A Schools view part one:

[Barret Dolph <white129@ms7.hinet.net>]

Dear all and sundry,

Perhaps my concerns within this group may be related to the problem which frequently exists between developers and users.
In order for SEUL to work, Linux must work for schools. Let me state what is our current situation vis a vis computerization.

There is no user friendly enviroment for running a schools needs. All of our accounting needs are in Access. This took quite a while as our accountant and I had to design the databases after work. Using such programs we have recurring problems with crashes. We also have problems with security. It is not easy to set up Win9x to allow different users to be able to have different levels of access to files. Without getting into the lurid or mundane details this has been a problem.

What do schools need:
 

• A stable enviroment. Few schools have the technical resources to fix things all the time.
• Programs which are written for schools. Most programs are written for any situation. Ie. from a database of recipes to a database for import/export companies.
• Security.
• Clear instructions on how to use and install programs. Not everything can be done via wizards etc. What is needed is not more choices but rather clear documentation.

What do international schools need:

• Clearly written documents. If the original document is unclear the translated document will be impossible to understand. I once asked a Chinese colleague how he understood the help files of a well known program. He said, well, he never read the Chinese because it didn't make sense without knowing the English.
• A set of key documents which can be translated into different languages and a way for feedback to help rewrite those documents in order to be rewritten with greater clarity.
• A place to find help. This should be both for finding people who could work at the school and for answering questions.
• There is too much variance between extensions and language support between different languages. If I ask R. Suzi what he thinks is on my Redhat CLE, Chinese Language Extensions, CD-ROM he would have to make a wild guess.
• Ability for the program to work equally well in English and the other language.

What do classrooms need:

This presumes that the classes are basic computer classes where the goal is not to learn how to program but rather to be able to use computers competently.
 

• A Desktop which is clean. It is not easy to get students focused on what you want to teach them when they are poking through every shortcut, menu, and taskbar on the desk.
• An enviroment that looks nice.
• Stability.

Some other thoughts on classroom needs. Currently many of our students
already know HTML. It seems that much of what students want and can do
is actually easier to do in Linux. (By the way they already know that WYSIWG
editors do not work all that well in HTML.)

I hope this is helpful. I will write another longish post later which is more  applicable to our own needs. I hope that all understand my wish is for the SEUL project to succeed and not every post is for what we are doing now. In other words, many of you work hard on developing progams, we need to have a simple package to give to schools.

Cordially,
S. Barret Dolph
 
 

PS No need to apologize for names. I have three different names, English, Chinese, and Russian. This has made for some amusing mix-ups.

EAMorical@aol.com wrote:

Boris,
First I want to apologize for failing to catch my mistake with regards to your
name. Next, I share your concerns about getting work implemented and have been
asking myself, "What should I be doing to change the situation". Currently I
have some time available and some access to a computer/internet. Although AOL
is a limitation, I am managing to maintain the SEUL User Resources page by
email. Within these constraints, how can I be of help to you concerning the
subject of this thread. I am aware of your many requests for documents to
translate and your desire to keep the "Teacher Package" thread open. Lets keep
to a given thread and take them one at a time. I am looking forward to your
reply.

1999 The Year Of Linux
Make It Happen

Bob

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