[SLUG] Library display -text

[john at johnallsopp.co.uk]

> Hi
>
> Here is a first draft (unfinished) of the text for a sheet on Linux
> and
> Education.  Plus one of 3 or 4 inset panels that would be part of the
> display.

> "                          SCARBOROUGH LINUX
>
>
>            Linux, free software, KDE and education.
>
> Free software, Linux especially, is great for anyone in education, and
> great
> for anyone with a child in education. Most of our schools and colleges
> don't
> use it.  This is a shame.  Free software has at least as much value as
> commercial software and costs about half as much.  BECTA, the British
> Educational Communications and Technology Agency says so.  The fast
> growing
> economies of the Pacific rim use it. Our children will have to compete
> in a
> world that uses it.
>
> You might expect that this would make schools enthusiastic about free
> software.  Very few are.  One reason is that they need to bid to
> become
> specialist schools.  The sponsorship they need to do this often locks
> them
> into a single commercial supplier for their most important software.
> You can
> find a report on this at:
> http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/03/11/ms_specialist_schools_deal/
> Another reason is that using this software properly needs training,
> and it is
> hard for schools to find time.
>
> Some schools exploit free software to the full, and use it for
> networking and
> operating systems.  This is where Linux comes in.  Linux provides the
> best
> and most widely used software for networking.  Linux can allow you to
> use
> older computer systems that might otherwise clog up landfill sites as
> thin
> client servers.  These work without the most failure prone feature of
> the
> computer, its hard disc.  This can make them both cheaper and more
> reliable.
> You can find a full account at:
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/Design/page/linux_case_study_orwell_high_school.html
> The best way to exploit free software at home is by installing a Linux
> system.
> You can find plenty of information from FLOSS.
> You can use free software in education without installing Linux.
> Firefox and
> OpenOffice are essential for both the college student, and for the
> family
> that wants to have reliable access at home to a computer that does not
> eat up
> their budget.  One really useful site is
> http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm
> ....................
> which allows you to download an entire maths textbook. Try Floss
> on http://www.schoolforge.org.uk/index.php/Try_FLOSS_Now .  The world
> of free
> software changes all the time.  Box 3 explains how a very recent new
> development will expand the range of ways in which schools can
> interact with
> those students who are absent through illness or other reasons.
>
> If you install Linux you should consider a version that uses the KDE
> window
> manager, and you should look for one that comes with the Kdeedu
> programs
> already installed.  This is an expanding collection of programs which
> contains various language games and activities, a touch typing tutor,
> a
> planetarium, a program for plotting graphs and much more.  Many of
> these
> programs, if purchased commercially could cost a great deal."

I think I commented on those "shoulds" before, suggesting a softer
approach "try .. ". Maybe you disagreed, that's OK :-)

> Also 3 or 4 inset panels.  Dealing with BECTA there is:
>
> "                                 BECTA-WHAT OPEN SOURCE COSTS IN
> SCHOOL.
>
> A report produced by BECTA last May concluded that both primary and
> secondary
> schools could provide computer software for their pupils by using Open
> Source
> at about half the cost of commercial suppliers like Microsoft.  There
> is a
> short account at:
> http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/linuxunix/0,39020390,39197751,00.htm
>
> The report stresses the importance of training for the teachers who
> use the
> software.   This reduces the need for specialist technical support.
> The full
> report is available at:
> http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/publications/documents/BEC5606_Full_report18.pdf"
>
> By the way I was planning to use Kword, which doesn't have Helvetica.

I'd rather you didn't (use a different font) but I respect your
freedom :-)

J