On Wed, 2008-07-30 at 22:48 +0100, jpd wrote:
Ian Lynch wrote:
On Wed, 2008-07-30 at 22:08 +0100, jpd wrote:
Hi all.
Got a bad feeling about this study.
Its got all the hallmarks of a scheme to kick FOSS in UK schools into the long grass.
Don't worry. The information is for building a web site and it can always be added to at any time. What you can add information to the report after its been handed to Becta?
Its not a report to BECTA, its a contribution to the BECTA funded Schools Open Source Project. This project is building a web site which will include stuff about Open Source (I'm drafting that bit, see http://www.theingots.org/community/node/5480) The site will be subject to continued updates and since the content will be CCSA licensed stuff produced for it can e used by other sites like SF-UK to promote FOSS.
I doubt many people will even log on to the site before it is publicised in September. Which is the main problem....
Its no more of a problem as having no start on a site at all :-)
What is required is just a limited number of high quality case studies, not a massive list.
You need to get a few - 4 you can ignore, 10 starts getting a bit noticeable etc...
Well SF-UK has had 40 odd but they are out of date. What is required is detailed info that is credible for others to follow. There is not enoough money to fund a detailed list of hundreds of case studies and keep them all up to date.
In fact, the Schoolforge UK web site will carry much of the same information and is entirely in the control of FOSS activists so if the government backed site doesn't deliver, we will.
But Becta + central gov don't read or care about the community sites -
BECTA is paying for the SOSP site. While it is true that BECTA still have no clue about FOSS it is an opportunity for us to exploit.
there will be a nice easy to read white hall report telling them what they need to know about the future of UK schools IT needs.
Once Becta mind is set most schools will follow,
When were you last in a school? BECTA has some influence but schools are free to ignore them and many do - in fact most of the innovators. It's useful to have BECTA working in the right direction and it's getting to the point where they have more to lose by ignoring FOSS because FOSS is growing globally and becoming mainstream. They try and avoid real innovation and risk and always will. Moodle is a good example they ignored it and it bit them hard. Now it is getting real traction the more go-ahead schools are simply ignoring BECTA and their LAs and using it and BECTA looks stupid. BECTA will be entirely discredited if it does not get up to speed with FOSS, but don't expect leadership, the concept of leadership and accountability is alien to them. BECTA is slowly coming to terms with the fact that ignoring FOSS is riskier than jumping on the band waggon and taking the associated credit. Hence the toe in the water with SOSP. Like a baby learning to walk they are likely to fall flat on their faces at any time but we can prop them up if it is in our interest to do so.
I have MS come in an win too many times.
The world is changing. MS will still make wins but they will also make bigger and bigger losses as the internet drives open standards, a move from dependency on the desktop and FOSS continues its inexorable expansion. Think back 5 years. The changes are really pretty obvious and will accelerate.
Anybody know the new deal that MS has just signed with Becta?
The MOU between MS and BECTA is about pricing to schools. BECTA is using FOSS as a lever to force prices down -that is a sensible strategy - but not as sensible as investing in FOSS development. These are all just steps in a general trend that will reduce dependency on MS but it is going to take time. BECTA has taken MS to the OFT on Schools Agreement and interoperability. Again motivation is more about pressure to lower costs on existing licensing to schools but it all helps. -- Ian Ofqual Accredited IT Qualifications A new approach to assessment for learning www.theINGOTs.org - 01827 305940 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