Re: Major interview

[Trevor & Ellen Witt <tewitt@es.co.nz>]

In reply: 
There are two main areas of interest one is computers as a tool for
information gathering, ananlysis and reporting. As such a tool it has to be
integrated into all curriculum areas. This I believe can be done with 
1. A web browser
2. E-mail 
3. Presentation package such as Kid Pix, which allows multimedia
4. Integrated simple word processing (DTP even better), spread sheet and
database.  
So schools do not need a lot of software to make effective use of a whole
range of information technologies.

The other software is computer assisted learning programmes. Thses can cover
a whole range of areas and would be picked on their merits.
I have no problem with paying for software, I just cannot afford the Black
hole effects of something like Microsoft. When you set up a network costs
just escalate. Intrananet is also a good way for staff and students to get
to grips with network capability. 

If the Edsoft products are good quality, and meet the educational
requirements, paying a fee for them is not an issue with me. I feel people
should be able to be recompensed for their work but the exponential growth
of costs is a killer to most small educational communities.

People also expect it to look like windows based interfaces, and to be as
easy as clikcking a mouse!!

Trust this is some use!!!   


At 10:11 AM 9/3/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Trevor or Ellen --
>
>Since you've identified yourself as a potential school **customer** for
>Linux (so far, the only one participating in this thread), I wonder if you
>might address from your own standpoint a question that is being discussed.
>The general question is the relative merits of encouraging EdSoft developers
>to port their (proprietary, fee based) applications to Linux, versus relying
>on the Open Source/free software community to create the needed apps and
>distribute them at no charge.
>
>You wrote:
>
>>want a simple package similar to Claris for kids, Kid Pix Deluxe. Also want
>>a database for student records. But my experience is staff will not use
>>things if they cannot just sit down and get straight into it.
>
>You also wrote:
>
>>I do not like the balck hole for money that microsoft creates for schools .
>
>This prompts me to ask: do you need the applications to be free of charge?
>If not, what kind of price do you think would be reasonable? 
>
>At 09:26 PM 9/3/99 +1200, Trevor & Ellen Witt wrote:
>
>>Not sure if this is any use but i am a teacher and a principal of a small
>>elementary school in NZ.
>[rest of message deleted]
>
>------------------------------------"Never tell me the odds!"---
>Ray Olszewski                                        -- Han Solo
>Palo Alto, CA  94303-3603    	 	        ray@comarre.com        
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>