Linux for Irish schools was Re: [ILUG] AGM 2004

[Des Keane]

Brian,

This is a fantastic idea, spam filtering for all the kids in the country not a big enough challenge for you then! But I see some challenges with a Linux desktop for schools. In my last company - you know the one :-) - we supplied a few Linux servers to schools which they used for email, web servers and the like. There was usually a Linux enthusiast teacher in those schools and by and large it worked out OK.

Here's the bit of the Skolelinux report I think would concern me most:

"Skolelinux lacks some educational software. Some learning platforms work poorly together with other Internet browsers than Internet Explorer."

For example see www.diskovery.ie for some of the kind of educational software that might be in use, including special needs teaching. In my daughter's school they have a bunch of this software (not sure exactly which supplier), including a bunch that was donated. I just don't see the same software available for Linux, especially not with regard to the Irish curriculum.

I think the recent thread about TAS Books would also apply for school administration - there are also some more specialised packages around. I'm guessing what their system requirements are.

On the bright side though, HEAnet (et al.) involvement would suggest many more possibilities for addressing some of these issues than might otherwise be the case. Also some of the discussions around low memory office PCs would also apply - many schools get along with whatever donated leftovers they can get their hands on - I know ours does. But I'm guessing overall the economics have got to be good.

It does seem to me to be a perfect project to attract volunteers, at least to those of us who have children! Not suggesting the rest of you don't care though.... ;-)

My initial thoughts for what it's worth...

Des :-)