Re: Linux for Learning

["Michael Goehring" <MGoehring@Mistycity.com>]

>Michael Goehring wrote:
>> 
>> For the last few months I have been a casual observer of the 
>> correspondence on this mail list and read numerous admirable ideas and 
>> thoughts about ways to improve the educational environment. The idea
>> of setting up a table to show alternatives to proprietary software 
>> schools currently use makes me question the intent of the admirable 
>> ideas I have read thus far. Do you intend to re-invent all of the 
>> current educational solutions available?
>> 
>I don't understand this at all.  In what way is information about OSS
>alternatives saying we intend to re-invent everything?  However, if
>there _are_ such alternatives to various commercial programs, their
>availability broadens the choices of any schools that might be
>interested.  It should also be mentioned that we're not necessarily
>looking for just free (price or philosophy) programs, but for programs
>that will run on Linux.  If you port Misty City software to Linux, you
>would be listed on this alternatives list too.

Perhaps a better way of stating the question is do you intend to create OSS alternatives for every aspect of the educational system including transportation, food service, library, curriculum, gradebook, student information system, human resources, finance, etc.?

Would you be listing Misty City Software under proprietary and alternative if we release our applications for Linux along with Mac OS and Windows?

>
>> If so, why? What is the motivation to do so? Yes, there are numerous 
>> problems with the current educational system, but numerous initiatives 
>> are already proliferating to address the issues. For example, the SIF 
>> (Schools Interoperability Framework) Initiative 
>> <http://www.schoolsinterop.org> is working on reducing the redundancy 
>> in the North American educational system by creating an XML standard 
>> for moving data back and forth between currently divergent 
>> applications. This "best of breed" approach allows schools to maximize 
>> the efficiency of their data collection, while eliminating redundancy. 
>> Every vendor associated with the SIF Initiative is devoted to changing 
>> the current way the educational system shares data, and willing to 
>> work side by side with their competitors to do so.
>> 
>Well, Bruno and I looked at the SIF a while ago and agreed (didn't we,
>Bruno?) that it sounded nice but it was primarily vendor-driven.  It
>would be nice to get Bruno's EDUML work incorporated into the SIF stuff,
>but they didn't appear to be interested.  So the vendors may be willing
>to work with each other on the SIF Initiative, but they don't appear to
>be willing to work with non-vendors.

I don't know who you talked to, but I would certainly be willing to assist in getting both you and Bruno involved in the SIF Initiative. Let me know if you want me to help.

>
>> If you decide to create alternatives to the current proprietary 
>> software, what are your hoping to accomplish? Have you heard from 
>> schools that no current educational solutions meet their needs, 
>> thereby necessitating an open-source environment to re-build the 
>> infrastructure from the ground up?
>> 
>I've addressed this above.  One more thing; piracy is rampant in the
>educational system (at least in the US) because schools can seldom
>afford everything they'd like.  That's not a justification for breaking
>the law, but if an OSS alternative can bring them in compliance within
>their budget, don't they have a moral obligation to at least consider
>it?  I notice that you mention numerous initiatives proliferating to
>address the problems with the current educational system--well, just
>consider us one of those initiatives.
>

A bold statement about piracy being "rampant" in the US. I disagree that piracy is "rampant" due to having worked in a school district that educated teachers and administrators about the "do's and don'ts" of using proprietary software. Yes, there were individual cases of piracy, but not widespread piracy as you describe. Will OSS alternatives create an environment of compliance or promote the idea that every proprietary piece of software can now be pirated? Difficult question which only the future will answer.

Mike Goehring
Misty City Software