NZ school ditches Microsoft and goes totally open source

A New Zealand high school running entirely on open source software has slashed its server requirements by a factor of almost 50, despite a government deal mandating the use of Microsoft software in all schools. Full Story

I know of no Georgia law mandating the use of designer software and/or open source software in classrooms. Only the State of Indiana has mandated that schools use Linux and open source software in classrooms. Servers and thin-clients for classrooms are supplied by the Indiana's Department of Education.

Sugar On A Stick from Sugarlabs

Sugar is learning software for children...designed for elementary school classrooms, It will hold the interest of middle school students too.

Visit Sugar Labs

Qimo...An Operating System Designed for Kids

This project was started by a Florida couple in 2008.
Qimo desktop operating system comes with lots of edutainment software for kids, 3 and up, to begin their 2D learning with Linux. Based on open source Ubuntu Linux....has friendly intuitive interface for kids. Qimo can be ran from a live-CD or USB pendrive. For more information visit Qimo website

Other websites of interest are:

Gcompris Website

Schoolsplay Website

High School Senior - Problems With Schools

This is a very interesting post by a high school senior. Not many students express their thoughts their views on their education over the years.

Click link for full story .... Problems With Schools

Disclaimer

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Microsoft, Windows, Microsoft Office are the registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S and internationally. ALL other service marks, trademarks, and registered trademarks are owned by their respective companies. The information on this BLOG is published explicitly as opinions and is not to be deemed factual or verified information. For factual information refer to more than one source and judge for yourself.

A High School Student’s Views on Software Freedom

Five things Free Software has taught a high school student....
Link takes you to >>>>>> High School Student's Voice

SET GEORGIA CLASSROOMS FREE!!!

These days, Georgia public schools districts are better at making sure their district is "Microsoft (tm) compliant" than they are making sure their students are able to freely have access to the same school software at home. No teacher or school administrator should be marketing boxed software to students or student's parents. School districts need to stay away from consumerism and limit its use in classrooms. If they cannot provide a copy of the boxed software on their servers,to a student without charge, then its time to seek another avenue of software. They should consider, test the usage of Free Open Source Software (FOSS) in classrooms.

FOSS requires no license and upgrade fees to be paid to vendors. Schools districts have gotten into the work time rut that all software has to be rented, as tho its a DVD from a movie store. Who is responsible for this action? The district's IT sector!! This sector is “keeping proven technology” from students and holding students back from advancements in technology. This sector loves to spend money that could be better used for the educational side of the house. They refuse to open up their network to an operating system that would save local taxpayers money. The one-to-one computer-to-student ratio can be achieved quicker, if they would let go and enter the world of FOSS for students.

The benefits of FOSS outweigh not doing so!! Presently, districts do not see the need to do so, nor do they find it beneficial. It takes open minds to transcend classroom technology for students and teachers.

Stuck on Stuck: So Goes Georgia School Districts!!

Who's responsible for this “stuck-on-stuck” syndrome in public schools? Is it teachers, administrators, IT managers, or school board members? Someone needs to be held accountable for the lack of classroom technology that can help each school district reduce technology spending. We all know that school districts love to spend money, those that have it.  Board members need to become much more knowledgeable of information technology and the different areas that make up this category.  A need to learn about Free Open Source Software needs to be explored, and piloted for a school year.  Three or five year technology plans needs to include using free open source software where it will benefit students and teachers.