Re: [school-discuss] Feedback from the Georgia Educational Technology Conference and a thought

[Shane Coyle <shane@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sunday 19 November 2006 16:03, Shane Coyle wrote:
> On Sunday 19 November 2006 15:51, Daniel Howard wrote:
> > Open Source Folk,
> >
> > This past week, I gave a talk at the Georgia ETC on Open Source software
> > for schools, and highlighted the Brandon story in particular.  Here's my
> > abstract:
> >
> > Session: 190 Title: Reviving Your Older Technology Using Linux Thin
> > Client Software
> > Presenter: Daniel Howard, Georgia Open Source Education Foundation
> >
> > Learn how older computers can be set up as high-performance, virus-free
> > thin client workstations using the K12LTSP Free Open Source Software
> > package (FOSS). The package includes the Linux operating system and
> > dozens of software applications ranging from kindergarten to high school
> > years and beyond, with an emphasis on math, science, and reading.
> > Participants will learn how to freely obtain and install the software,
> > configure their older school PCs as thin clients, and explore the new
> > educational software applications included in the package. Participants
> > will be given a set of installation disks at the end of the workshop, as
> > well as a CD ROM they can use on their own computers that demonstrates
> > how easy Linux and the new educational software applications are to use.
> >
> > And here's a link to the other sessions:
> > http://www.gaetc.org/sessions06/1sessions06.htm
> >
> > I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were more sessions on
> > Open Source than I predicted (about 15), everything from using Knoppix
> > for fixing Win XP machines(!) to Open Source email and web
> > filtering/security solutions for schools.  Every session I attended, and
> > mine, were nicely populated, and as we would expect, there were a lot of
> > schools with old PCs that were not being used due to viruses, bad hard
> > drives, etc.  I gave out Knoppix and WinOSS CDs, and K12LTSP DVDs to my
> > attendees, plus we gave out disks at the booth that Jim Kinney set up,
> > where he had a bunch of laptops and new thin clients (including the
> > NTAVOs) on display for folks to play with the software.  All in all, a
> > great success, and the buzz about Open Source is definitely getting out
> > here in Georgia.
> >
> > Based on some of the questions I got from school IT and CIO folk, I'd
> > like to pose the following question for our group: Can we put together a
> > complete Open Source solution for schools?  We could use both a
> > classroom server model, as well as an enterprise model (fewer, more
> > powerful serves in the MDF/IDF and Gigabit links to classrooms), but I
> > want to include whatever servers and software would be required for all
> > other school functions, including administrative, grading (OpenAdmin),
> > email, web portal/wiki, client support/tracking (Nagios?), etc.
> > Consider the question this way: If a brand new school/district came to
> > us and asked for a complete, turnkey Open Source solution (assuming we
> > got them a Linux consultant to integrate everything), what would we
> > recommend?
> >
> > On a satisfactory note, William just discovered that the SmartBoard
> > interactive whiteboards from Smart Technologies have a Linux version of
> > their software...the revolution continues.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Daniel
>
> Outstanding, I am especially interested in the smartboard linux software
> since my local district just picked up a few of those and certainly wouldnt
> want to hear Linux doesnt support them.
>
> I like the idea of the "Open Source School in a Box", lets hash that out a
> bit because I think it has a lot of merit and could be a real important
> project to not only identify what we have accomplished, but more
> importantly where the 'holes' are in the OSS Schoolware stack.
>
> If there is interest, I'll setup a spot at EDU-Nix.org for the discussion -
> a wiki, forum, whatever would be best format.
>
> Great work Daniel, thanks for sharing.

Okay, so I am replying to myself which is just awful form.  Anyhow, I blogged 
about this report and also submitted a story to Digg in hopes of getting some 
input on the state of OSS in schools from the community.

http://edu-nix.org/shanecoyle/?p=18
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Evaluating_the_State_of_Open_Source_in_Schools

-- 
Shane Coyle
www.edu-nix.org
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