Re: [Fsfe-uk] Introduction ...and school networks

[Ian]

Its a good strategy to at least start learning about Linux and open source 
software. Coming through Dallas airport there was a big sign with Windows, 
Unix, Linux on it. 2 years ago that sign would have said Windows and possibly 
Unix but not Linux. The world is a changing place and the momentum behind Open 
Source software is growing. Books like Clayton Christensen's "Seeing What is 
Next" published 2004 by Harvard Business School is essential reading for anyone 
who wants to gain insight into where technology innovation is likely to end up. 
Its not specifically about Linux and Windows but the patterns and process of 
change drawn on from case studies of dominant players in other industries are 
striking. Our kids are certainly going to come out to a very different 
technological world than it is now so I think "teaching MS" is a real mistake. 
Ok, we might need to teach using MS products but we definitely should be 
teaching about concepts and issues such as information standards and who 
controls them rather than creating an illusion that all they need do is learn 
MS Word and the world is their oyster. If we are honest, this approach is often 
because its easier for bureaucrats and teachers than it is because its good 
education.

Fundamentally, schools should now be investing in updating their own skills and 
knowledge in preparation for the changes that they will have no control over. 
This is not easy, if it was, everyone would have done it already but these are 
global issues and the Christensen's theories show that it is those who are not 
currently even users of IT that will determine the future just as teenagers who 
did not own radios helped shape the transition from valve to transistors. Those 
that did not currently own motorcycles were responsible for the shift from 
Harley Davidson to Honda. With China, India and most of Latin America shunning 
MS the long term writing is on the wall. Read Christensen's book and see why.

Warning: Advert :-)
We can support both MS and Linux installations. We can provide free web based 
electronic registration. Contact address@hidden if you think we can help.
Advert /end

--- address@hidden wrote:

From: address@hidden
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 09:03:37 EST
To: address@hidden, address@hidden
Subject: Re: [Fsfe-uk] Introduction ...and school networks


I am an ICT coordinator in a school
We  use  MS  server  2000  and  W2000,  MS Office and also Open
Office.  We  do not use RM and after discovering the cost in my
first   year in  this  job,  of  upgrading  Viglen's  Classlink
software, I have tried to avoid relying on software which would
tie  us  to  a  particular  supplier.  At  the  moment  we  use
Sentinel's  Rangersuite  software to provide profiles, security
etc. I can see that it is just a front end for active directory
but  it  is straightforward and user friendly (and so are they)
but  it only  supports MS operating systems. Last term we got a
CD  server  that  uses  LINUX but our network manager (who left
last  November)  was rather afraid of it, and decided it didn't
work. It is still sitting there looking cute and doing nothing.
We  are  looking  for a new network manager and I would love to
find  someone  who  would  be  able to keep our existing system
running but would be able to help us move away from our current
reliance  on  MS  the  next time we upgrade. I think we have to
teach  the  kids to use MS because of its prevalence but unless
we  teach  other options in schools no one will ever be free of
MS's stanglehold.
It  is  not  easy though to implement alternatives. It has been
difficult to find technicians to look after our current system,
the last one was just marking time until he could get back into
industry.  Where  would  I  look  for  someone with open source
expertise? Someone who could see beyond MS?

I  would  very much like to move towards using more open source
software, but I need help. Where do I find it?

Margaret Derrington

PS  We  also have a wireless Bromcom network for registrations.
<shame>  It  was put in very fast with money that was available
only  for that purpose (!?) and I knew nothing about it or what
it cost (!!!!!) until afterwards.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In  a  message  dated  11/02/2005  19:16:48  GMT Standard Time,
address@hidden writes:

  I'm sending this from the Linux Desktop Summit in San Diego.
  Its raining outside just to reduce the envy factor ;-). This
  is  a  really  up  beat  environment  and  I  have had great
  interest  in  the INGOT project from educators here. If this
  conference  is  anything to go by, things are moving on at a
  great pace and the concept of RM being the safe option looks
  shakier  by the minute. Tie in to expensive non-open systems
  is  a  big  risk  and  more and more people are beginning to
  realise it.
  --
  Ian
  --- linuxgirlie <address@hidden> wrote:
  From: linuxgirlie <address@hidden>
  Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:52:27 +0000
  To: Robin Green <address@hidden>
  Cc: address@hidden
  Subject: Re: [Fsfe-uk] Introduction
  On   Thu,   10   Feb   2005   20:37:51  +0000,  Robin  Green
  <address@hidden> wrote:
  >   Looks   like   a   godsend   -  everything  pretty  much
  preconfigured, right?
  > Good stuff!
  Thats  correct  and  the  whole point :) it means anyone can
  come along
  and install and run it, not for your linux guru type though,
  but just
  right for schools :)
  > Good to see that other schools are taking it up also. When
  you talk to
  >  people (from other schools or from Ofsted or whoever) who
  have concerns
  >  about  switching from the "nice safe RM option", what are
  the main
  > worries for them do you think?
  I  personally  think  its  support,  but  other reasons like
  everyone else
  is  doing  RM  if  I  move  will  I look like a fool? We had
  several schools
  at  the  moment  that  won't be named on the site because of
  this reason,
  so they are waiting a few months before they "arrive".
  > I know that support contracts can be an issue, so I looked
  on the
  >  karoshi.org.uk  -  you  have  a  lot  of free and for-fee
  support options,
  >  which is great, but I wonder if people might fear that it
  is a bit
  > "amateurish" compared to RM? For example, there is one guy
  specifically
  > offering to go on call-outs - but only in West Yorkshire!
  Yeah,  it  does  come  across  as "amateurish", I agree with
  that!! I have
  tried  to  and  still  am putting together a large amount of
  help
  documents,  hopefully  this will sway the brave but the rest
  would have
  to  wait till we are ready to provide full support, but that
  means I
  give up my job ;)
  >  The  thing  is, of course, any reasonably experienced and
  competent Linux
  >  professional  could probably get their head round Karoshi
  pretty quickly
  >  in  order  to  provide  technical support for it, I would
  think. But just
  >  saying  that,  isn't necessarily good enough. It might be
  worth providing
  > a directory - or to a link to a directory somewhere else -
  of people who
  >  could help with general Linux emergencies, and people who
  could provide
  >  support  contracts  for  peace-of-mind.  I dunno, just an
  idea.
  I  was think of this, I will have to get a list of names and
  email them
  to  see  if they will support us, though it is basic schools
  are very
  very  demanding when it comes to support, and I suspect that
  this
  scares most support people off them!!
  > Another possibility might be, maybe once more schools have
  started using it,
  >  to start up a company and provide all-in-one installation
  and support contracts,
  >  for any school in the UK that wants it, for a fraction of
  the price of the RM
  >  alternative. I haven't really thought about the financial
  viability of that
  > - I guess you'd have to get quite a few schools to sign on
  to that.
  Thats  my  final  plan!! Though the project is FLOSS I would
  like to
  start  my  own support company for it which is an all-in-one
  but alot
  cheaper  than  RM.  The problem is its a catch 22 situation.
  Basically I
  am  on  £22,000  a  year  and  though  we  can survive on my
  partners wage
  only  (he  earns more than me) its still a risk, and to keep
  up with
  what we have for example, we would have to make at least the
  above
  mark....the  good thing I suppose is that if it did go wrong
  I could
  quite easily get a job in education again :)
  I think timing is right, but I also think I need more market
  research
  before  I  start  something like that as I need to know that
  these people
  will sign up if I go ahead with support...lol
  >  That's  great  - it's good that we've got people like you
  "on the inside"
  > in education, spreading these ideas! :)
  I''m doing my best, its hard work...lol
  Jo
  --
  Spread FireFox:
  http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=user/register&r=32751
  Get FireFox: http://www.getfirefox.com
  OpenOffice: http://www.openoffice.org
  Mandrake: http://www.mandrakelinux.com
  Karoshi: http://www.karoshi.org.uk
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