RE: [Sheflug] Schools, patents and the future of Linux

["Chris Johnson" <chris [at] xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I was discussing some possible future events with colleagues
> the other day &
> have been considering running a South Yorks based session on FLOSS in
> education for some time.
>
> Would there be general support for something like this in the region?
>
> Bob Holland
>
Bob,

Take up from schools has been "tempered" to say the least.  I've been
offering the Freeduc CD to teachers and teaching establishments so they can
see what is available without having to commit to an installation of an OS
OS.
In a project I did last year where a school (primary) was having a second IT
suite installed I suggested that an OS server solution would be most
appropriate and that an OS office suite would give them the opportunity to
choose between their existing and the free version and the money saved could
be put towards extra staffing time, training or resources.  Their technical
support person, who I believe they get on well with, said that he would not
be able to support the network if an OS server was installed and so the
school spent an extra £4000+ on a higher spec server, support, OS CALs, and
office suite.


I will be trying again when the opportunity arises.

One of the many issues with FLOSS in schools is that their preferred method
of delivery (or at least the one being pushed the most) is via an
interactive whiteboard but very few whiteboard manufacturers support
GNU/Linux, Smart being the only one I can find and I've yet to get that
working (I do have a Linux box and a smart board if anyone wants to try).
You will find that Sheffield has at least a couple of commercial ventures
who's ethos is OS and who's customer focus is towards the education sector.

It might be wise to invite them to talk in order that we can learn more
about their problems/issues with breaking into the market, to offer
suggestions and to generally raise their profile both in the OS community in
Sheffield but also in the education sector.  It might be an idea to invite
school representatives to the 'conference' too.  Food helps attendance at
our meetings as does a timing out of normal teaching hours (less class
disruption).  Let me know if I can be of any more assistance.

Hull as an area has a record of embracing new technology and Sun are
supporting school in that area with thin client services not only in schools
but also to set top boxes in the students homes!  Thin clients in schools
seems a great way to go especially as Sheffield schools will all soon be
linked by a 10Mbps link.  If support could be centralised then a lot of the
headaches and worries of using IT to teach would be reduced dramatically.

Chris Johnson
(No not that one, the other one!)
(running SUSE 9, 512MB PIII 600 (ish))

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