Try FLOSS Now
From Schoolforge-UK
Schoolforge-UK contains many resources that will help you find low risk ways to start enjoying FLOSS cost savings. You can read an introduction to using FLOSS in schools, and if you are practically minded the rest of this page explains several ways you can explore FLOSS further. Linux for Education provides more specific examples.
All FLOSS can be downloaded from the internet and some is also available on CD by post. Most comes with simple installation programs. Many FLOSS applications run on Microsoft Windows, and there are also "Live CDs" so you can easily try them on your own PC or your existing ICT set-up.
Once you are happy that FLOSS applications provide excellent quality and cost savings, you can explore the larger benefits to be gained by using FLOSS in your ICT infrastructure of desktops, networks and servers.
Remember that FLOSS is not only about cost savings. You also gain confidence, cooperation and freedom. FLOSS powers most of the Internet on servers that run for years without attention. Problems are found quickly and updates are rapidly made available. When you use FLOSS you become part of a global community that is developing and sharing the software and content that is wanted. You do not have to meekly accept what you are given. Staff and students alike can join in to shape the ICT that they use daily. Find out more on the FLOSS page.
Here are some ideas to get you started on the journey and remember you will find much advice in the schoolforge Support, Training and Activities sections.
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Use the Internet and Web.
It may seem trite but the fact is that the majority of internet's email infrastructure and web sites run on FLOSS as it is proven to provide the required reliability. In fact, you are using FLOSS right now because this web site is hosted on servers running Open Source software.
Research.
By far the best way to learn about FLOSS is to try it but you may like to read around a subject or want something to do while the FLOSS is installing. In addition to the SF pages mentioned above you will find issue 15 of the Computers in Classrooms newsletter from Terry Freedman is an Open Source special. Terry also has a comprehensive interview with a US educator who set up a FLOSS computer lab.
Try some FLOSS applications for Windows.
OpenEducationDisc is a collection of high quality Free and Open Source Software that is suitable for school use. The programs run in Windows and cover the most common tasks such as word processing, presentations, e-mail, web browsing, web design, and image manipulation. The list of programs included will introduce you to some of the very best of FLOSS applications. You can also download each program individually from its own website (hint: google for the name).
Mozilla Firefox is a deservedly popular open source web browser (learn about new Firefox 3.0 features) and Thunderbird the companion email client.
OpenOffice is a complete office application suite.
Schoolforge lists many education specific applications and other FLOSS suitable for schools and colleges. See the directory of FLOSS for education. For general software and home use Wikipedia has a List of open-source software packages.
Try a Live CD.
A live CD contains a complete Linux desktop that you can use by simply putting it in your CD drive and rebooting your PC (you may need to enable CD booting in your PCs BIOS). Nothing is changed or stored on your PC but you can work on your existing documents as many FLOSS applications support non FLOSS formats. There is also a Live CD that provides a bootable web server for experimenting and education.
Find out more on the Linux for Education page.
You can easily install Linux alongside Windows on a PC and Linux - Free, easy and secure provides a beginners introduction.
The O'Reilly book Test Driving Linux - From Windows to Linux in 60 seconds comes with a Live CD (Mandriver Move) and provides an introductory tutorial to the Linux world for Windows users.
Try an Educational Tool.
In addition to general purpose FLOSS tools there are some that are designed explicitly for educational needs. Moodle is arguably the educational Open Source 'Killer App' and is justifiably very popular in schools, colleges and even LEAs. As a Virtual Learning Environment it brings together many tools that provide on-line learning, assessment, management and collaboration. Moodle can be easily installed on school ICT or access can be gained to an existing moodle. The main moodle site has features and administrator's demos where you can experiment and also has a playground. Schoolforge will soon be hosting a Moodle available as a collaborative tool for teachers.
For authoring content packages, teachers can trial the eLearning XHTML editor eXe which is easy to use. You can export content packages for delivery in your local Virtual Learning Environment. eXe has a useful tool for importing Wikipedia articles that are easily customised for your own lessons.
Try Open Content.
There is now much open and free content available online for use by staff and students in lessons, eLearning, research and projects. Most is available under licences that allow it to be reused freely especially if the derived work is returned to the community.
Schoolforge is leading the development of a complete set of open curriculum resources.
Wikipedia is probably the most well known and the largest open collection of knowledge.
Connexions is a rapidly growing collection of free scholarly materials and a powerful set of free software tools for building them.
Wikibooks is a collection of open-content textbooks.
ibiblio is an open collection of online collections and software.
DMOZ is the open directory and the content source for Google's directory service.
MIT OpenCourseWare and Open Univisity OpenLearn are higher level courses.
Further Ideas
By far the best way to learn about Linux is to install it on a PC. Many recent Linux versions are simple to install. Linux - Free, easy and secure is a good introduction to installing and using linux and there is an excellent tutorial using Debian on Linux online. Find out more about other suitable Linux systems on the Linux for Education page.
If you are fairly technical you can try creating a website using a web hoster's facilities. Many hosters run the LAMP set of software, giving you the chance to experiment without installing anything.
You may find the Open Sources: Voices from the Open Source Revolution online book interesting. It contains essays that explain how the movement works, why it succeeds, and where it is going by leaders of the movement. A new edition Open Sources 2.0: The Continuing Evolution is now available.
For further reading the OSS Watch Resources are growing collection of articles that explore various aspects of using and creating FOSS.
Next Steps
Once you have explored available FLOSS the next step is to start planning how to introduce it to fit your particular needs and culture.
We suggest that you:
- explore schooforge and browse the Case Studies and Topic_Guides;
- read some of the resources listed on the Support page;
- look at the Training page were SF-UK are creating courses for decision makers;
- join the Discussion_list to describe your situation and ask what the list members suggest;
- come to our meetings and events
- read the Becta TCO report if you have not already seen it;
And Finally
The Open Collaborative Community methods of creating knowledge that fuel FLOSS development are now being applied to other areas where people interact socially. David Hargreaves, Chairman of Becta, has a vision of how Innovation Networks can envigorate teaching practices.
