FOSS in Schools

Aim

To take Free/Open Source Software to the schools.

How

By the sheer number of school students, schools have a decisive role in making the swatantra software movement a success.

Learn from the initiative in Kerala and West Bengal.

Coordination

http://groups.google.com/group/fci-education-discuss

Volunteers

1. Vikram Vincent
2. Frederick Noronha

Participating Organisations

Please enter your contact information either by creating a user account and linking it or by adding your name and phone number.

1. Prajna : Cognizant FLOSS Corps (A.Prem Kumar, Prajna Mind Map, Orkut Community for Prajna)
2. Union Christian College FOSS CELL
3. Model Engineering College (MEC Association of Computer Students) FOSS Cell[1]

Indian Experiences

• http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/07/stories/2007090755131600.htm

• http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8687173118.html

• http://support.space-kerala.org

• http://bijra.dgplug.org/

• http://wiki.dgplug.org/index.php/Bijra

• http://www.janastu.org/school/

Resources

Source: http://mm.gnu.org.in/pipermail/fsug-bangalore/2007-August/001312.html

Some links you might find useful (FLOSS in education):

• FOSS Education (Wikibooks) http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FOSS_Education

• Comics... to teach FLOSS? http://www.linux-magazine.com/issue/82/Hai_Ti_Comics_SchoolNet_Namibia.pdf

• Skolelinux 3.0 Terra available for free http://www.skolelinux.no

• Roadmap for next merging of LinEx and Debian-Edu: http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEdu/LinEx2DebianEdu-Roadmap

• Tech to the aid of autistic children: Recent research has shown that computer/digital technologies can help children with autism (and other disabilities) learn and communicate better. A computer training workshop for parents and children was held recently at Bangalore. Shuchi Grover reports. Mehta and colleagues shared various software and hardware by which children could communicate with the computer through non-traditional means. Also shared were several other software tools such as a 3-D and role-play software developed by C-DAC, simple visual programming environments such as Scratch (recently released by MIT Media Lab), simple image and audio manipulation using everyday Windows software, and Edubuntu â?? a free and open sourc Linux-based operating system designed specially for children that comes packaged with several child-friendly games and educational software. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/16049

• TELECENTRES IN THE MADRASA: The school based telecenter project of RI SOL has launched internet-enabled telecenters in two Bangladeshi madrasas (Islamic religious schools), in Khulna and Dhaka. See Khulna Alia Madrasa Advocates for an Inclusive Information Society on World Information Society Day Link to the news story and photos of the celebration: http://www.connect-bangladesh.org/content/view/418/101/ Source: Nazrul Islam <nazrul07 at gmail.com>

• Richard D'Souza is based at St Paul's in Belgaum (north Karnataka), with the mandate to extend the school's computer centre there. This educator is very pro-GNU/Linux.... http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/15830

• Create a comprehesive set of education tools customised for Indian environment. This include localization, improving features, adding new features, developing new tools... The project is co ordinated by FOSS Community India http://fci.wikia.com or http://sarovar.org/projects/foss-edu-in/

• Reclaiming ICT education: why free software is a necessity in schools? Tim Cowlishaw talks about education and free software?and why IT education shouldn't be a how-to for using the Microsoft suite. Read more...

http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/blogs/reclaiming_ICT_education_why_free_software_is_a_necessity_in_schools

• "K12OS.org is all about open source news in education. You'll find news, links, resources and discussion here to help promote the use of open source software in schools." http://k12os.org/

• Speaker Name, K. K. Subramaniam. Company. Type, Talk. Scope, General. Slides, Click to download. FOSS tools in primary schools. This talk is aimed at FOSS enthusiasts promoting its adoption in their local community, particularly in primary education. It presents the experience of deploying a FOSS desktop in a small public primary school in Bangalore. It presents the initial approach for FOSS deployment, the steps which worked and those that didnt in getting the teachers in the school to use FOSS desktop and tools like KDE, Kile and LaTeX to enhance the quality of teaching and integrate a PC into daily sessions in the school. In India, most deployments of computers in primary schools use canned 'games' software on PCs to teach students or expect teachers to use office automation software. For already overburdened primary class teachers, PCs became just another distraction. In a grassroots experiment, a FOSS desktop was offered to a small public school in Bangalore to use it for any task of their choice. The teachers had no prior experience with computers or software and their medium of instruction was Kannada. Two teachers in the school chose to automate preparation of term question papers in Kannada and English as this was a recurring and time-consuming manual process. The desktop was provisioned with KDE, Kile and LaTeX (with Kannada types and styles) but not localized in Kannada. Starting from scratch, the teachers took over 100 hours to learn to use the tools and complete the first set of publication-ready term papers for classes I through IV. The second cycle took them less than 20 hours and they continue to improve on their time. The FOSS desktop has empowered the teachers to generate their own content quickly and easily without compromising quality. The system has worked without a single crash/breakdown over eighteen months of use by curious young children. https://foss.in/2006/cfp/speakers/talkdetailspub.php?talkid=183

• The Family Guide to Digital Freedom will explain, in one place and in normal language, what everybody should know about software and other digital technologies, and above all the real reasons why they should care: in this modern world, our rights and quality of life heavily depend from how software is being used around us. The website associated to the book, http://digifreedom.net, is now open to visitors: besides sample chapters of the book it will also host related news, links to existing resources for new users of Free Software and a database of Digitally Free Schools. For further information, please read http://digifreedom.net/node/73

• ClassroomCoders: Building Analytical Capacity through Peer-Taught: The goal of this project is to create a comprehensive curriculum for learners aged 8 to 18, which develops their analytical skills through the use of software and software engineering tools. http://wiki.tsf.org.za/shuttleworthfoundationwiki/ClassroomCoders

• Linux Spreads its Wings in India: Windows is still No. 1, but open-source software is moving into schools and government offices. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14196 http://www.businessweek.com/print/globalbiz/content/sep2006/gb20060921_463452.htm

• GOA: BASIL FERNANDES had a long and interesting discussion on teaching young kids programming, the possibility of encouraging schools to do the same, and whether schools could have Computer Clubs that work on a build-them-young approach. He is keen to get involved with such a programme.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14172

• Kerala logs Microsoft out of schools http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/sep/02microsoft.htm

• India State to Dump Windows for Linux http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14060

• Riza's desktop... it's not just about eye-candy http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/14067

• OpenKiosk is an open-source multi-platform kiosk system. OpenKiosk is ideally suited for use in locations where a controlled computing environment is paramount such as public access systems, libraries, school computer laboratories. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/13846

• Content Creation competition for school and college teachers: OSSRC is organising a competition for school/college teachers in creating content. Details of the event can be found at http://www.ossrc.org.in/c3t.html

• When Free Software ideas spreads to education... see the first link http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/13234

• Site at School is a Content Management System (CMS) to manage and maintain the website of a primary school. It is Open Source Software, licensed under the General Public license. Site at school main features are:
  • Manage a website without technical knowledge.
  • Editors with a high "Word processor look and feel" rate.
  • Pupils/teachers can have personal pages on the website. Teachers can check pupil pages before publication.
  • An intranet for teachers (not accessible by the public).
  • E-mail alerts can be sent to admins when pages are updated/created.
  • Comprehensive manual with over 300 screenshots.
  • Extensive number of available modules, see Available Modules
  • Possible to create your own template see downloadable example(s). http://siteatschool.sourceforge.net/

• Linux in Education: Two Years Later by Peter D. St. Onge http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/12949

• Education... lessons from South Africa http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/message/12821

• Gnu and tux go to primary school.... http://www.ofset.org/freeduc-ecole