Re: [seul-edu] Another threat

[Matt Drew <mdrew@redhat.com>]

Kevin,

FWIW, in my pilot work I'm approaching this problem with a three-pronged 
attack suggested to me by some of my pilot participants:

1) They know instruction should be on concepts instead of products, 
because products change on a very rapid basis - teach a man to fish, 
etc.  This is popular, but MOUS certification is pretty widespread;

2) Bus. Ed. systems can be dual-boot/set up for Office under Wine (or 
winex, or Codeweaver) to handle all requirements (this costs money, of 
course, but they can't really do anything else);

3) work at the state level to get the requirements changed (will take a 
while, most likely).


Does anyone know if there is an OpenOffice or StarOffice certification?

Matt

Kevin Stiles wrote:
> Greeting!
> 
> I just finished an argument with our Bus. Ed. department about what they 
> needed to be able to teach various office type classes at our High 
> School.  I lost.
> 
> In Washington State, all Bus Ed. teachers who are teaching office type 
> products are REQUIRED to be certified in the appropriate area.  So far 
> the only reference I can find in the state's information is MOUS 
> (Microsoft) certification.  With this in place it will be extremely 
> difficult for any alternative software to get into our schools.
> 
> The link is:
> 
> http://www.k12.wa.us/careerteched/busmark/training.asp
> and
> http://www.nwcet.org/viewarticle.aps?art=10
> 
> Any ideas how to fight this?  Without it repealed Washington State is 
> dead in the water at the Staff level, at least with the most vocal of 
> the teachers involved.
> 
> ThanX!
> 
> Kevin Stiles
> Pasco School District
> 
> 



-- 
Matt Drew
Red Hat, Inc
Education Pilot Tech Coordinator
(919)880-7736 (cell)
(919)754-3700 x44194
mdrew@redhat.com