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

["R. Scott Belford" <scott@xxxxxxxxx>]

Daniel Howard wrote:
> Yeah, William and I were discussing that over lunch after our meeting. 
> We mused that it will be great when enough big districts like Atlanta 
> Public Schools have Linux deployed everywhere and tell the book 
> publishers that they want Linux versions of textbook support software...
You can also work with your DOE to develop continuing education 
classes.  Many teachers need these credits, and it is easy to develop 
simple courses which will show teachers how to integrate FOSS tools into 
their lesson plans.
> In the meantime, I think my eParent model will have to suffice: 
> William and I provided much of the initial training of our teachers at 
> Brandon, and then I formed a new PTA committee called the eParents so 
> we could get parents to help out in learning new software and showing 
> teachers how to use it.  I'll try to assemble a cadre of 
> technology-savvy parents from this high school, burn some live CDs 
> they can use at home, and have each of them help.  But I have to say 
> these teachers today looked really motivated to learn this stuff.
We have found that there are always parents and community members 
willing to assist.  Start to engage them with an Edubuntu live CD.  Just 
as there are plenty of developers wiling to code for FOSS projects, 
there are plenty of people wanting to learn about FOSS while helping 
their school.   We've been able to facilitate an ever-growing number of 
computer labs in Hawaii's DOE, starting over 5 years ago, with community 
support like this.  What seems to work well is

a. Get the principal's approval
b. Become a friend, not a threat, to the current computer person on 
campus, if she/he exists
c. Find a community member near the school to be a point person
> You know Les, that's a really good point: there's probably a growing 
> market now for software trainers that specialize in Open Source 
> educational packages.  Since Open Source schools are no longer 
> spending that money on licenses, maybe now they can actually afford to 
> hire a trainer to come in... a
This is how HOSEF does it.  If you want a free computer lab, and you 
have the space and the will, we can provide it.  If you want support, 
you can come see us for free on Saturdays when we do our workshops, you 
can write our mailing lists, or you can just ask someone - all for 
free.  If you want support and training on your time and schedule, then 
you can buy a support contract from us.  This is working marvelously.

On another note, we are growing our focus here in Hawaii to include our 
City and County parks.  Hawaii has parks and recreation centers 
everywhere on Oahu, and HOSEF is working with the city to get Free 
wireless and computers into all of the parks.  Needless to say, the 
wireless firewall/filters are FOSS based as are our workstations.  All 
the hardware is previously discarded but still quite functional (in the 
right hands)
> Daniel 
--scott

--
R. Scott Belford
Founder/Executive Director
The Hawaii Open Source Education Foundation
P.O. Box 2644
Ewa Beach, HI 96707
808.689.6518 phone/fax
scott@xxxxxxxxx