[nzlug] OSS in Nz schools

[Hilton Theunissen]

Hiya

Andrew I think you need to do some research why Spain decided to use OSS 
for over 100000 desktops for schools, India for 12500 schools, Brazil 
for approx 32000 users.

Look changed is a pain and some people want to come to work and 
everything must be the same - then life at work is easy.

I am not saying this should be OSS vs Apple vs M$ debate, neither is it 
a question of which office suites, browsers,etc, it is more about giving 
people choice, like cars. When you get to SA you will drive on the left 
with steering wheel on the right, in NZ you might be use to driving on 
right with steering wheel on left - but hey the principal is You can 
drive a car and if the lanes and steering  wheel changed --you will adapt!

In schools educators want educational tools and content, now learning 
how to type a document is not educational that is learning a skill. The 
best approach is to challenge the learner to take content plug into a 
word processor,etc. - manipulate the data with tools provided in the app 
and deliver a educational outcome instead of " I know how to use 
$$$officeXXXX very well"

Nice debate guys and Linux is good for the desktop!
-- 
Kind regards.

Hilton Theunissen
Inkululeko Technologies
Tel: +27 11 462 9124
Fax-to-mail: 0865033491
Mobile: +27 72 900800 1
E-mail: hilton at inkululeko.co.za
http://www.tuxlab.org.za