May 2004 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] School use of OpenOffice.org
by Paul Jensen 14 May '04

14 May '04

To everyone, thank you for your comments so far, they're been very helpful. How many of you think it would be a good idea to get SuSE to setup a web site where useful information on deploying and using Linux for both home users and organisations is provided, thus making it easier to work with this stuff? _________________________________________________________________ Stay in touch with absent friends - get MSN Messenger http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Crocodile Clips
by Paul Jensen 14 May '04

14 May '04

Hi Garry. As a A-level student I did ICT at Sharnbrook Upper School in Beds, and we were taught along the lines of "do an Excel or Access solution", and given books which taught us how to do solutions using these apps. It's nice to hear that you're able to use different packages for the coursework, I just wonder though how good the quality of the courseworks are, as the AQA marking seems to be predicated on how good (advanced) the solution is, where really I think it should be about how well the solution meets the needs of the end user. Saying that, the books I was given were by P.M.Heathcote, and I think they were published by Galloway press. It would be great to adapt the material for students doing other projects. >From: garry saddington <garry(a)joydiv.fsnet.co.uk> >To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com >Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Crocodile Clips >Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 16:48:56 +0100 > >On Thursday 13 May 2004 12:54 pm, Grainge, Derek wrote: > > Hi Garry > > > > > Web projects are notoriously difficult to get high grades in so why not > > > do a database project instead. > > > > At what level? My GCSE students (as default) would do two projects, Web > > and Modelling, for AQA. I'd direct them AWAY from databases as the work is > > more technical / time-consuming for no great benefit. Most marks come > > from the report covering the project development, and so longs there's a > > reasonable level of content the exam board have no axe to grind. I don't > > agree that web projects are 'notoriously difficult' to get good marks in - > > there's plenty scope. > > > > e.g. a website of 8-12 pages, including text, pictures, perhaps other > > media, and an online form which works. Without the last there are criteria > > (data gathering, validation, outputs) which the project can't satisfy. We > > have a spare web server which my students publish on internally to show > > they have done all of that successfully. Perhaps famous last words, but my > > students have been doing that for some years now without complaint. And > > they get good grades. All of which is jumping through hoops, but > > successful jumping. > > > > I would agree that an A2 ICT student (we do OCR) would almost have to do a > > database. They have to do something reasonably complex - which may come > > from integration of products (eg Web site with database back end), or from > > the complexity of the database & the task itself. I guess an equally > > complex spreadsheet involving multiple data sets with relationships between > > them would be satisfactory. But the board have said they're not > > interested in artificially complex solutions to problems. > > > > Derek > > > > >I was only talking A-level and agree with you on all your comments. I was >trying to suggest that there are other ways that you can adapt in order to >use Linux for teaching. >regards >garry > > >-- >To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe(a)suse.com >For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help(a)suse.com > _________________________________________________________________ Find a cheaper internet access deal - choose one to suit you. http://www.msn.co.uk/internetaccess

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CAD/CAM & Linux
by Phil Thane 14 May '04

14 May '04

Hello, Following Adrian's and Phil's comments, we are not really in the ProDESKTOP style 3D end of the market, our main program (2D Design) is intended to serve as an intro to CAD/CAM work. It has features you'd expect in say AutoCAD lite (or QCAD) but also some more illustration type features such as Corel (or SodiPodi). The point being that in the average secondary graphics class are children who might want to be engineers, architects, graphic designers, textile designers, etc etc... So we reckon they all need a basic grounding before specialising later. 2D Design also has built-in drivers for the 2D and 2.5D machines we sell so you don't have to get involved in 'post-processing' just make a simple project. The nearest I've seen on Linux is CAM Expert which is a commercial product from the same guy who produces the free QCAD, but ours is simpler to use. 2D Design runs quite happily under Wine, though there are issue printing via CUPS. Ed Lea hacked some new Wine code last year to enable our CAM machines to operate from parallel and serial ports, but I don't know if his code has made it to the official release. Regards, Phil Thane - Support Manager, TechSoft UK Ltd.

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LEAs and FLOSS
by Richard Smedley 14 May '04

14 May '04

Hello, I've just rejoined the list after a few years away (I try and keep my volume of e-mail down to sane levels, though it'd be pushing it to ever say that I succeeded =^) Is there anyone on this list from Powys LEA or involved in CardiffSchools.net? I'm writing an article on Free Software use in UK schools, and while I have plenty on school usage and software, I'd like a bit more from LEA-level on attitudes to FLOSS. Thanks, - Richard Smedley

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] School use of OpenOffice.org]
by Ian Lynch 14 May '04

14 May '04

-- Ian Lynch <ian.lynch(a)zmsl.com> ZMS Ltd

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Q1 - Q2
by adrian.wells 14 May '04

14 May '04

RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Q1 - Q2Hi Chris, Everyone was talking education (it's a school list - I know!) So I thought I'd put everyone straight. If I purchase anything for Sidcot I always try to get an educational discount, you can be sure of that :-) I also have several customers who are entirely disconnected with education and they along with friends and family all get the "Try LINUX" patter from me :-) It's all very well multi nationals sniffing around LINUX, but the small companies will need to take the plunge for things to really move, they employ a huge percentage of the population. I have to say that I >was< one of those who suggested that schools ought to be using what they have at home and the work-place i.e. MS. - If the majarity had been Word Perfect then that would have been my choice; before I'm flamed yet again :-) - However even we ludites can change :-) But this view is still very widely held, even when you point out that by the time Johnny goes to work, the current packages will probably not be in use anyway. Adrian ----- Original Message ----- From: Chris Puttick To: adrian.wells Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 7:03 AM Subject: RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Q1 - Q2 Thought it was for Sidcot school? Let me know if not, but we should be able to get a discount for most organisations that are primarily educational. Cheers Chris -----Original Message----- From: adrian.wells [mailto:adrian.wells@sidcot.org.uk] Sent: Thu 5/13/2004 9:02 AM To: suse-linux-uk-schools(a)suse.com Cc: Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Q1 - Q2 Hi Guy's & Guyesess Thanks to everyone that replied on and off list - some very good ideas there. So as not to miss-lead, this is for a company not a school - they'll just have to pay more! :-) Kind regards Adrian -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-unsubscribe(a)suse.com For additional commands, e-mail: suse-linux-uk-schools-help(a)suse.com This message may contain information and/or data that is confidential and legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that any use, publication, reproduction or dissemination is strictly prohibited and may violate certain laws. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by return e-mail and destroy this and all copies of this message and/or data. The content of this message has been scanned by MailPatrol for unacceptable language and inappropriate content. European Electronique limited thanks you in anticipation of your co-operation. MailPatrol is a fully managed service that offers your organisation the ability to monitor and enforce your Acceptable Usage Policy. For further information regarding the MailPatrol services contact the European Electronique Sales Enquiry line on 0845 345 8340 (local rate) or email sales(a)euroele.com

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Q2 - Linux Mail Server
by adrian.wells 14 May '04

14 May '04

Thanks Andy, I came across netpilot years ago when they started offering a LINUX "web proxy in a box", not kept up to date with them though. It's a shame that their web pages don't work in FireFox! Menu's all over the place :-( I think that in the first instance we'll use a mail forwarding technique and then wean them over to a full LINUX solution. Of course having purchased the existing email server (which does all they want at the moment) they feel that they have something invested in this particular solution even though they only have one user licence left and will need two very shortly :-) I installed a SuSE LAMP box for them last w/e and they're very impressed with the performance, of course moving from 64K ISDN to 512K ADSL had a little to do with it :-) I'm also trying to get them to use LINUX boxes as document servers and get open office onto the desktop. The problem is that this perceived 'investment' persists even when the software or hardware solution no longer works. It's like spending money on an old car, you end up keeping it another year and spend yet more the next time it fails it's MOT. Later Adrian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Andy Spong" <postmaster(a)andyspong.plus.com> To: "adrian.wells" <adrian.wells(a)sidcot.org.uk> Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 5:58 PM Subject: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Q2 - Linux Mail Server > Dear Adrian, > It's not Suse but it is Linux, have a look at http://www.netpilot.com, you get > a complete idiot proof linux solution that can be administered either locally > or via any web browser, half an hour should have you up and running.Have a > chat with Steve @ http://www.forlinux.co.uk that's where I bought mine from > and now the headmasters secretary runs the mail server! > Hope this is of some use > > Andy > > On Wednesday 12 May 2004 11:45, adrian.wells wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Can anyone recommend a LINUX mail server with a nice GUI front end. > > > > This is to be administered by a local user with no LINUX / little PC > > experience - (I know, dangerous!) > > > > Maybe a web interface would be useful for setting up things like extra > > accounts, alias and list maintenance. > > > > This is to replace an existing "computalynx" mailserver running on Win2000. > > > > Kind regards > > > > Adrian Wells >

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Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] School use of OpenOffice.org
by Paul Jensen 14 May '04

14 May '04

Out of curiousity, how many of you are currently using OpenOffice.org as the main Office Productivity software in your schools and colleges, and are there any major issues popping up about using this software? I'm at Cass Business School in London, and I'm hoping to expand on this to see how the software would fare for businesses and organisations in London. _________________________________________________________________ Stay in touch with absent friends - get MSN Messenger http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Crocodile Clips
by Grainge, Derek 13 May '04

13 May '04

> I was only talking A-level and agree with you on all your comments. I was > trying to suggest that there are other ways that you can adapt in order to > use Linux for teaching. I realised you might be referring to A-level, but I'm not sure others in the thread were. Re OCR spec. They don't mention MS Access - they daren't. But every scrap of paper I have seen from the examiners bears its hallmarks. The materials on the Milberry and McWeeney websites and CDs are aimed directly at Access. And these chaps are not unconnected with the exam board. I have had students, one working on Access / asp/ IIS and the other working on mysql / php/ Apache. Either approach is satisfactory to the examiners. The limiting factor is the experience of the teachers rather than exam board expectations. And if a student explains what he's doing, as he should, the moderator doesn't need to understand the technicalities of php. After all, all he's doing is checking that I've done my marking job properly. i.e. by using a web-based front end you make the exam board even happier because you're integrating products: that was my gist. And that opens up a lot of non-windows options. -- ******************************************************************************** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of unacceptable material. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster(a)wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. Website: http://www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk ********************************************************************************

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RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Crocodile Clips
by Grainge, Derek 13 May '04

13 May '04

Hi Garry > Web projects are notoriously difficult to get high grades in so why not do a > database project instead. At what level? My GCSE students (as default) would do two projects, Web and Modelling, for AQA. I'd direct them AWAY from databases as the work is more technical / time-consuming for no great benefit. Most marks come from the report covering the project development, and so longs there's a reasonable level of content the exam board have no axe to grind. I don't agree that web projects are 'notoriously difficult' to get good marks in - there's plenty scope. e.g. a website of 8-12 pages, including text, pictures, perhaps other media, and an online form which works. Without the last there are criteria (data gathering, validation, outputs) which the project can't satisfy. We have a spare web server which my students publish on internally to show they have done all of that successfully. Perhaps famous last words, but my students have been doing that for some years now without complaint. And they get good grades. All of which is jumping through hoops, but successful jumping. I would agree that an A2 ICT student (we do OCR) would almost have to do a database. They have to do something reasonably complex - which may come from integration of products (eg Web site with database back end), or from the complexity of the database & the task itself. I guess an equally complex spreadsheet involving multiple data sets with relationships between them would be satisfactory. But the board have said they're not interested in artificially complex solutions to problems. Derek -- ******************************************************************************** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of unacceptable material. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster(a)wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. Website: http://www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk ********************************************************************************

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