<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><div>David,<br>I know that the Girl's Grammar School, Bradford (or whatever BGGS call themselves now) are Linux users.<br><br>David<br></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> David Carpenter <david.carpenter@nornir.co.uk><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> Andy Coulson <coulson.andy@googlemail.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cc:</span></b> Bradford@mailman.lug.org.uk<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, 11 February, 2009 9:57:44<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [Bradford] E-Petition -
non-microsoft schools<br></font><br>Hi Andy<br><br>I'm interested. I think schools really is a key area. Especially as free<br>software in particular is about sharing knowledge and learning from and<br>with each other!<br><br>I'm not active in education, but perhaps a role of the LUG could be to<br>pull together those examples of good practise. Isn't Oak Bank in Keighly<br>using Linux?<br><br>I'd also love to hear more about the Music Studio - do you have any<br>links?<br><br>I suspect the group might also be interested to know more about your<br>experiences as a trainee teacher, and your past (were you at Smart?)<br><br>Thanks Andy<br>David<br><br>On Tue, 2009-02-10 at 16:52 +0000, Andy Coulson wrote:<br>> I am a trainee Primary Teacher and have previously worked with<br>> Audio-visual Installations in Education. I am reasonably familiar<br>> with BECTA and as far as I am Aware they do not recommend Microsoft as<br>> the Only solution
in Schools. However, they have clearly been well<br>> and truly infected by the Microsoft marketing virus... There are<br>> references to Mac and Linux and Open Source software on The BECTA<br>> Site, but it's well buried. I would not wholly agree with the wording<br>> of this, but certainly with the intention.<br>> <br>> I think the biggest barrier to acceptance is the lack of technical<br>> support for ICT in schools, and that that support is predominantly<br>> Microsoft knowledgeable. In order to change the education market,<br>> there is a depressingly large hearts and minds operation to do both in<br>> schools and at LEA level. There are great examples of local activism,<br>> such as a recent Linux User article where someone cannibalised<br>> obsolescent PCs (From an MS point of View) and built a fantastic Music<br>> studio using Linux Studio32 for negligable cost. We need
more of this<br>> sort of activism to change minds. The only organisation involved in<br>> open Source in Schools is Schoolforge which seems depressingly quiet.<br>> One good sign, although not Open Source, is that Smart make their<br>> software available on MS, Mac and Linux simultaneously.<br>> <br>> Is there anyone else in the group who is involved in Education and is<br>> interested in this?<br>> <br>> Andy Coulson<br>> <br>> _______________________________________________<br>> Bradford mailing list<br>> <a ymailto="mailto:Bradford@mailman.lug.org.uk" href="mailto:Bradford@mailman.lug.org.uk">Bradford@mailman.lug.org.uk</a><br>> <a href="https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/bradford" target="_blank">https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/bradford</a><br>-- <br>David Carpenter<br><br>nornir<br><br>E: <a ymailto="mailto:david.carpenter@nornir.co.uk"
href="mailto:david.carpenter@nornir.co.uk">david.carpenter@nornir.co.uk</a><br>Skype: carpenter.david<br><br>Please save paper and only print this email if you have to.<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Bradford mailing list<br><a ymailto="mailto:Bradford@mailman.lug.org.uk" href="mailto:Bradford@mailman.lug.org.uk">Bradford@mailman.lug.org.uk</a><br><a href="https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/bradford" target="_blank">https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/bradford</a><br></div></div></div><br>
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