Re: Spreading the word (was Re: [Fwd: Re: [seul-edu] Want to presentatLINUXWORLD NY/2002?])

[Harry McGregor <micros@azstarnet.com>]

Sounds like the Debian JR project.

basicaly it's a debian task that is specific for kids.

http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-jr/

		Harry

On Sat, 4 Aug 2001, Michael Hall wrote:

> Actually, another idea I had was to write a script (bash, or maybe Python) that
> was in effect a 'virtual distribution'. In other words, you would first load a
> standard distribution (say RedHat) then run the script which would remove
> everything you didn't need, add some admin tools, tighten up security etc, and
> then download and install a list of education applications (using wget). It's a
> bit klunkier than a proper distro, but has some advantages too.
>
> Anyone care to comment on this idea? I've written something similar for custom
> standalone web/mail servers, I just haven't played with wget before.
>
> Mick
>
> On Fri, 03 Aug 2001, you wrote:
> > Michael Hall wrote:
> >
> > > > This is a perceptual problem, I think.  We should try to turn this argument on
> > > > its head by asking just what type of applications they want in the classroom,
> > > > and then pointing out that such apps (if it's true) are freely downloadable and
> > > > installable from the internet.
> > >
> > > This is simply not practical for anyone but a Linux enthusiast. People who
> > > don't already know and use Linux can't and won't download and install apps from
> > > the internet, let alone change them themselves. Asking maintainers to change
> > > apps is not a very sure way of getting what you need when you need it.
> > >
> >
> > I agree that it's not an argument that will persuade people to use Linux for the
> > first time.  But I still think it's an argument that needs to be made.  The
> > comparison of open source development to academic review in journals is something we
> > need to make clear to educators.
> >
> > >
> > > I believe that a school distribution needs to be developed ... put the CD in,
> > > load the distro, use it ... no mucking around. It has to be that easy if anyone
> > > but the converted is going to use Linux in a big way. Being Windows and
> > > Mac users, most school people (including many IT coordinators) know very
> > > little about computers. At least, that's my perspective as a primary school
> > > teacher in Central Australia.
> > >
> >
> > This is undoubtedly true.  We even talked about doing our own distro a while back.
> > We decided not to for various reasons.  However, there are now a number of "school"
> > distros being developed.  There's <http://www.k12ltsp.org/>,
> > <http://www.abuledu.org/> (I'm unsure if this is a complete distro), and
> > <http://www.pingoo.org/>.  There are probably more that I'm not thinking of offhand.
> >
> > --
> > Doug Loss                 Always do right.  This
> > Data Network Coordinator  will gratify some people
> > Bloomsburg University     and astonish the rest.
> > dloss@bloomu.edu                Mark Twain
> --
> Michael Hall
> mulga.com.au
> admin@mulga.com.au
> ph/fax (+61 8) 8953 1442
> ABN 94 885 174 814
>

--
Harry McGregor, CEO, Co-Founder
Hmcgregor@osef.org, (520) 661-7875 (CELL)
Open Source Education Foundation, http://www.osef.org