Re: [seul-edu] [Fwd: File formats and distance learning]

[James Michael DuPont <mdupont777@yahoo.com>]

Dear Les,
thanks for writing back, you will find my comments below.

--- Les Richardson <richl@mail.tfsd.sk.ca> wrote:
 > Hi,
 >
 > Of course one can use the "freely available" PP Viewer from the MS
 > site.

If you have windows or macitosh running, that is not always a 
given.  I have Debian GNU/Linux running. There are some tools, 
like OpenOffice, and there is a PPTtoHTML that I can also install.

 > As well, once in this format, it doesn't "come out" easily.

That is the issue. Microsoft 2000 has a nice export tool.

 >  If the "new,
 > improved" version of MS-Office has XML markup as a file format, it
 > might get easier, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Even then, my school might not have the money to upgrade.

 >
 > Also, the file format is the tip of the iceburg (berg?) since the
 > rest of
 > the equation involves:
 > a) Authoring Software - does it exist?

 > b) Viewing Software
That is the most important for me at this point.

 > c) Richness of alternative file formats (ie. able to support 
similar
 > feature set)

A bare minimum is needed. Look at a possible blind student, or 
disabled student, they need at least text. Pictures would be nice 
as well.

 > d) Accessibilty of Authoring - how easy to use, which leads to
 > training requirements for this vs a huge installed based of 
knowledgeable
 > users in PP.
 > e) Conversion tools - to export to relatively simple data 
models or
 > markup (ie. HTML, LaTeX slides,) keeping structural info intact?

Well, even if they stick to PPT for authoring,  we need a strong 
enough lobby to demand that there is a standard distribution 
format. That is what I am trying to put togeather here.

We the students are the customers of the learning institutions. 
We need to demand at least a bare minimum of standardization, on 
that is not even given at this point.

I am not trying to change the tools that people are used to be 
used,but to raise awareness for the needs of an end user.

At this point, there is not any protection for the students from 
being forced to install software that might cost them alot of 
money or take away their freedom. (eg: Windows and Office)

I am trying to find and organise students and teacher who dont 
want to have to use be *forced* to use windows, at least to take 
part in a course. The authoring of those lessons is a different 
issue.

Thanks for you response, and I look forward to an interesting
discussion.

mike
 >
 >
 > On Wed, 29 Jan 2003, Doug Loss wrote:
 >
 > > [I received this this morning.  I'm passing it along to 
stimulate
 > > discussion (please do the discussion on the schoolforge-discuss
 > > mailing list; if you're not already a subscriber, go to
 > > http://schoolforge.net/sfdiscuss.php and sign up--This includes
 > > you, James Michael DuPont :-) ).--Doug Loss]
 > >
 > > -------- Original Message --------
 > > Subject: File formats and distance learning
 > > Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 04:25:52 -0800 (PST)
 > > From: James Michael DuPont <mdupont777@yahoo.com>
 > > To: dloss@seul.org
 > >
 > > Dear All,
 > >
 > > I have gotten my first installment of a e-learning package from
 > > my university, in Power Point format! I cannot easily view this
 > > with free software (I mean openoffice is HUGE). I requested 
that
 > > they provide me the files in Standard HTML and PNG format or 
PDF.
 > >
 > > It turns out that my school is sponsored by Microsoft, and they
 > > have these restrictive student licenses the "give" the students
 > > Office for $10 and require the school to monitor their usage,
 > > prevent them from using the software commercially, and 
delete it
 > > when they are done with school.
 > >
 > > After many letters to the directors and professors of the 
school,
 > > I agreed to start converting the materials for them into 
standard
 > > format.
 > >
 > > Many other people must have similar problems all over the world!
 > >
 > > My question is to you : Are you interested in  promoting free
 > > software and open file formats in  schools and distance 
learning?
 > >
 > > mike
 > >
 > >
 > > =====
 > > James Michael DuPont
 > > http://introspector.sourceforge.net/
 > >
 > > __________________________________________________
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 >


=====
James Michael DuPont
http://introspector.sourceforge.net/

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