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Last year, I made a presentation concerning our classroom use of Live Linux CDs. In my conclusion, I cite several freedoms. Specifically that Linux LiveCDs make: *Students free to reproduce their class or lab work at home or other places. *Instructors free from their schools purchasing cycle. *Students free to distribute the software where they work or at other places. *Schools free from software budget shortfalls. *Schools free from the need to track software licenses. *Schools free to use their support resources elsewhere. Of course, the time it takes for me to develop laboratory activities over the summer isn't free. But, to me, its still worthwhile. For anyone interested, the presentation "Hands On Linux for Windows Users" is available, in PDF format, here: http://www.geocities.com/crowleye/pdfs/Linux.pdf Best of luck, Ed > Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:57:27 +1000 > From: bbmaj7@xxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: Re: [school-discuss] Presentation for local SD - beware the FUD > To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > --- Guido Arnold <watsolldat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > * Use the term Open Source in preference to FOSS or Free Software > > > > > o Free Software has the word free, see zero-cost above > > > > One remark in the beginning that when you speak of Free Software, you > > mean free as in freedom, not as in free beer, will solve the issue. > > > > Most of the following arguments depend on the freedom to use, share > > and modify. If you don't have these freedoms, you can not freely > > cooperate with other schools etc.. Why shouldn't we mention it? > > > I'm not a presenter (yet) but I have been collating experiences from those who > have been doing this. What I am hearing is that school administrations are not > interested in discussing philosophy but rather want to focus on functionality > and value. > > At least on the initial approach the term "free" has all the wrong conotations. > The philosophy of freedoms make perfect sense to you and I but a school > administrator must be focused on results, costs and risks. Anything that sounds > radical or unstable raises the Risk flag. > > I would suggest to focus on what OSS can do functionally, the stability of the > support base, the certainty of availability into the future, certainty of cost > into the future, etc. Stability, certainty, permanence, support, user-base: > these concept help cancel the fear of risk. FUD is a powerful weapon when used > on decision makers. > > -- > Rich > > > > Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address. > www.yahoo7.com.au/y7mail > > Use video conversation to talk face-to-face with Windows Live Messenger. Get started! |