[Wylug-discuss] OSS in schools

[Roger Greenwood]

The BECTA website recently published details of another review:-

"National review to ensure effective home ICT access to enable continuity of
learning between a student's home and school"

http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/press_out.cfm?id=5011


So I sent them an email as follows :-

While navigating your website I came across the following text :-

Owen Lynch, Chief Executive, Becta, said: "Becta will work to ensure that
there are no unnecessary licensing or document interoperability issues that
might impede developments in the area of Home School Links or lead to
additional unacceptable costs for parents or schools. This is particularly
important both in the context of addressing the digital divide and in the
increasing number of circumstances where pupils and parents access
information and resources online from schools."

Yet I can find no part of the site allowing discussion or feedback from
parents and pupils, who really are the only reason you exist at all!. There
is plenty of help for the professionals, teachers etc, but not for mere
mortals like me.

I have a great interest in the above subject of interoperability as the
local high school now has maths and computing specialist status. Two of my
children already attend, with two more to follow in the years to come. I run
both MS windows and linux on my computers at home, so have been grappling
with this problem for many years, with the school at the moment seemingly
unaware of any life outside of a "windows" environment. I would of course
recommend the use of open standards throughout the whole school world rather
than proprietary formats and restrictive licensing schemes.

The upcoming availability of really cheap computers ($100 a pop) will go a
long way to pushing this, I expect.

Would you consider adding a discussion forum for parents and pupils on this
subject? I would hope it would allow you to take real feedback from those on
the receiving end of your wisdom.


Will they reply ? Do we care ?

Discuss, using both side of the paper.


Best Regards,
Roger Greenwood
Rolla Ltd

T. +44 1484 710226
F. +44 1484 718608