Hi all, A rallying cry for some assistance in a scary world. We're thinking of replacing MS Office here (97) with Oo.o 1.1 (to be honest, it's going to happen!). I've received a letter from a parent who is "alarmed" that we may be considering any alternatives to Microsoft, expressing how important it is for her child to be in a Microsoft environment because of the real world (I'm paraphrasing - not her words). I'm arguing along three lines... *Practicality (cost/budget/product features). *Educationally (we're teachers not trainers) *Idiologically (free thinking, open standards and specifically open file formats). Could anyone point me to some web resources for the definition of "educating" rather than "training" that would enhance my point. And also resources that support the case for "open file formats" versus proprietory (and thus I suppose opensource in general versus proprietory - although maybe this wouldn't directly help as we're at least "looking at Star Office". Hmm). The more professional the body of any report's author, the better I suppose (do Becta cover this stuff?). Any articles at all would be great. Cheers -- Matt Johnson ________________________________________________________________________ Download Yahoo! Messenger now for a chance to win Live At Knebworth DVDs http://www.yahoo.co.uk/robbiewilliams
On Thursday 27 November 2003 14:13, Matt Johnson wrote:
Hi all,
A rallying cry for some assistance in a scary world.
We're thinking of replacing MS Office here (97) with Oo.o 1.1 (to be honest, it's going to happen!). I've received a letter from a parent who is "alarmed" that we may be considering any alternatives to Microsoft, expressing how important it is for her child to be in a Microsoft environment because of the real world (I'm paraphrasing - not her words).
By the time her "precious" is out in the real world, the real world will be OpenOffice.org! I had an occasion last year where I recieved a lot of complaints from a particular pupil about having to use OO and Star Office. This pupil left for university and in her first term asked me for SO becauase thay had to use it in her course. The last laugh and all that. Don't be too alarmed at these complaints, there are plenty of these types of people around. Lastly, try this: We are teaching ICT not Microsoft computing and this covers all aspects of ICT, including generic software types of which MS office is only one example. Also, our teaching should be capability based (as the KS3 strategy instructs us) and if her precious is attentive to her lessons should pick up the capability to drive any software, including Microsoft's. Therefore the vehicle used to deliver the capability is not important, as the software skills developed should be transferable. This is what I had to endure this week - Comment from fellow teacher: Linux is crap because I don't understand it and anyway I don't like the way it looks. regards garry
I'm arguing along three lines...
*Practicality (cost/budget/product features).
*Educationally (we're teachers not trainers)
*Idiologically (free thinking, open standards and specifically open file formats).
Could anyone point me to some web resources for the definition of "educating" rather than "training" that would enhance my point. And also resources that support the case for "open file formats" versus proprietory (and thus I suppose opensource in general versus proprietory - although maybe this wouldn't directly help as we're at least "looking at Star Office". Hmm). The more professional the body of any report's author, the better I suppose (do Becta cover this stuff?). Any articles at all would be great.
Cheers
-- Matt Johnson
________________________________________________________________________ Download Yahoo! Messenger now for a chance to win Live At Knebworth DVDs http://www.yahoo.co.uk/robbiewilliams
On Thu, 2003-11-27 at 14:13, Matt Johnson wrote:
Could anyone point me to some web resources for the definition of "educating" rather than "training" that would enhance my point. And also resources that support the case for "open file formats" versus proprietory (and thus I suppose opensource in general versus proprietory - although maybe this wouldn't directly help as we're at least "looking at Star Office". Hmm). The more professional the body of any report's author, the better I suppose (do Becta cover this stuff?). Any articles at all would be great.
Hi Matt, We are using OpenOffice for our own business, so it is in commercial use. Of course, we are not the only business to be using the program now. We employ people on the basis that they have skills that can be transferred to the use of OpenOffice rather than MS Office. We have had no trouble in employing people who have only used MS Office as the transfer is very easy. We would prefer to employ people who had received an education in the use of a range of applications, as employees with adaptability are more valuable than those with narrow skills. I'd be happy to be quoted on that if it would help. Regarding education and training, my dictionary (Chambers) says: train: to instruct and discipline, esp. in a particular skill. educate: to bring up and instruct, to teach, to train Thus, in my reading, a training is encompassed by an education, but an education is wider than simply a training. best regards, Seb James. -- Managing Director, Educational Systems, Hypercube Systems Ltd Providing Open Source ICT solutions for schools. Tel: 0114 268 4814 Web: www.hypercubesystems.co.uk Mob: 07970 849445 Email: seb@hypercubesystems.co.uk
participants (3)
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garry saddington -
Matt Johnson -
Seb James