[school-discuss] math/science Linux desktop - The Achilles Heel

[Les Richardson <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Daniel,

The larger problem with any of this software use is the training aspect, 
and the teaching materials (if any).

If they are being used in a teaching context, then a teacher will want 
materials for assignments, etc. Having software without that will mean a 
much slower adoption rate.

Thus software is in a symbiotic relationship with support materials and 
documentation, teaching materials, etc.

That is another 'issue' that should be considered in any Linux based 
solution...

Les Richardson
Open Admin for Schools



On Mon, 10 Sep 2007, Daniel Howard wrote:

> Well, William and I met with the High School principal and his assistant 
> principal this morning, and also met several teachers (math, physics, music, 
> multimedia) and all of them are tremendously excited about getting working 
> Linux computers in their classrooms, and the potential for lots of new Open 
> Source software titles.  The teachers have already heard how successful the 
> other Atlanta schools were, and don't seem to care a whit that it will not be 
> Windows based.  They just want working computers, and lots of 'em, and 
> they've heard this is good stuff.
>
> We've asked them to send us ideas for what they'd like to use the computers 
> for in their classrooms, but at the same time, William and I are guessing 
> they have no idea what they could ask for, so we thought we'd put together a 
> system for them to play with with a bunch of high school appropriate titles 
> on it (like the math titles I listed below). Can anyone suggest other high 
> school appropriate applications for math, science, yearbook publishing, web 
> page development (actually I think William has that one covered), control of 
> MIDI keyboards and music composition, audio mixing (they have a small 
> studio), etc.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Daniel
>
>
> Daniel Howard wrote:
> > I'm meeting monday with an Atlanta High School principal that wants to use 
> > Open Source applications in his school.  He's familiar with the K12LTSP 
> > program that Atlanta Public Schools rolled out to 7 schools last year (he 
> > was formerly the principal of a middle school that was in the pilot) and 
> > APS apparently has 35 more elementary and middle schools lined up for it. 
> > So he's a big fan of OSS now.  But high schools are different creatures, 
> > and there are lots of reasons why selected classes (like math and science) 
> > need stand alone desktops for CPU intensive processing.
> >
> > I'm wondering if there is a Linux package that is geared towards 
> > math/science like K12LTSP is to general education.  Something that 
> > installs with FreeMat, Octave, SciLab, etc. built into it.  Anyone seen 
> > anything like that?
> >
> > Daniel
>
>
> --
> Daniel Howard
> President and CEO
> Georgia Open Source Education Foundation