Re: [school-discuss] FOSS Resource Kits

[Bryant Patten <opensource@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rich -

	I think such a kit would be great.  I have been working with Open  
Source Victoria on a Free Software for Schools catalog ( http:// 
www.ncose.org/node/3 )and I have been amazed what a difference it  
makes to put something physical (a 'dead tree' object rather than a  
CD-R or URL) into a teacher's hands.

	One tricky part is that the more such a kit can be mapped into the  
curriculum the better, but the curriculum is very geographical  
specific.  Here in the U.S., it differs from state to state, which  
each having different requirements.  So it can be tricky to find the  
balance between specificity and applicable generality.

	Let me know if I can help in any way.

Bryant

******
Bryant Patten
Executive Director
The National Center for Open Source and Education (U.S.)
www.ncose.org


On Jun 13, 2008, at 9:13 AM, Richard Andrews wrote:

> Related to the Australian roll-out of computers to schools and  
> Software Freedom Day I'm researching putting together a teacher  
> resource kit on FOSS.
>
> This would have the aim of educating teaching staff about FOSS, but  
> ideally also provide some useful curriculum.
>
> Can anyone provide guidance?
>
> First up - is this worth pursuing?
>
> Does any such material already exist?
> What makes a resource attactive to teachers (encourages them to  
> teach a module); and what makes such a resource effective (students  
> learn)?
> If you are a teacher what most turns you off a resource kit?
> How can I frame FOSS as valuable in a curriculum?
>
> How do I expose teaching staff to the concept of FOSS; ie. (asuming  
> it exists) how do I get material past the gatekeepers to the  
> teaching staff?
>
> --
>   Rich
>
>
>
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