The software we use, like many (most) schools for under 11s, falls into two groups. The first and most important is essentially cut down versions of applications software, although we do use MS Office for staff and the older girls. Much of the functionality of this software is available under Linux, although the various interfaces are, I feel, far too complex for our younger girls. The software we use at present: Clicker: Word processing/multimedia authoring using grids with words and pictures to select; writes HTML Dazzle: Bitmap editing with simple & customizable toolbars Super Logo: Logo programming My world: 'Fuzzy felt' drag and drop pictures and text Junior Pin Point: Simple database for statistics investigations; questionnaire design, data collection and analysis Geometer's Sketchpad: Interactive geometry - angles, areas, construction, transformations Text Ease: Word processing with speech and graphics; writes HTML MS Office: WP, Spreadsheet, relational database, presentation graphics MS Publisher: Easy way to produce visually stunning (if all rather similar) web pages, leaflets, etc. Corel Draw: Vector graphics Corel Photo-paint:Image manipulation I am aware that there are Open Source variants of these latter standard applications, but I will still get the argument from colleagues and parents that the Linux version isn't what the they and the girls are used to at home. Not an insurmountable argument but there would still be some resistance. The second category is the huge number of CD ROMs and older education specific programs. A lot of these are beyond the traditional drill & practice type of program and include open ended, problem solving and investigative opportunities. My colleagues all have there own favourites, but a few of those presently in use: Dorling Kindersley, I love maths: Various multimedia maths games, similarly for spelling and science Thomas the Clown: Multimedia problem solving activities - ordering, patterns etc. A variety of talking books Dorling Kindersley geography, history and science reference CD ROMS Still a fair few drill & practice programs for spelling (Star Spell) and arithmetic MS Encarta: Encyclopaedia, atlas, dictionary. An exhaustive list, even for just St Ives would be fairly lengthy. To get an idea of the vast range available see http://besd.becta.org.uk/ As to Michael's query about the market for Linux servers, whilst I'm aware that many state primaries have received NGfL funds to put an NT server solution in place, there are many more that have not (yet), and prep schools such as ourselves don't get NGfL money and have no LEAs making decisions or giving advice. According to the DfEE, the 'average' primary school has 17.8 PCs, but only 5.2 connected to any sort of network (http://www.dfee.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SBU/b0197/sb07-2000.pdf). A Linux box like the one suggested would transform existing peer-peer or stand alone hardware, and as he points out, would not be difficult to implement. It is harder to make money out of this if it's as easy as it should be, but this has never stopped RM. Miles Berry Deputy Head St Ives School, Haslemere www.st-ives.surrey.sch.uk -----Original Message----- From: Mark Evans [mailto:mpe@st-peters-high.devon.sch.uk] Sent: 16 March 2001 16:43 To: Michael Brown Cc: suse-linux-uk-schools@suse.com Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Thinking Ahead.... Notes from a small school Importance: High
On Fri, 16 Mar 2001, Mr Miles Berry wrote:
My Key Stage 1 & 2 colleagues currently expect a range of education specific titles to be available, which are only at present available for Windows - OK VMWare and WINE mean these can be run under Linux but that's kind of defeating the object IMHO. Given time then I'm sure the functionality of these programs will be available under Linux or, preferably, via the web.
Could you describe the education software that you use? Titles alone will not mean much to me, but if you can give me a description then I can start someone searching for Linux-based or web-based equivalents.
It would be useful if this kind of information compiled into a support database. i.e. software people are actually using against open source equivalents. Miles Berry Deputy Head St Ives School, Haslemere www.st-ives.surrey.sch.uk