Getting people into Linux

[Dave Sampson]

This subject could obviously use more research, and I wonder if there is 
already a group tacling this.

Here is Canada we have a group of public servants (Federal Govt Workers) 
that are trying to get open source into local governments.(ref:  
http://www.goslingcommunity.org/ ) There might be similar examples of 
trying to get it into schools. A while agao the Economist had a few 
issues covering open source tech and examples of schools implementing 
the switch for the better. (I might check some back issue when I'm bored)

Doing a quick search I came across http://k12os.org/ open source news in 
education.  kinda where we're looking I think. be interesting to read 
through. Lots of (maybe good) info, podcasts, and news feeds...

I think a review is in order

the bellow inline comments are off the top of my head and not 
substantiated at all. Cause, well, we all have an opinion.

> Glad you are trying to get more to use Linux and OSS.  However, from
> my perspective there are some serious issues that should be addressed
> through education of the educators, parents, PTA, etc.
>
> 1) Many schools teach "keyboarding" which is little more than the use
> of Windows and Word.  Often they don't even know of OpenOffice.  That
> is their response to "typing" and "using computers"
>
I think the reality is that technology means many different things to 
many different people. A rural school may be very different than an 
urban school. But I hear you. being in my mid twenties I remember when 
Typing class was a piece of paper covering the keyboard and use mavis 
beacon or was it caris Works or something... following the bouncing 
bunny and get scored.... typing for the sake of typing...  USELESS... if 
I know I'm on a treadmill I'll hate excercising, but put my on a hiking 
trail and I'll walk all day. Or give me something to research or a 
letter to type and I will increase my skills.

> 2) Many have tight budgets but can get enough for a few "state of the
> art" computer centers often with Government grants or corporate grants
> -- lots of shiny computers with shiny copies of Windows and shiny
> copies of commercial educational software.  It really looks good to
> the PTA.
>

They also gets SWEET educational deals from software and hardware 
vendors... What I like is the idea of all those older computers 
considered obselete... well what perfect chance for students to have 
their own REAL LAB... get them dismantle, assemble, canabolize boxes... 
go from ground zero to tower of power. I love going to my local computer 
reclcers (http://www.computerrecyclersottawa.com/) pardon the E-Waste 
advertisement at the begining. But Schools have loads of E-Waste and 
obsolete gear... why not make a parralel processing lab, 
(http://www.cacr.caltech.edu/beowulf/tutorial/building.html).

Those old boxes would be great for file servers, web servers and the like...

> 3) Schools often don't know of the tools available.  For example, my
> son's H/S algebra teacher who has never used, or was not aware of
> octave, gnuplot, etc.
>
At my work in the government I have met many researchers that still 
compute geographic projections manualy with huge equations... They don't 
know of projects like proj4 (http://proj.maptools.org/) that do it for 
you. they are the prime geeks of geeks that have not learned about 
libraries. So just because someone is tech savy might also mean they 
need a modernization of thier knowledge base. And I feel they are not 
receptive to younger yahoos coming in a nd showing them a new car.

> 4) They don't have the staff that are capable of supporting Apple,
> Windows, and Linux.  They can barely support Apple and Windows.
>

Windows, sure do what you want. Apple? Will my next comment might work 
with MAC OSX.

With linux. Where do you and I get our support?  Do we get paid? How 
many hours have we spent helping others out? have you ever been helped 
by a young prodigy? (probably). My first intro to linux was in grade 
school by a super geek.... it wasn't for another 4 or 5 years that I 
learned I already knew about linux... so if a student in grade school 
can teach a peer, why not let them run with it. My highschool had the 
Art Rats and the Compuer Lab Rats. Except they need to open it up as not 
to be exclusive.  So what about a fully student run computer lab. 
Students get co-op credit and you have many hands to make light work.  
Funny that, pen source management concepts meet technology.

> 5) Windows can play mp3 audio files, generate videos, comes with Word,
> Excel, and Powerpoint, and comes with IE, a browser that is supported
> by most sites (at least this is what it APPEARS like).  Other concerns
> are secondary (like security, flexibility, openness, etc.).
>

MP3 - many linux programs and libraries. sure they might be shipped with 
the distro, but easily overcome
Video -  already done in many popular distros.
Open Office - need I say more?
Firefox - I have only ever run into limitations with plugins. But this 
has work arounds

Now I know this is a devils advocate comment. I understand the DOZE 
works out of the box. Well so do some live CD's. or a Dirsto can be 
modified by a local group for a school board. Then you GHOST/IMAGE the 
whole lab with that functionality. So yes say a solution like FEDORA may 
not be out of the box, but My system now does everything listed above.

> 6) Most parents use Windows at home and that is what is on their
> computer so they can help little Johnny with it at home but they don't
> know what this lin-ucks stuff is.  Some of us have no choice in the
> matter, for example, I have to use XP for a legacy Canon printer
> (hence one computer is mainly Windows, the one my oldest son uses most
> of the time).
>
This is a philosophy statement. True we are most comfortable with what 
we know. But should education not be about learning? In so far as if I 
can use one word processor can I not use all modern processors? There 
are also tutorials and such to bring people up to speed.

There are some instances where WINDOWS reigns supreme, sure. But that 
should not be a keystone stumbling block.  BTW have you checked out 
Turboprint for your printer? Try the demo (http://www.turboprint.info/)


> 7) School boards don't understand technology.  In Stafford, VA, they
> have rule 10 which prohibits any alteration, removal, or erasure of
> computer programs, data, or software.  The rule does not include the
> word "unauthorized" nor does it address removing LEGAL software or
> computer data YOU created (for example, little Susie in first grade
> removing the picture she created to a floppy -- she could be
> expelled).
>
Wow, so they have never installed or removed a chunk of software. Love 
to meet their techies (smirk). This is where they need community 
support. Mor eimportantly they need to follow the role modeling of 
another successful school. Although my highschool was in Canada, we had 
a sister high school in Australia and we did join projects together. 
Correction the smart people wer eincluded in those projects, not us 
average students). In Canada we have a program known as schoolnet 
(http://www.schoolnet.ca/)... The American equivalent MIGHT be here 
(http://www.schoolnet.com/). These networks should be where to gets 
smallers schools to apprentice mentor schools.

> AFIK, Schools used to get Apple machines (my H/S was one of the first
> in the country as the then-president of Apple had a brother that
> graduated there).  Now they get whatever they can, often via grants or
> state programs.  Those programs try to get the "best" educational
> software they can find, but from their perspective, it nearly always
> means Windows....
>
I first learne dat home on a C64, my schools always were apples, then 
macs, then power macs, then PC's.... macs stayed around for graphics 
courses. 

There are some comments and resources.  The batlle is not the issue, or 
barriers to technology IMHO. the battle is to get the knowledge out 
there and lend a hand.  I don't think there are many linux users out 
there that would disagree that getting linux into education would be 
bad. Its the the how and what if that present a challenge.

Cheers