Re: [Fwd: Re: [seul-edu] Re: ISO]

["Michael Williams" <mwilliams@haywood.k12.nc.us>]

There are several rpm's already built for RH distro that are on the k12ltsp
distro. I'm setting up our teacher training lab to triple boot XP/98SE/RH7.2
I was able to install several educational apps from the k12ltsp distro,
including Evolution. I'll check this afternoon and see how mnay of the KDE
apps are available.
>
>
>> 1. Packaging of .rpm's :
>> 1.1 Many developers only produce  tar.gz files, and then don't spend
>> time in  packaging.
>
> That's what distributors are *for*. :)
>
>> 1.2 Some apps have difficult into get categorized in dirs, sometimes
>> they  simply are not runnable, yes, for example, "CrosswordsForLinux"
>> is just a html-javascript page.
>
> just straight files can be installed with rpm -- we do it with the
> default Apache page, redhat-logos, etc.  No problem.
>
>
>>
>> 2 EDUML:
>> 2.1 Due to the lack of power/time is still pending a way of exchange
>> info  between educational apps. XML may be an add-on on many
>> applications, but it's simply essential in educational apps, or at
>> least to create more  apps and get more of the existing apps. In this
>> field, data are more  important than code, after all, it's the
>> education the end, the means are  secondary (javascript, gnomish or
>> kde-ish ).

I'm working off of the SIF/OpenSIf spec's. I've got the linux server version
of Follett software running and installing Compass Learning, NCWISE our
state mandated student info database is also SIF,  will be able to test this
summer.

>
> I can't speak to this.  However, if the data format was at least
> available, it would help a great deal -- XML or not.  I don't know what
>  the status is for many educational apps, but I suspect that it is the
> same as most commercial software, i.e. closed.  Someone who knows more
> speak up;  anyone worked with any educational software before trying to
>  modify/expand it?
>
>> 3 Feedback
>> The natural reaction of people using free software is to forget that
>> authors  would like feedback, me included, I use kmail, for example,
>> and I haven't  thanked to them.
>> While this feedback may be nonsense in most fields, in EDU is
>> essential ,  because again, it's the data what matters, more feedback,
>> supplying data, more apps, a kind of cyclic reaction.
>>
>
> Honestly, thinking about this, I think we (the Linux community) have a
> distinct advantage here.  In education, we have a distinct body of
> educated professional users (teachers) who have a deep vested interest
> in good, useful software.  When they find out that their ideas and
> feedback are useful and actually make things happen, getting feedback
> should be much easier than normal.  My theory, any way.
>

I've just talked to our regional technology intergration specialist, she
teaches how to intergrate technology in the classroom. She's agreed to
evaluate the software here at our lab and possibly install it (dual boot) at
the regional lab (serves 18 counties) and gather input from other teachers.

Here is her list:
Imageblender	(photoshop with a childs interface)
GraphClub	(graphing/data modeling(?))  	Guppi?
Spin Panorama	((knitting photo's for 360 degree views)
Insperation/Kidsperation
Time-Line generators
KidPix

She's going to get me some input this week as they will be here tomorrow in
the new lab to finish some training.

Michael
-- 
Michael Williams                   Instructional Technology
Haywood County Schools          216 Charles St. Clyde, NC 28721
http://www.k12linux.org                 (828) 627-8314