On Thu, 2007-08-09 at 02:22 +0100, Matt Johnson wrote:
The problem for us is that schools have very little financial or functional reason to implement change on the services/products outlined above. Perhaps this is vastly different across the globe... perhaps we could hear some examples. Certainly for me, the work must be done above school level in order to affect change on the vast majority of the services outlined.
Its very variable in different parts of the world. The vast majority of schools world wide are well below the level of provision we take for granted in the UK. Even in the UK there is massive variation in who controls procurement. An independent school will be entirely free to choose any equipment from any supplier. A City Academy will have more freedom in this respect than a comprehensive school in a local authority with centralised provision. Some LA centralise more than others. Then you get into micropolitics between head, IT manager, systems manager. If anyone of these wants to sabotage change they are well placed to do so. My main point is that if you want change you have to lower the barriers to change, superman might be able to leap tall buildings in one bound but most humans have to take the stairs. If I offer a school a valued qualification that is supported entirely through web applications and teaches about FOSS but also satisfies statutory requirements with minimal additional work for the teacher, its a step in the right direction and far easier in terms of adoption than trying to get people to install GNU/Linux servers and desktops everywhere with no training budget. Furthermore, if you do persuade people to change and it causes them hassle you do more harm than good because they will say we tried that Linux thing and it didn't work. In the long run its better for them to make the decision as to what they need than for us to force the issue. If of course the target is Linux savvy anyway and wants support in changing, its a different issue. 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@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org