Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-edu (29 mails)
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Re: [opensuse-edu] What is a verticle solution for education?
- From: Ian Lynch <ian.lynch@xxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:40:05 +0100
- Message-id: <1186591205.7675.66.camel@Zaphod>
On Wed, 2007-08-08 at 10:44 -0500, Rodney Donovan wrote:
> Ian I beg to differ on this vertical solution of yours. Hardware and certain
> software will not only improve learning, it will affect the schools bottom
> line. Simply by not having to pay Microsoft royalties for the use of their
> operating system and office software, a savings in incurred. This savings can
> be used to purchase smart boards, projectors, computers etc.
I agree, but that isn't the point, we sell into this market and unless
things are very different where you are brute common sense doesn't work.
We could save customers a fortune and we have migrated quite a few to
Linux. Its this practical experience that leads me to believe its not
the best strategy. We have changed the entire company direction as a
result and I don't do that lightly.
> The very nature of using Linux and OpenOffice is in effect a positive
> influence on the institution.
It is from your perspective. Just watch 95% of school Principals glaze
over when you start talking about technology. They really don't want to
know about what are to them technical details. A word processor is a
word processor - do they worry about the brand name on their pen or
whether its a free pen or a Microsoft pen? That is the level they are
thinking at. Only difference is its a lot easier to change pens.
> We are also making our kids free thinkers
> instead of Microsoft slaves.
Very praiseworthy and I don't think you read what I posted. The best way
to make kids free thinkers is to educate them about the issues. If a
prerequisite for that is to get the school to change its technology you
are raising a barrier to entry. Fine, find the 5 or 10% of early
adopters who might be prepared to do this and go for it. Be prepared for
whenever anything goes wrong, reversion to what they know. I'd prefer
to get to the other 95%, prepare them so they make the decision and get
them to sustain that decision because they really understand the issues.
Its the difference between teaching and learning ;-)
> Sure, there is already student record keeping
> software, internet class software such as moodle, and other educational
> software that can be used. As the list grows, there are also great Internet
> sites that can be used such as Kidport.com which has work for grades kinder
> through 8th grade. The use of the Internet in learning can really be usefull
> as many resources are found there that can be accessed using a free operating
> system, old machines in a thin client setup, and is continously being
> improved.
I don't disagree, all this is fine but it doesn't close sales and it
doesn't guarantee mass take up or sustaining those who do try it out.
Even with the entrenched systems there are many schools and teachers not
using IT regularly in their teaching, probably more than those that
are.
> You could say that open source vertical integration is a low cost vehicle an
> educator can use for getting students learned. It is the teachers
> responsibility to teach. Open source software simpGI1 (Romanian) Introduction to Open Syst...ly provides tools.
But without a compelling professional reason to adopt those tools - and
MS software is heavily discounted to schools as well as having things
like schools agreement to lock them in - you will get marginilised by
mainstream professionals who see the technology as just another layer of
hassle. To them there are far more important priorities.
I notice you are a systems support specialist so its not surprising that
you think like a systems support specialist and not a teacher. Try and
think like your customer thinks, not how you would like them to think or
what is logical to you.
Ian
--
New QCA Accredited IT Qualifications
www.theINGOTs.org
You have received this email from the following company: The Learning
Machine Limited, Reg Office, 36 Ashby Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79
8AQ. Reg No: 05560797, Registered in England and Wales.
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> Ian I beg to differ on this vertical solution of yours. Hardware and certain
> software will not only improve learning, it will affect the schools bottom
> line. Simply by not having to pay Microsoft royalties for the use of their
> operating system and office software, a savings in incurred. This savings can
> be used to purchase smart boards, projectors, computers etc.
I agree, but that isn't the point, we sell into this market and unless
things are very different where you are brute common sense doesn't work.
We could save customers a fortune and we have migrated quite a few to
Linux. Its this practical experience that leads me to believe its not
the best strategy. We have changed the entire company direction as a
result and I don't do that lightly.
> The very nature of using Linux and OpenOffice is in effect a positive
> influence on the institution.
It is from your perspective. Just watch 95% of school Principals glaze
over when you start talking about technology. They really don't want to
know about what are to them technical details. A word processor is a
word processor - do they worry about the brand name on their pen or
whether its a free pen or a Microsoft pen? That is the level they are
thinking at. Only difference is its a lot easier to change pens.
> We are also making our kids free thinkers
> instead of Microsoft slaves.
Very praiseworthy and I don't think you read what I posted. The best way
to make kids free thinkers is to educate them about the issues. If a
prerequisite for that is to get the school to change its technology you
are raising a barrier to entry. Fine, find the 5 or 10% of early
adopters who might be prepared to do this and go for it. Be prepared for
whenever anything goes wrong, reversion to what they know. I'd prefer
to get to the other 95%, prepare them so they make the decision and get
them to sustain that decision because they really understand the issues.
Its the difference between teaching and learning ;-)
> Sure, there is already student record keeping
> software, internet class software such as moodle, and other educational
> software that can be used. As the list grows, there are also great Internet
> sites that can be used such as Kidport.com which has work for grades kinder
> through 8th grade. The use of the Internet in learning can really be usefull
> as many resources are found there that can be accessed using a free operating
> system, old machines in a thin client setup, and is continously being
> improved.
I don't disagree, all this is fine but it doesn't close sales and it
doesn't guarantee mass take up or sustaining those who do try it out.
Even with the entrenched systems there are many schools and teachers not
using IT regularly in their teaching, probably more than those that
are.
> You could say that open source vertical integration is a low cost vehicle an
> educator can use for getting students learned. It is the teachers
> responsibility to teach. Open source software simpGI1 (Romanian) Introduction to Open Syst...ly provides tools.
But without a compelling professional reason to adopt those tools - and
MS software is heavily discounted to schools as well as having things
like schools agreement to lock them in - you will get marginilised by
mainstream professionals who see the technology as just another layer of
hassle. To them there are far more important priorities.
I notice you are a systems support specialist so its not surprising that
you think like a systems support specialist and not a teacher. Try and
think like your customer thinks, not how you would like them to think or
what is logical to you.
Ian
--
New QCA Accredited IT Qualifications
www.theINGOTs.org
You have received this email from the following company: The Learning
Machine Limited, Reg Office, 36 Ashby Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79
8AQ. Reg No: 05560797, Registered in England and Wales.
--
To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxx
For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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