[geeks] Q: Regarding Linux in K-12 education

[Mike Meredith]

On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:38:42 -0500, Lionel Peterson wrote:
> of which is a dearth of applications on Linux to replace the current
> apps that run on Windows/OS X. My question to the group is this -

I'm not sure about "K-12" level, but what might come as a surprise is
just how much Windows software a large educational institution will
have ... we've had consultants who've come in and have been horrified
at how much software we run (several thousand packages). Of course that
doesn't require running Windows at the desktop ... merely access to a
Terminal Server enabled Windows Server.

The interesting thing is that if you actually measure what is used, for
90% (or more) of the time the desktop is used for web browsers and word
processing.

In theory the adoption of 'virtual learning environments' (Moodle)
should reduce the requirement on specialist teaching software, but I'll
believe it when I see the number of "NAL objects" go down :) (we have
had a vle for around 10 years with getting on for 1Tbyte of content but
no signs of Windows applications going away)

> does anyone know of any public school district of similar (or
> greater) size that has gone completely FOSS at least for classroom
> use?

Migrating to FOSS in the classroom is actually harder than in the
office.

On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:34:40 +0200, gsm at mendelson.com wrote:
> IMHO it's a bunch of crap. Not only is Linux not suited for large
> scale desktop deployment for users of this level, it's not of any use

Really? The problems relating to deployment of Linux on the desktop in
schools is more likely to be application related than related to the
fixed ideas of the users. Schools have the advantage that their
principle customers don't have minds set in stone :)

And I've seen Windows-only users adapt very easily to using Linux.
Admittedly it's probably easiest when they _want_ to switch rather than
when they're being made to switch, but this concept that basic Linux
desktop use is hard is plainly ridiculous.

(Managing a Linux desktop may well be a different matter, but that
wouldn't be done by the average user in an educational environment)

> when they get out of school. Look at the employment ads in your local
> papers. See how may say "experience in Micrsoft Office" versus how
> many say "experience in Open Offfice" or Linux. 

Teaching Microsoft Office skills is (unfortunately) pretty essential
for a small number of pupils(*), but that means MS Office is a required
application for one small course ... which isn't sufficient
justification for enforcing a Windows desktop everywhere. 

On Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:50:59 +0200, gsm at mendelson.com wrote:
> IMHO the post-Sputnik push for higher education has burnt out.

Hmm ... well I pity any country that takes that attitude. 

*: As in the low-level office minions. Most people in other jobs will
either receive enough on the job training to use whatever dedicated
computer system they need to use, or will be expected to be able to
generate and update Word documents but won't be asked "do you know
Office".

-- 
Mike Meredith (http://zonky.org/)
 Man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains
  -- Jean Jacques Rousseau