April 2002 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Meeting yesterday and welcome to new members of the list
by Philip Hands 07 Jul '03

07 Jul '03

Roger Whittaker <roger(a)suse-linux.co.uk> writes: > I've just subscribed various people to the list - please post a > message to say hello and introduce yourselves. Hi, If you were at the meeting, I was wearing a Debian t-shirt (with a red swirl logo on it) --- there's a photo at the top of this article, where I'm wearing similar stuff (except for the penguin ;-) http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/articles/issue6/lu6-Editorial-A_patently_bad_ide… I'm a Debian GNU/Linux developer, and run the UK Debian mirror, and am responsible for producing the Debian official CD images: http://www.uk.debian.org/ http://cdimage.debian.org/ I have only a peripheral interest in educational matters, in that I've been frustrated in the past in my efforts to provide free computers (which were otherwise destined for a skip), but I can certainly contribute on a technical side, and having been involved in Debian (which is completely voluntary, like OSIE is expected to be) since 1996 I may be able to make some suggestions about how to ``organise'' such a thing. For those of you who've not come across Debian before, we're a world-wide voluntary organisation (read, chaotic jumble of mailing lists) that puts together a Linux distribution (and soon a HURD distribution) and gives it away. Debian doesn't pay people to do this, and doesn't sell what it produces, and in most legal senses doesn't really exist (i.e. the machines in the mirror network mostly belong to people like me, rather than to Debian, and the bandwidth is donated rather than paid for). This probably gives a pretty good feel for what Debian is all about: http://www.uk.debian.org/social_contract which you will notice leads into the The Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG), which is where the Open Source Definition came from. My internet machine, that hosts the Debian UK mirror, may be of use to OSIE, since it has about 30GB of spare disk, and a 20Mbit/s connection at a well connected ISP. This machine could act as either a primary host or mirror site for the web site, and could do DNS secondarying etc. as well. Something I'd be interested in working on (although perhaps a SuSE list is not the right place to spend too much time discussing this ;-) would be producing Debian CD images, tuned to the needs of educational users. Debian has accumulated some funds in the UK, and have been looking for a worthwhile cause to spend them on (we never really need to pay for anything that actually makes Debian work, so don't have much use for money), so we could probably afford to have a few thousand CDs pressed, and send them out to schools that are interested. Cheers, Phil. -- Say no to software patents! http://petition.eurolinux.org/ Philip Hands. +44 (0)20 7744 6244 philip.hands(a)uk.alcove.com Alcove UK --- Liberating Software --- http://www.alcove.com/ http://www.hands.com/ phil(a)hands.com http://www.uk.debian.org/

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RE NHS Meeting - Bill and Tony
by Alan Harris 18 Sep '02

18 Sep '02

Hi all thought this might be of interest to some of you :- <my email> > Subject: Microsoft and the British Government - Possible Anti-Competitive Behaviour > Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 15:04:20 +0100 > From: alanh(a)bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk > To: Erkki.Liikanen(a)cec.eu.int > > Hi, > > I write regarding the current negotiations between the British > Government and Microsoft in which, to date, Microsoft have been awarded > a contract to supply the National Health Service with some 60 Million > (£)'s worth of software licenses. > > I would be grateful if you could inform me of the current state of the > anti-competition investigation being undertaken by the EU against > Microsoft, as it appears that more such deals (like that for the NHS) > are in the pipeline. As the commisioner with responsibility for the > Information Society I am sure that you are well aware of the potential > for damage being created by such actions. > > Many Thanks > > Alan </my email> <commisioners response> > Subject: RE: Microsoft and the British Government - Possible Anti-Competit ive Behaviour > Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 14:08:31 +0100 > From: Erkki.Liikanen(a)cec.eu.int > To: alanh(a)bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk > CC: Mario.Monti(a)cec.eu.int, Marc.Van-Hoof(a)cec.eu.int, Olli.Rehn(a)cec.eu.int, Per.Haugaard(a)cec.eu.int > > Dear. Mr. Harris, > > I pass your letter to my colleague Mario Monti and his cabinet. He is > responsible for this issue. > But still, during investigation I don't believe much more can be said what > has been in public. > > with best regards > > Erkki Liikanen > > ******************************** > Mr. Erkki Liikanen > Member of the Commission > tel. +32-2-295.79.57 > fax +32-2-295.85.61 > erkki.liikanen(a)cec.eu.int > secretary; kirsi.larjava(a)cec.eu.int > tel. +32-2-295.14.40 > http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/liikanen/index_en.htm > </commissiones response> There may be hope for all of us then? Alan ----------------------------------------------------- Alan Harris Network Manager Bryngwyn School Tel : 01554 750661 Fax : 01554 758255 E-mail: alanh(a)bryngwyn.carmarthen.sch.uk ----------------------------------------------------- Notes: 1. The contents of this email may be snooped on by interested government parties for unknown purposes! Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, 2000. 2. The opinions expressed in this email are personal and may not be shared by Bryngwyn School. -----------------------------------------------------

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NT Licences
by Derek Harding 30 Apr '02

30 Apr '02

My old school is about to ditch Novell because it can't afford the licences anymore. The organisation want to move to NT because they can get an educational deal on the licencing. I seem to recall someone pointed out a hidden "benefit" spider trap in the MS Educational licencing process but was it only about XP? I need answers really quickly, please, 'cos they make their decisions without planning! -- Best wishes, Derek

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Fwd: [seul-edu] Fwd: [GKD] SchoolNet: Computers for Schools in Thailand
by paul Sutton 26 Apr '02

26 Apr '02

Thought this would be interesting. ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [seul-edu] Fwd: [GKD] SchoolNet: Computers for Schools in Thailand Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 00:11:59 -0700 From: tom poe <tompoe(a)renonevada.net> To: "CommStudios" <community_studios(a)lists.ibiblio.org> Cc: "SuSESchools" <suse-schools-usa(a)suse.com>, seul-edu(a)seul.org ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [GKD] SchoolNet: Computers for Schools in Thailand Date: Thu, Apr 25, 2002 11:20 AM +0530 From: Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org> To: gkd(a)phoenix.edc.org THAI TALES: TAKING COMPUTERS TO SCHOOLS COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS and websites for students. That's the dream of an ambitious project being promoted in Thailand, known as SchoolNet. This project has notched up some impressive figures (some 4300 schools connected to SchoolNet, with some 1500 having their own websites). But that's only part of the story. How it worked its way to achieving its goal, including taking some bold steps like using the GNU/Linux Free Operating System to back up its plans, makes this project stand out from other ventures aimed at taking computers to schools. SchoolNet Thailand was launched by Bangkok's National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC) in 1995. Its goal: providing universal access to teachers and students. "Or, more specifically, schools all over the country can access the network via a dial-up modem, using access number 1509, and pay only three Bath per call," says its promoters. It all started around 1995, initially just taking a piggyback-ride on the country's university network. "In the beginning, we just called in 50 leading schools, where they understood that having access to the Internet would be beneficial. We offered schools training that would allow them to start off with an Internet server," recalls Dr Thaweesak Koanantakool of Thailand. Dr Koanantakool, the US-educated director of the Bangkok-based National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre, told this writer that most of the schools initially chosen were located in his country's capital. In its first year, SchoolNet got 20 schools connected. "When news spread out, schools outside Bangkok said they wanted to use it. But they couldn't afford even a week's cost of the telephone line. So we asked them to work with a university close by their schools. But that was not convenient. In 1998, we introduced (the King's) Golden Jubilee Network, for the citizen to access an Intranet within Thailand for a year, without charge," he adds. Soon, this was scaled up to 1500, the maximum capacity of the access infrastructure, in 1999. That year, the Cabinet okayed expanding to 5000 schools. Under this plan, all secondary schools -- except those without electricity or telephone lines -- and over 1000 primary schools too, will have access to the Internet. Currently, there are some 4300 schools that are connected to SchoolNet, with approximately 1500 having their own websites. Why SchoolNet? The idea is that Internet access for schools throughout Thailand will mean that IT, and the Internet, could help create more equal opportunities in education. This could lead to boosting the educational standards of the country. But after the network infrastructure was successfully launched, it was found that the Internet was still hardly being used as a tool for education and learning in many schools. So, the programme's scope was extended to cover content-development and human-resource development. The latter meant training of teachers and trainers. Project authorities were "not happy with the way teachers and children made limited use of computers". So they decided to try and introduce more Thai-language content in the schools. Around the same time, Thailand also created a digital-library toolkit. This allows teachers to get on their work after undergoing a short training -- say of two hours or so. After this, the teachers can put up their own website or teaching material on the web. "Once it's on the web, anyone can access it. Teachers can mark themselves as the authors, and we will protect the content for them, so that they always own it. But the content can be used and reused by anyone (for educational purposes)," says he. Today, there are hundreds of teachers using this, resulting in thousands of web-pages being generated. "Ultimately, our aim is that every school can create new knowledge from existing ones, or what we called the Complete Knowledge Cycle," says Dr Koanantakool. "We allowed every school to use this nationwide network. We pay for Internet connection and internal bandwidth. We managed to provide for a capacity of 1500 schools in all. It's a sort of free ISP, but limited to schools," says Dr Koanantakool. What has their experience been? It varies a great deal. Some 10 to 15 schools proved to be really good. These institutions threw up great teachers who created content and activity for their students. Soon, some of these teachers were awarded at SchoolNet Day functions, so that they could act as really good role-models for teachers. A couple of years back, the project got their budget expanded to cater to some 5000 schools. Each schools is allotted 400 hours of connect-time. Capacities vary. Some small schools have just a single PC, large educational institutions have 400 to 500, says Dr Koanantakool. Old PCs that "barely run Windows" but allow for TCPIP connections work fine. "Even an old 486 could be used as a server, because the line-speed is slower than the CPU anyway. Many schools, which have a greater number of computers, run really great data centres," says Dr Koanantakool. Some teachers however remain "afraid" of computers. But, good schools know how to put even just a couple of computers in the library, then bookmark examples of good sites, and let students use the PC to search for information for their projects. Along the way, Thai computer scientists developed an easy-to-administer web-controlled GNU/Linux-based schools Internet server, he told this correspondent during a recent UNDP/APDIP workshop on using ICTs for development, held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. SchoolNet has developed a Linux School Internet Server (Linux SIS) to be promoted and distributed to schools "as a cheaper alternative to using an expensive server software". Since its introduction, Linux-SIS has been very popular in Thailand. Project implementors say this has been due to its "excellent documentation in the Thai language, its simple-to-install CD-ROM and web-based server management" that allow one to manage it without the need to know any UNIX commands. "SIS training courses are always in constant demand from schools looking for a reliable Internet server at the lowest cost," says Dr Koanantakool, who is director of Bangkok's electronics and computing centre NECTEC. (More info on the Linux-SIS at www.nectec.or.th/linux-sis/ ) "Initially we used Windows NT on a straightforward PC. Then, we developed the Linux schools Internet server. We now have our own software, running GNU/Linux, which is managed via the Web, using the Thai language. That means, to run it the user hardly need to know anything of Unix. This runs on just a PC. Compared to it, we could not afford a Sun Microsystem box and router for each school, for example," says Koanantakool. GNU/Linux and a simple PC allows the schools to run an FTP server and "virtually everything out of one box". Says he: "It's far cheaper too. You just get a modem, and put on Linux. Even an old PC can replace a router." "We started working first with the server side (using GNU/Linux) since the desktop is more difficult. One barrier was that almost nobody knows Unix commands (among school teachers in Thailand). So we wrote out a web-based simple admin system. This means, any school can run this after a very little training. There's hardly any need to talk to the GNU/Linux console (the terminal that requires difficult and initially complex commands). But, using the web, one can delete files and carry out other commands routinely needed," he adds. Koanantakool says the Thai language web-admin tool became "some kind of a breakthrough" that helped teachers to run a school network at the lowest cost. In addition, the Thai-language extension of the project started last year. Version 4.1 was released in March 2002. "When you boot the machine, it comes to a point that makes it seem like (a user-friendly version of) Windows. Many Thai computer companies are eager to pre load the Version 4.1 onto their computers, because they're afraid of anti-piracy campaigns. Since February, the Thai Language Extension (which calls itself Thalay, meaning 'Ocean' in the Thai language) has been making it to the headlines. Almost on a day to day basis," says a proud Dr Koanantakool with a smile. Incidentally, a 'Thai Junior Encyclopedia' has also been brought out, in both CD-Rom and Net versions. This involves cultural data collecting, the use of computers and software among cultural centre network groups in that country. "If left alone in a cyberspace dominated by English content, the language barrier will discourage most teachers and students from using the Internet," as the project promoters realise.' GLOBE is an activity that allows teachers and students in SchoolNet@1509 (the four-digit number is used to access this network) to collaborate with their counterparts across the globe. Schools take part in the Internet-based global education programme called ThinkQuest (www.thinkquest.org). This provides a highly motivating opportunity for students and educators to work collaboratively in teams, and learn as they create material while sharing with one another. This challenges young learners to create high quality, innovative and content-rich websites. One of the schools -- Sri Wittaya Paknam -- has a site that draws a hit rate higher than that of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, says Koanantakool, with a hard-to-hide smile. The teacher uses this site to teach English through the web. Say the project promoters, cautiously: "There is no guarantee whether SchoolNet Thailand will succeed in the long run. However, it is undeniable that this project has already made a significant impact on many schools in Thailand." More details at http://school.net.th/library -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org * GNU-LINUX http://linuxinindia.pitas.com Email fred(a)bytesforall.org * SMS 9822122436(a)attcell.net * Saligao Goa India Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: <gkd(a)mail.edc.org> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <majordomo(a)mail.edc.org>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/> ------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------

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Re: [DMCA_Discuss] WIPOUT ANNOUNCES CONTEST WINNERS
by tom poe 26 Apr '02

26 Apr '02

Hi: I hope this gets widespread publicity. I mean, widespread! Required reading for CARP, RIAA, Congress, Disney. Every one of them should be required to respond to each essay. Then, we hang 'em by their toes. Thanks, Tom http://www.studioforrecording.org/ http://www.ibiblio.org/studioforrecording/ http://renotahoe.pm.org/ On Friday 26 April 2002 09:15, Jon O. wrote: > ----- Forwarded message from Alan Story <a.c.story(a)ukc.ac.uk> ----- > > Reply-To: <a.c.story(a)ukc.ac.uk> > From: "Alan Story" <a.c.story(a)ukc.ac.uk> > Subject: WIPOUT ANNOUNCES CONTEST WINNERS > Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 09:34:43 +0100 > > Press release from WIPOUT contact(a)wipout.net > > 26 April 2002 www.wipout.net > > WIPOUT ANNOUNCES ITS CONTEST WINNERS > > WIPOUT, the international intellectual property counter-essay contest, > today announces its eleven winners on the day that has been tagged World > Intellectual Property Day by the World Intellectual Property Organisation > (WIPO). > > The winners, selected by an international panel of judges, live in six > countries across the globe and submitted essays in four different > languages: English, French, German, and Spanish. They are named below and > are also available on the WIPOUT web site at: www.wipout.net > > The obvious interest in the counter-essay contest and the high quality of > the entries show that a growing number of people are dissenting from WIPOs > dangerous stance that more and more extensive protection of more and more > forms of intellectual property is a good thing, the WIPOUT co-chairs > stated today. > > A total of 77 essays were submitted from 18 countries in response to the > question: WHAT DOES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MEAN TO YOU IN YOUR DAILY LIFE? > > Earlier in 2001, WIPO, a United Nations organisation, had set up an essay > contest that asked the same question. But WIPOUT organisers decided that a > WIPO-sponsored contest would fail to appreciate the damage that the > over-protection of intellectual property is doing to education, health > care, the environment, and economic security for millions around the globe. > > As Noam Chomsky, one of the more than 50 individuals and groups who > endorsed WIPOUT said, this counter contest reminds people that this harsh > regime [of intellectual property rights] is designed to grant multinational > corporations control over the technology of the futureit really is a > scandal. (The complete list of contest endorsers can be found at: > http://www.wipout.net/endorsers.html ). > > All of the 77 essays submitted, including the winning essays, are available > on the WIPOUT site, www.wipout.net .The essays to WIPOUT came from the USA, > UK, Republic of South Africa, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Japan, > Australia, Greece, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Netherlands, > New Zealand, France, People's Republic of China and Bulgaria. > > Among other issues, the 77 essays reveal: > > - how illiterate persons in South Africa are required to pay copyright > royalty fees if they wish to learn to readand hence dont get the > opportunity. > - how the conductor of a volunteer church choir in the United States could > not lead his choir in a proper public performance, again because of > copyright restrictions; > - how drug patents are blocking access to desperately needed anti HIV/AIDS > drugsand again, how copyright royalties are charged for anti-HIV health > materials; > - how the TRIPS agreement is turning into a cruel hoax for countries of the > South; > - how IP laws are transforming the Internet into a restrictive, user-pay > experience. > - how the patenting of plants and genes is doing great damages to the > interests of farmers and consumers. > > Among the contributions are poems, drawings, short stories, fictional IP > nightmare scenarios of coming years, calls to action, parodies, > historical explorations, and theoretical critiques of intellectual > property. > > Each of the winners will receive a small financial prize from the WIPOUT > prize fund that was created primarily through a generous donation from the > Center for the Public Domain in the United States. > > Our small group of volunteers hardly has the financial or publicity > resources of WIPO, which is housed in palatial head offices beside Lake > Geneva in Switzerland, and so we think it was a good accomplishment to get > 50% of number of essays that WIPOs contest received. WIPO is also > announcing its essay contest winners today. > > WIPOUT is an international organisation consisting of academics, artists, > musicians and other activists. Future projects and programmes are now under > discussion. > > The WIPOUT contest started on 4 September 2001 and concluded on 15 March > 2002. > > Today WIPOUT celebrates the winners, but the competitive aspect of the > contest was always secondary to the purpose of giving a platform to the > voices who disagree with the constant expansion of intellectual property > protection. > > > > NAMES OF WIPOUT CONTEST WINNERS, TITLES OF THEIR ESSAYS, AND THEIR LOCATION > (THE NAMES ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.) > > > NAMES OF WIPOUT CONTEST WINNERS, TITLES OF THEIR ESSAYS, AND THEIR LOCATION > (THE NAMES ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.) > > ENGLISH-LANGUAGE WINNERS > > John Cahir, ON CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND POLITICAL ACTION, London, United > Kingdom. http://www.wipout.net/essays/0113cahir.htm > > Jason Holt, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AFFECTS MY LIFE, Provo, Utah, United > States of America. http://www.wipout.net/essays/0216holt.htm > > Eddan Elizafon Katz, MY FIRST SEVEN DAYS ON THE INTERNET, Oakland, > California, United States of America. > http://www.wipout.net/essays/0315katz.htm > > Vijaya Kumar, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AN OBSTACLE TO DEVELOPMENT?, > Dangolia, Kandy, Sri Lanka. > http://www.wipout.net/essays/0314kumar.htm > > Denise Nicholson, DOES COPYRIGHT HAVE ANY SIGNIFANCE IN THE LIVES OF > ILLITERATE OR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED PERSONS?, Johannesburg, South > Africa.http://www.wipout.net/essays/1128nicholson.htm > > Percy Schmeiser, GENETIC CONTAMINATION AND FARMERS RIGHTS, Bruno, > Saskatchewan, Canada. http://www.wipout.net/essays/0904schmeiser.htm > > Louise Szente, THE CROW AND THE OWL, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. > http://www.wipout.net/essays/1112szente.htm > > Philip Tagg, COPYRIGHT VS. THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO KNOW, Liverpool, United > Kingdom. http://www.wipout.net/essays/1112tagg.htm > > > FRENCH-LANGUAGE WINNER > > Alexandre Pirsch, ANTHROPOLOGIE ET DROITS D'AUTEUR: (D)ÉCRIRE L'AUTRE ET LE > (DÉ)POSSÉDER (ANTHROPOLOGY AND COPYRIGHT: > HOW "WRITING" CAN DEPRIVE THE OTHER OF HIS/HER RIGHTS.) Montreal, Quebec, > Canada. http://www.wipout.net/essays/0315pirsch.htm > > > GERMAN-LANGUAGE WINNER > > Alesch Staehelin, SUCHE NACH BILLIGEN AIDS-MEDIKAMENTEN (THE SEARCH FOR > CHEAP AIDS DRUGS ) Venice, California, United States. > http://www.wipout.net/essays/0310staehelin.htm > > SPANISH-LANGUAGE WINNER > Juan Mateos Garcia, DERECHOS DE PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL Y ESPACIOS DE > INFORMACIÓN PÚBLICA (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE INFORMATION > COMMONS ), Salamanca, Spain. http://www.wipout.net/essays/1012garcia.htm > > > NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS: > > 1. More details of the contest are available on the Wipout website at: > www.wipout.net > > 2. If you would like to arrange an interview or have further questions > about WIPOUT, here are the persons to contact: > > IN THE UNITED KINGDOM - > > Alan Story Dr Lee Marshall > Kent Law School Department of Sociology > University of Kent University College Worcester > Canterbury Henwick Grove > Kent CT2 7NS Worcester WR2 6AJ > 44 (0)1227 823316 44 (0)1905 855312 > a.c.story(a)ukc.ac.uk l.marshall(a)worc.ac.uk > > IN THE UNITED STATES : > > Debora Halbert > Associate Professor of Political Science > Otterbein College > Dept. of History and Political Science > Westerville OH 43081 > (614) 823-1559 > DHalbert(a)otterbein.edu > > IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND > > Brian Martin > Science, Technology & Society > University of Wollongong, NSW 2522 > Australia > phone +61-2-4221 3763 work, > fax +61-2-4221 3452 > brian_martin(a)uow.edu.au > > 3. Details of the WIPO contest can be found at: > http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/alert/2001/ma03rev.htm > > > Press release issued by WIPOUT, The Intellectual Property Counter Essay > Contest contact(a)wipout.net > > > > > > Alan Story > WIPOUT > contact(a)wipout.net > > > > > > ----- End forwarded message ----- > _______________________________________________ > > > ------------------------ > http://www.anti-dmca.org > ------------------------ > > DMCA_Discuss mailing list > DMCA_Discuss(a)lists.microshaft.org > http://lists.microshaft.org/mailman/listinfo/dmca_discuss

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Growing Acorns...
by michael Parker 26 Apr '02

26 Apr '02

hello all, I've been speaking to a lot of schools and despite efforts of the local council to deny that they exist, there are still many, many Acron RiscOS machines in schools all over the land. ive seen in a previous post a link to www.felsted.essex.sch.uk which demonstrates the widest range of networked machines I think Ive seen, including BBC electrons, Archimedes, macs and pcs. Does anyone have anym experience of turning RiscOS machines into more useful beasts? ive seen some heartwarming displays of riscOS development still very much underway - games, educational software (lots), updated office packages, even a version 4 of riscOS - which is great, but i think they'd do better as xterminals. any thoughts? michael -- Michael Parker ----- AstariX Alternative Solutions www.astarix.co.uk _______________________________________________________________ Linux and open source solutions -- servers - desktop - security _______________________________________________________________

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] FW: [Fsfe-uk] Government to become MS's biggest biztalk customer
by Edgehill e-mail service 26 Apr '02

26 Apr '02

The words /glove puppet/ spring to mind. I used to make mine out of old socks. I suspect that this sock is being operated through a proxy sock somewhere in the US. Have you ever noticed that the lip-sync is out? And since when dis a REAL PM ever say "Gread ang gutter ang a gottle og gear"? Egad! What an awful thought! ---------- From: Chris Puttick <chris(a)centralmanclc.com> To: 'suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com' Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] FW: [Fsfe-uk] Government to become MS's biggest biztalk customer Date: 25 April 2002 11:23 -----Original Message----- From: Richard Smedley To: AFFS Sent: 4/24/02 6:44 PM Subject: [Fsfe-uk] Government to become MS's biggest biztalk customer See http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/25003.html President Blair has set a deadline of 2005 for all gov depts and all local authorities to join the government Gatesway architecture by buying boxes running Windows 2000 Advanced Server, SQL Server 2000 and Biztalk Server. So much for consultation processes :-( - Richard -- Richard Smedley Production Editor, Linux Format Telephone +44 (0) 1225 442244 ext 5038 _______________________________________________ Fsfe-uk mailing list Fsfe-uk(a)gnu.org http://mail.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/fsfe-uk

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Fwd: [GKD] SchoolNet: Computers for Schools in Thailand
by tom poe 26 Apr '02

26 Apr '02

---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [GKD] SchoolNet: Computers for Schools in Thailand Date: Thu, Apr 25, 2002 11:20 AM +0530 From: Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org> To: gkd(a)phoenix.edc.org THAI TALES: TAKING COMPUTERS TO SCHOOLS COMPUTERS FOR SCHOOLS and websites for students. That's the dream of an ambitious project being promoted in Thailand, known as SchoolNet. This project has notched up some impressive figures (some 4300 schools connected to SchoolNet, with some 1500 having their own websites). But that's only part of the story. How it worked its way to achieving its goal, including taking some bold steps like using the GNU/Linux Free Operating System to back up its plans, makes this project stand out from other ventures aimed at taking computers to schools. SchoolNet Thailand was launched by Bangkok's National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC) in 1995. Its goal: providing universal access to teachers and students. "Or, more specifically, schools all over the country can access the network via a dial-up modem, using access number 1509, and pay only three Bath per call," says its promoters. It all started around 1995, initially just taking a piggyback-ride on the country's university network. "In the beginning, we just called in 50 leading schools, where they understood that having access to the Internet would be beneficial. We offered schools training that would allow them to start off with an Internet server," recalls Dr Thaweesak Koanantakool of Thailand. Dr Koanantakool, the US-educated director of the Bangkok-based National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre, told this writer that most of the schools initially chosen were located in his country's capital. In its first year, SchoolNet got 20 schools connected. "When news spread out, schools outside Bangkok said they wanted to use it. But they couldn't afford even a week's cost of the telephone line. So we asked them to work with a university close by their schools. But that was not convenient. In 1998, we introduced (the King's) Golden Jubilee Network, for the citizen to access an Intranet within Thailand for a year, without charge," he adds. Soon, this was scaled up to 1500, the maximum capacity of the access infrastructure, in 1999. That year, the Cabinet okayed expanding to 5000 schools. Under this plan, all secondary schools -- except those without electricity or telephone lines -- and over 1000 primary schools too, will have access to the Internet. Currently, there are some 4300 schools that are connected to SchoolNet, with approximately 1500 having their own websites. Why SchoolNet? The idea is that Internet access for schools throughout Thailand will mean that IT, and the Internet, could help create more equal opportunities in education. This could lead to boosting the educational standards of the country. But after the network infrastructure was successfully launched, it was found that the Internet was still hardly being used as a tool for education and learning in many schools. So, the programme's scope was extended to cover content-development and human-resource development. The latter meant training of teachers and trainers. Project authorities were "not happy with the way teachers and children made limited use of computers". So they decided to try and introduce more Thai-language content in the schools. Around the same time, Thailand also created a digital-library toolkit. This allows teachers to get on their work after undergoing a short training -- say of two hours or so. After this, the teachers can put up their own website or teaching material on the web. "Once it's on the web, anyone can access it. Teachers can mark themselves as the authors, and we will protect the content for them, so that they always own it. But the content can be used and reused by anyone (for educational purposes)," says he. Today, there are hundreds of teachers using this, resulting in thousands of web-pages being generated. "Ultimately, our aim is that every school can create new knowledge from existing ones, or what we called the Complete Knowledge Cycle," says Dr Koanantakool. "We allowed every school to use this nationwide network. We pay for Internet connection and internal bandwidth. We managed to provide for a capacity of 1500 schools in all. It's a sort of free ISP, but limited to schools," says Dr Koanantakool. What has their experience been? It varies a great deal. Some 10 to 15 schools proved to be really good. These institutions threw up great teachers who created content and activity for their students. Soon, some of these teachers were awarded at SchoolNet Day functions, so that they could act as really good role-models for teachers. A couple of years back, the project got their budget expanded to cater to some 5000 schools. Each schools is allotted 400 hours of connect-time. Capacities vary. Some small schools have just a single PC, large educational institutions have 400 to 500, says Dr Koanantakool. Old PCs that "barely run Windows" but allow for TCPIP connections work fine. "Even an old 486 could be used as a server, because the line-speed is slower than the CPU anyway. Many schools, which have a greater number of computers, run really great data centres," says Dr Koanantakool. Some teachers however remain "afraid" of computers. But, good schools know how to put even just a couple of computers in the library, then bookmark examples of good sites, and let students use the PC to search for information for their projects. Along the way, Thai computer scientists developed an easy-to-administer web-controlled GNU/Linux-based schools Internet server, he told this correspondent during a recent UNDP/APDIP workshop on using ICTs for development, held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. SchoolNet has developed a Linux School Internet Server (Linux SIS) to be promoted and distributed to schools "as a cheaper alternative to using an expensive server software". Since its introduction, Linux-SIS has been very popular in Thailand. Project implementors say this has been due to its "excellent documentation in the Thai language, its simple-to-install CD-ROM and web-based server management" that allow one to manage it without the need to know any UNIX commands. "SIS training courses are always in constant demand from schools looking for a reliable Internet server at the lowest cost," says Dr Koanantakool, who is director of Bangkok's electronics and computing centre NECTEC. (More info on the Linux-SIS at www.nectec.or.th/linux-sis/ ) "Initially we used Windows NT on a straightforward PC. Then, we developed the Linux schools Internet server. We now have our own software, running GNU/Linux, which is managed via the Web, using the Thai language. That means, to run it the user hardly need to know anything of Unix. This runs on just a PC. Compared to it, we could not afford a Sun Microsystem box and router for each school, for example," says Koanantakool. GNU/Linux and a simple PC allows the schools to run an FTP server and "virtually everything out of one box". Says he: "It's far cheaper too. You just get a modem, and put on Linux. Even an old PC can replace a router." "We started working first with the server side (using GNU/Linux) since the desktop is more difficult. One barrier was that almost nobody knows Unix commands (among school teachers in Thailand). So we wrote out a web-based simple admin system. This means, any school can run this after a very little training. There's hardly any need to talk to the GNU/Linux console (the terminal that requires difficult and initially complex commands). But, using the web, one can delete files and carry out other commands routinely needed," he adds. Koanantakool says the Thai language web-admin tool became "some kind of a breakthrough" that helped teachers to run a school network at the lowest cost. In addition, the Thai-language extension of the project started last year. Version 4.1 was released in March 2002. "When you boot the machine, it comes to a point that makes it seem like (a user-friendly version of) Windows. Many Thai computer companies are eager to pre load the Version 4.1 onto their computers, because they're afraid of anti-piracy campaigns. Since February, the Thai Language Extension (which calls itself Thalay, meaning 'Ocean' in the Thai language) has been making it to the headlines. Almost on a day to day basis," says a proud Dr Koanantakool with a smile. Incidentally, a 'Thai Junior Encyclopedia' has also been brought out, in both CD-Rom and Net versions. This involves cultural data collecting, the use of computers and software among cultural centre network groups in that country. "If left alone in a cyberspace dominated by English content, the language barrier will discourage most teachers and students from using the Internet," as the project promoters realise.' GLOBE is an activity that allows teachers and students in SchoolNet@1509 (the four-digit number is used to access this network) to collaborate with their counterparts across the globe. Schools take part in the Internet-based global education programme called ThinkQuest (www.thinkquest.org). This provides a highly motivating opportunity for students and educators to work collaboratively in teams, and learn as they create material while sharing with one another. This challenges young learners to create high quality, innovative and content-rich websites. One of the schools -- Sri Wittaya Paknam -- has a site that draws a hit rate higher than that of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, says Koanantakool, with a hard-to-hide smile. The teacher uses this site to teach English through the web. Say the project promoters, cautiously: "There is no guarantee whether SchoolNet Thailand will succeed in the long run. However, it is undeniable that this project has already made a significant impact on many schools in Thailand." More details at http://school.net.th/library -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org * GNU-LINUX http://linuxinindia.pitas.com Email fred(a)bytesforall.org * SMS 9822122436(a)attcell.net * Saligao Goa India Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: <gkd(a)mail.edc.org> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <majordomo(a)mail.edc.org>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/> -------------------------------------------------------

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Linux in Schools.
by Simon Wood 25 Apr '02

25 Apr '02

Wired is reporting that :- The poorest region of Spain has adopted Linux as the official operating system of public schools and offices, in hopes of improving the area's vast technological and economic lag. http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,51994,00.html When will our (UK) government realise that Billy isn't really their friend? Simon Wood

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FW: [Fsfe-uk] Government to become MS's biggest biztalk customer
by Chris Puttick 25 Apr '02

25 Apr '02

-----Original Message----- From: Richard Smedley To: AFFS Sent: 4/24/02 6:44 PM Subject: [Fsfe-uk] Government to become MS's biggest biztalk customer See http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/25003.html President Blair has set a deadline of 2005 for all gov depts and all local authorities to join the government Gatesway architecture by buying boxes running Windows 2000 Advanced Server, SQL Server 2000 and Biztalk Server. So much for consultation processes :-( - Richard -- Richard Smedley Production Editor, Linux Format Telephone +44 (0) 1225 442244 ext 5038 _______________________________________________ Fsfe-uk mailing list Fsfe-uk(a)gnu.org http://mail.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/fsfe-uk

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