On Tuesday 20 March 2007 13:26, James Tremblay wrote:
To all my education friends, I have been spending lots of time with Novell's education team since arriving at Brainshare Monday morning. I can tell everyone that Novell is very excited about our work. They asked that we continue to target desktop software for review and that we try and post the locations of source code or RPM's for as much GPL'd (the license is very important) software as we can find into the wishlist and or directly into the build service. That we review them and when possible show a uses case.
I know that over the past few months I have been very quiet , this is not because I have lost interest. It is only a sign of how busy I am. I can and will be available to have discussions with anyone with questions or answers. LOL
-- James Tremblay Director of Technology Newmarket School District Novell CNE 3\4\5 CLE \ NCE in training. http:\\en.opensuse.org\education
Hello, I keep quiet on this list, but I'm moved to answer two mails today, here's the second... I used to be a full time teacher specialising in Design & Technology (for those not in the UK I don't think there is anything like it outside the UK and a handful of former colonies. It's a sort of practical science combined with design drawing and workshop skills). I then spent 8 years as Support Manager for a (Windows) CAD/CAM system supplier that specialised in small systems for schools/colleges. Now I'm a full-time writer on education and technology related matters (and part-time teacher when necessary). I've been using FLOSS for about 4-5 years, these days I only use Windows when reviewing Windows software, and I'm trying to influence the education system here in Wales to use it too, though without notable success so far. A serious sticking point for my ex-colleagues in D&T is CAD. To put it bluntly there isn't a decent Open Source 2D/3D package. Most schools in England and Wales run TechSoft 2D Design (TechSoft is my former employer) and PTC's ProDESKTOP. 2D has been around since the early 90s (and developed from an earlier product on Acorn computers) so the schools have long since forgotten the cost, it is free now. TechSoft don't do a Linux version, but it runs OK under WINE. PTC did a deal with the UK govt about 5 years ago to put ProD free into all schools. Distribution, training and support was organised by the Design & Technology Association who charge for training only. Result - software that is 'Free' in the sense that "the beer is free but we're going to want £500 to teach you how to use it." But again that was a while ago, now they have it, it's free this year, and it won't run on Linux. Most schools also use some sort of CAM. The machines run on serial, parallel or USB ports, usually requiring special drivers, rather like printer drivers in many cases. The drivers are usually Windows only. Ironicaly TechSoft sell a 3D printer for rapid prototyping. It has an x86 PC embedded inside running Linux, but the control software and 'driver' that makes contact with the machine is for Windows! D&T teachers are usually the most IT literate outside of the actual IT dept in a school, the most enthusiastic and heaviest users. FLOSSIE stands no chance without their support, and they need CAD/CAM. Anyone out there prepared to take all the FLOSS CAD and build a decent schools package out of it? Or start from scratch? I'm not a developer, but I'm prepared to be a consultant, tester and publicity person. The best application I have seen for school use is Varicad (free demo available) but it's not FLOSS and it isn't especially cheap. -- Regards Phil Thane Bryn Villa Penycoed Road (off Brook St) Llangollen LL20 8LR 01978 861677 07971 987623 phil@brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk www.brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help@opensuse.org