Re: [seul-edu] Easy to use educational software

["Chris Calise" <chris@oip.net>]

Ben, one problem I have run into when promoting K12LTSP to our area schools
is there is no "collection of software" that can be easily loaded onto the
system so schools can be up and running ASAP. There are very few programs
that match what the students are using. I have made suggestions to several
groups that a non-profit foundation be set up to distribute educational
Linux based programs  and administrative software, which would give the
developers a tax write off, which might be enough incentive to port windows
titles to open source. I believe that when we have a distro package proven
and accepted by educators and administrators, then we will be able to
persuade schools to try something new.

I am negotiating with a local school and library for them to try a pilot
program and this is the road block I am hitting.

Best Regards.Chris Calise








----- Original Message -----
From: "Ben Armstrong" <synrg@sanctuary.nslug.ns.ca>
To: <seul-edu@seul.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2002 6:00 PM
Subject: Re: [seul-edu] Easy to use educational software


> On Sun, Mar 03, 2002 at 11:59:34AM -0800, Chris Calise wrote:
> > Ben, I did not know about SEUL till I started promoting open source here
in
> > Lane County, Oregon. I started UFDA as a way to hopefully change an
industry
> > that I feel is making end user products that are getting more
complicated
> > all the time (like setting the clock on a VCR!). I have been talking to
lots
> > of educators and keep running into the same argument about open
source( too
> > convoluted, no wizards for set-up, don't have time to learn, etc.) I
feel
> > that by reminding developers who their target audience is will keep
software
> > accessible to everyone. I applaud SEUL's effort to bring educational
> > software to our children.
>
> Reasonable enough.  I hope UFDA and SEUL can mutually benefit from a
> relationship.  It sounds like both groups are after similar things.
>
> I only asked because (and this is not directed at you or UFDA, it is just
> something that has been bugging me) I am discouraged by the trend I see in
> people doing "splinter" free software projects[0], each with their own
> redundant administrative overhead, but all basically after the same thing.
> Not that there is anything wrong with diversity.  (And a strong case can
be
> made, at least, for distinct groups taking local action in their own
> geographic regions.) I don't know what it is, maybe NIH syndrome (Not
> Invented Here) or maybe (as seems to be the case with UFDA) simply not
> knowing who else is out there.
>
> Anyway, I guess this latter point is what part of the raison d'être for
> Schoolforge (see www.schoolforge.net if you haven't already).  I started
out
> a few years ago with my own project, Debian Jr.
> (www.debian.org/devel/debian-jr) drawing inspiration and ideas from
> seul-edu.  Now, in 2002, we have Schoolforge, through which I am entering
> into relationships with new projects I really wasn't aware of before.
> Through these contacts I now have more resources at my fingertips, and am
> more than ever confident that we (Debian Jr.) can see our goals realized,
> while at the same time helping other groups realize theirs.
>
> So, have a look at what SEUL is doing, and what other Schoolforge
> organizations are doing, and see what you can share with them to
accomplish
> what you've set out to do.
>
> Regards,
> Ben Armstrong
>
> [1] In particular, "splinter" distros, which start with a parent
>     distribution such as Red Hat or Debian, add a thin layer of their
>     own material, maybe a fancy installer, or a bundle of additional
>     packages.  Every time I see one of these, I wonder why they didn't
>     try to work within the distro itself to augment it.
> --
>     nSLUG       http://www.nslug.ns.ca      synrg@sanctuary.nslug.ns.ca
>     Debian      http://www.debian.org       synrg@debian.org
> [ pgp key fingerprint = 7F DA 09 4B BA 2C 0D E0  1B B1 31 ED C6 A9 39 4F ]
> [ gpg key fingerprint = 395C F3A4 35D3 D247 1387  2D9E 5A94 F3CA 0B27
13C8 ]