Mark Kent wrote:
> Roy Schestowitz espoused:
>
>> Becta pays lip-service to Open Source
>>
>> ,----[ Quote ]
>>| In their recent analysis of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007,
>>| Becta called on the ICT industry to ensure that computers for the
>>| education marketplace are delivered with a choice of Office
>>| productivity suites, ideally including an Open Source offering.
>>| Yet schools are unable to purchase any Open Source office suites
>>| through Becta's own procurement frameworks.
>>|
>>| Latest European Commission research concludes that EU governments
>>| should "avoid lifelong vendor lock-in in educational systems by
>>| teaching students skills, not specific applications; encourage
>>| participation in FLOSS-like communities."
>> `----
>>
>> http://sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=29102&hilite=
>>
>> Still in bed with Microsoft, being defensive to criticism when necessary.
>
> What's encouraging, though, is that what we've been saying here for
> years is being recognised in mainstream politics. The dangers of
> teaching "Microsoft Office" instead of word-processing or spreadsheet
> usage or whatever are now well recognised. Same thing applies to "ICT"
> which should be about computing generally, not about "Microsoft
> Windows".
>
> Whilst the EU might be ineffective at resolving many intra-European
> difficulties, it's been far more effective at handling threats from
> outside, including Software Patents and Microsoft's lock-in software.
> It would be worthwhile for those working in HMG's agencies on behalf of
> HMG to take the EU's remarks seriously.
It is interesting that such issues are coming to light, not only in UK but
other countries as well, including US.
One thing I see that also needs to be addressed is developing young minds to
think and reason. I remember stupid stuff in my own high school, where a
student would suggest something like obtaining political opinion from movie
actors and actresses. Teacher would then reply it was a wonderful idea.
As a high schooler, I thought at the time it was "kinda' stoopid". If one
needs a doctor, they seek out a doctor. Why seek out someone in movie
industry, whose expertise is in the area of acting (although I must admit
some politicians are actors.) This is how to develop young minds to think?
Those teachers who think that use of proprietary products will make a better
person than a less expensive solution really lack imagination and
creativity. For one, applications are training aids for the students.
What one learns in principle will help them overall toward any type
application with similar features and purpose.
The Open Source applications such as OpenOffice, Q-Cad, Gimp and others are
certainly excellent training tools for learning. The software programming
environment provided has support for many languages, use of data bases such
as, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Ingres, etc. are a definite, excellent learning
laboratory.
--
HPT
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