also got some other neat products too... Although they seemed busy enough, I found it comical the people who clearly looked at the price tag and just didn't consider it at all. Warren (who was wearing his SchoolLinux t-shirt) and I had a look at Microsoft Class Server. MS let us stand about for a good 10 minutes at one of their PC's, without anyone bothering us. Does anyone have any info on MS Class Server? It looked like a dot.net application feeding a Q&A ASP web application, dealing with multiple choice tests etc etc. I know that Smoothwall were also about, but didn't get to chat. There were various bits of Education software that were clearly written by ex-educators who didn't seem particularly commercially minded, which were not extremely polished, but which showed a "love of the topic", which was probably the nicest thing. On an entirely off topic and commercially motivated bent, my second point. Computashop on Tottenham Court Road have now got a linux box, instore, running a customised SuSE 9.2 (as of yesterday). We were responsible for the customisations, and our commercial bent is that we're dealing with the physical install and setup onsite, and the support and alike. I know if we were in just about any other country in the world, being able to walk into a "high traffic" computer shop and buying a machine based on Linux, is old news, but it's good for the novelty value ;) As we're still perfecting the final "default" install behaviour, I'd appreciate it this isn't slashdotted about ... ;) But if anyone is in town today, you can (if you want) drop into 51 TCR, and see "a computer". We asked someone to play with it, and they told me that Word and Excel were good, but that they tried to find the "system32" directory because they wanted to delete it and haven't been able to yet. Thomas Xdevelopment

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linuxgirlie

15 Jan 15 Jan

11:09

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

I was there on Thursday and totally agree, others we spoke to where Ergo, who will sell there Laptops/Tablets with out an OS, but we had to twist thier arm on that one, but they agreed in the end and Symatec who are doing a Linux version of their anti-virus software and put our schools down to do beta testing with it. SchoolLinux 50mb cd was based on Mandrake ;) but you couldn't tell!! There server software is based on Fedora/Red Hat. Another one to look out for is Intradesk, who provide Linux servers and clients with thier desk, they were back-to-back with Linux Schools. I was interested in RM who seemed to be showing off a VMWare clone and M$ who seemed to be showing some kind of Online Classroom system like Moodle. To be honest I normally use the Bett to take down ideas and provide my school with the free alternative...means they can be bleeding edge and not have to spend a fortune!!! Jo

Colin McQueen

17 Jan 17 Jan

11:56

linuxgirlie wrote:

...

I was interested in RM who seemed to be showing off a VMWare clone and M$ who seemed to be showing some kind of Online Classroom system like Moodle.

This may be the Learning Gateway. It is essentially Sharepoint Portal Server 2003 (SPS) configured for LEA/Schools with web parts for Class Server, Exchange Server and LIVE Comms server (Messenger) and some integrating web parts that bring assignment deadlines, school events and personal calendars into a planner view. There are attempts to integrate SIMS as well. All held together by MSSQL server and protected by ISA-SERVER. Very expensive solution but quite good at sharing and indexing information. Moodle has far more learning tools and isn't trying to be all things. RM has Kaleidos as a VLE and CMS and may be releasing a complete MLE/LMS in Autumn which licences SPS from MS. Connect 3 schools only at first. Other similar things on show, NetMedia's MyGrid4Learning and Capita's Learning Platform. All very expensive. -- Colin McQueen

linuxgirlie

12:12

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Re: The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

Have we got all those things? Though in seperate packages??!?? If so surely its just a case of putting on a frontend for all the systems so its intergrated. I'm pretty sure its easy enough to get PHP to talk to all of the different MySql Databases provided. Has anyone got any ideas to what we can use instead?? This sort of thing really annoys me!! ARGH!! :) Jo On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 11:56:38 +0000, Colin McQueen wrote:

...

linuxgirlie wrote:

...
I was interested in RM who seemed to be showing off a VMWare clone and M$ who seemed to be showing some kind of Online Classroom system like Moodle.

This may be the Learning Gateway. It is essentially Sharepoint Portal Server 2003 (SPS) configured for LEA/Schools with web parts for Class Server, Exchange Server and LIVE Comms server (Messenger) and some integrating web parts that bring assignment deadlines, school events and personal calendars into a planner view. There are attempts to integrate SIMS as well. All held together by MSSQL server and protected by ISA-SERVER. Very expensive solution but quite good at sharing and indexing information. Moodle has far more learning tools and isn't trying to be all things. RM has Kaleidos as a VLE and CMS and may be releasing a complete MLE/LMS in Autumn which licences SPS from MS. Connect 3 schools only at first. Other similar things on show, NetMedia's MyGrid4Learning and Capita's Learning Platform. All very expensive.

-- Colin McQueen

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help@suse.com

-- Spread FireFox: http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=user/register&r=32751 Get FireFox: http://www.getfirefox.com OpenOffice: http://www.openoffice.org Mandrake: http://www.mandrakelinux.com Karoshi: http://www.karoshi.org.uk

Miles Berry

13:15

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Re: The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

I don't know that we have yet. Moodle is great for the VLE stuff, and I have high hopes of e-groupware for the communication/calendaring side of things, but I don't know of any viable Linux school MIS yet - schooltool has potential, but seemed a long way behind the rest of the commercial offerings last time I looked. How vaible would it be to add MIS tables and tools on to, eg Moodle, rather than starting from scratch? linuxgirlie wrote:

...

Have we got all those things? Though in seperate packages??!??

If so surely its just a case of putting on a frontend for all the systems so its intergrated. I'm pretty sure its easy enough to get PHP to talk to all of the different MySql Databases provided.

Has anyone got any ideas to what we can use instead??

This sort of thing really annoys me!! ARGH!!

:)

Jo

-- Miles Berry Deputy Head St Ives School Haslemere www.stiveshaslemere.com

linuxgirlie

13:47

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Re: The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

Hi, I have actually been doing this at the moment. I took moodle and started to add MIS sections to it, using SIMS as a guideline. I have so far gotten something that will add and delete student data, but then it got stopped because of work on Karoshi. I really need someone with PHP/Mysql knowledge to help me carry on. Its stored at the moment at: www.linuxgfx.co.uk/sids I will have to change the name as someone told me it stands for something not very nice!! Jo On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 13:15:05 +0000, Miles Berry wrote:

...

I don't know that we have yet. Moodle is great for the VLE stuff, and I have high hopes of e-groupware for the communication/calendaring side of things, but I don't know of any viable Linux school MIS yet - schooltool has potential, but seemed a long way behind the rest of the commercial offerings last time I looked. How vaible would it be to add MIS tables and tools on to, eg Moodle, rather than starting from scratch?

linuxgirlie wrote:

...
Have we got all those things? Though in seperate packages??!??

If so surely its just a case of putting on a frontend for all the systems so its intergrated. I'm pretty sure its easy enough to get PHP to talk to all of the different MySql Databases provided.

Has anyone got any ideas to what we can use instead??

This sort of thing really annoys me!! ARGH!!

:)

Jo

-- Miles Berry Deputy Head St Ives School Haslemere www.stiveshaslemere.com

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help@suse.com

Thomas Adam

17:06

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Re: The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

--- linuxgirlie wrote:

...

I really need someone with PHP/Mysql knowledge to help me carry on.

I have some spare time coming up that I can devote to this, should you wish. -- Thomas Adam ===== "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- http://linuxgazette.net "TAG Editor" -- http://linuxgazette.net "<shrug> We'll just save up your sins, Thomas, and punish you for all of them at once when you get better. The experience will probably kill you. :)" -- Benjamin A. Okopnik (Linux Gazette Technical Editor) ___________________________________________________________ ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Richard Rothwell

20:28

New subject: about Schoolforge... to avoid cross posting...

Hi All, First, may I apologise for this posting, but it seems the only way to contact a large number of people who seem to share common goals. Schoolforge-UK was formed some two years ago with one of its key aims to bring together individuals and organisations that advocate, use, and develop open resources for UK schools and colleges. I believe that we need to make clear the number of schools in the UK that are currently using Free and Open Source Software in some way or other. We are planning a meeting in late February to give some direction to the current interest in Open Source in schools. We have support from several major organisations - commercial and community - and will be publishing an open letter of invitation within the next fortnight. If you are interested in what we are doing please visit the website, and if you like us, join. http://www.schoolforge.org.uk regards, Richard Rothwell Chair Schoolforge-UK ___________________________________________________________ ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Miles Berry

27 Feb 27 Feb

13:48

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Re: The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

I wonder if anyone on this list has got further with adding MIS functionality to Moodle? There have been a few interesting threads of late on the Using Moodle forums (registration required) http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=19190 http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=19268 http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=18504 linuxgirlie wrote:

...

Hi,

I have actually been doing this at the moment. I took moodle and started to add MIS sections to it, using SIMS as a guideline. I have so far gotten something that will add and delete student data, but then it got stopped because of work on Karoshi.

I really need someone with PHP/Mysql knowledge to help me carry on.

...

Jo

-- Miles Berry Deputy Head St Ives School Haslemere www.stiveshaslemere.com

linuxgirlie

16:26

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Re: The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

I haven't been working on it, as we have the new release of karoshi as well as our new website nearly ready for release today. I have had a look at open admin, as suggested on moodle (http://richtech.ca/openadmin/index.html), but find the UI horrible, from my point of view and thinking like how my admin staff would feel. I think I will download it and have a play. If its not to much hassle I might try and give it a nicer look and feel, I think they have the general background much more than schooltool, and I prefer webbased over computer based anyday!! Anyhow, I'm waffling, Jo On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 13:48:07 +0000, Miles Berry wrote:

...

I wonder if anyone on this list has got further with adding MIS functionality to Moodle? There have been a few interesting threads of late on the Using Moodle forums (registration required) http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=19190 http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=19268 http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=18504

linuxgirlie wrote:

...
Hi,

I have actually been doing this at the moment. I took moodle and started to add MIS sections to it, using SIMS as a guideline. I have so far gotten something that will add and delete student data, but then it got stopped because of work on Karoshi.

I really need someone with PHP/Mysql knowledge to help me carry on.

...

...
Jo

-- Miles Berry Deputy Head St Ives School Haslemere www.stiveshaslemere.com

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help@suse.com

Thomas Adam

23:54

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Re: The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

--- Miles Berry wrote:

...

I wonder if anyone on this list has got further with adding MIS functionality to Moodle?

Further to the offer I extended Jo some weeks ago now, I have been messing with this thing in some detail. It's not too bad [1]. If you remind me later on during the week, I'll report the features I've added to it. -- Thomas Adam [1] For varying values of "bad", that is.... ===== "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- http://linuxgazette.net "TAG Editor" -- http://linuxgazette.net "<shrug> We'll just save up your sins, Thomas, and punish you for all of them at once when you get better. The experience will probably kill you. :)" -- Benjamin A. Okopnik (Linux Gazette Technical Editor) Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Tony Whitmore

15 Jan 15 Jan

13:21

New subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] The BETT Show & A Computer on Tottenham Court Road

Thomas Dyer wrote:

...

...
Firstly, I went to the BETT show on Thursday

...

...
I know that Smoothwall were also about, but didn't get to chat.

FWIW, I found out that "Frog Teacher", who were demonstrating their "Frog Server" were also using Linux. It's essentially a PHP webmail application on a Linux box. They were advertising it as "no need for MS Exchange" which is probably a good thing, but not advertising it's Linux platform, which is a bit disappointing IMHO. Two guys from Adelix (who produce CensorNet) were also there wandering around, but they didn't have a stand this year - they're really busy ATM. Tony

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Colin McQueen
linuxgirlie
Miles Berry
Richard Rothwell
Thomas Adam
Thomas Dyer
Tony Whitmore