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K-12 schools’ cyber safety declines
,----[ Quote ]
| CDW Government (CDW-G) announced the results of the 2008 School Safety Index,
| the national benchmark on the current status of public school district
| safety. Based on eight indicators and four contra indicators, or challenges,
| the School Safety Index provides a first-hand view of school safety issues
| from the perspective of more than 400 district IT and security directors.
|
| The 2008 School Safety Index finds that districts improved their physical
| safety score by 39 percent over 2007, while their cyber safety score declined
| by 25 percent in the same time period.
`----
http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=6137
Many schools are moving to GNU/Linux. Some examples are appended below because
stories that are told are harder to tackle or deny with substanceless FUD.
Days ago:
LTSP 5 - Making Thin Clients Phat
,----[ Quote ]
| Getting started with thin clients is quite simple. LTSP version 5 is already
| integrated into Fedora9, AltLinux, openSUSE-Edu, Debian, Ubuntu, and *almost*
| into Gentoo. If you are using a different distro, just drop on over to
| www.ltsp.org and pick up a copy to install yourself.
`----
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/ltsp-5-making-thin-clients-phat
Recent:
Cutting computer costs: District saves with new technology
,----[ Quote ]
| For instance, Carver estimates the district is saving $50,000 a year by using
| free software such as OpenOffice.org, which has mostly replaced Microsoft
| Office across all seven schools in the 5,200-student district. The district
| is also installing the open-source operating system Linux, which replaces
| Microsoft Windows.
|
| Linux is a freely distributed operating system that has been gaining traction
| in the corporate environment -- especially for running on servers.
|
| While Linux is distributed free, a sizable market has grown up around it.
| Sales of Linux-related hardware, software and services surpassed $21 billion
| in 2007, up nearly 50 percent from the previous year, according to estimates
| by IDC, a research firm.
|
| Companies like Red Hat and Novell distribute Linux and charge companies for
| technical support and maintenance.
|
| Wal-Mart.com even started selling a desktop computer with Linux installed for
| $199 -- the cheapest computer it offers.
`----
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080511/NEWS/805110308/1036/BUSINESS01
School districts serve up lessons in Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| School districts in the US and Canada find Linux and open source offers
| better support, cheaper setup costs, and improved educational value
`----
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;821318543
Schools in Swiss Canton Switch
,----[ Quote ]
| According to this German article, the Swiss canton Geneva is switching to
| Linux and OpenOffice.org for 9,000 computers in education.
`----
http://blogs.sun.com/dancer/entry/schools_in_swiss_canton_switch
Ubuntu breathes new life into school's abandoned hardware
,----[ Quote ]
| But according to Stefyn, the "huge amount of flexibility" offered by the
| Linux operating system was the primary motive behind its adoption.
`----
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php?id=609377314&rid=-219
9000 PCs in Swiss schools going Linux only
,----[ Quote ]
| Beginning this September, all 9000 computers will run only Ubuntu and free
| and open source software. While officials are happy to be saving money on
| licensing, the Department of Public instruction largely made the move out of
| what they considered best practices for student education (please note that
| the translation below is directly from Google Translation; non-French
| speakers should get the idea, though).
`----
http://education.zdnet.com/?p=1615
Red Hat taps Singapore schools for mindshare
,----[ Quote ]
| Red Hat said it expects to train some 1,000 students under this program by
| 2009.
`----
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/software/0,39044164,62039950,00.htm?scid=rss_z_nw
CH: Geneva schools completely switch to Open Source
,----[ Quote ]
| About 70,000 students and their 7,000 teachers in the Geneva school district
| will gradually be moving to Open Source.
`----
http://ec.europa.eu/idabc/en/document/7576/6008
What Policy Should India Adopt for ICT in School Education?
,----[ Quote ]
| Considering that computer science is a strange mix of deep theory as well as
| sophisticated technology, it is very vital for any society to use this
| transparently. Else, we will let some agencies become monopolies. This is a
| serious danger to digital society because, the data that is digitized belongs
| to you and me, and not to the company. But, in reality today, our data has
| been handed over to the proprietary companies, since they alone have the
| license to decode our own documents. This will create a possibility for
| computer crime, which is happening all around our eyes. We should we let this
| happen?
`----
http://gnowgi.org/2008/04/27/what-policy-should-india-adopt-for-ict-in-school-education/
Canadian British Columbia's School District #73 opts for Debian GNU / Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| Kamloops Thompson School District #73, British Columbia, Canada, with 55
| elementary and secondary schools, chose a majority of open source software on
| Debian GNU / Linux as it is easier to maintain and in their experience offers
| better support.
`----
http://www.techforce.com.br/index.php/news/linux_blog/british_columbian_school_district_73_chose_debian
Deploying KDE to 52 million young people
,----[ Quote ]
| By the end of this year 29,000 labs serving some 32,000,000 students will be
| fully deployed and in active use.
|
| By the end of next year (2009) those numbers will have swelled to 53,000 labs
| serving some 52,000,000 students.
`----
http://aseigo.blogspot.com/2008/04/deploying-kde-to-52-million-young.html
Xubuntu: Better than Ubuntu (at least for me)
,----[ Quote ]
| So my situation here at AEA has been pretty well stated in this blog, but to
| briefly reiterate where we are:
|
| There are approximately 200 workstations around campus for student use of
| which approximately 35 are Pentium 4 powered. The rest are either P3 or P2
| machines with around 256MB RAM.
|
| [...]
|
| Best of all I did a little accidental user testing with some 6th graders
| today and the results were great! Basically I had 3 classes today and in each
| one a kid jumped on the Xubuntu machine I set up yesterday. None of the three
| kids even mentioned the fact that their machine looked different from
| everyone elses, they all just hopped on firefox and got to work!
`----
http://hartmansblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/xubuntu-better-than-ubuntu-at-least-for.html
Ubuntu for Kids
,----[ Quote ]
| We settled on the idea of converting unused computers to Ubuntu desktops we
| could install at Cleveland Elementary school. Since its inception, we have
| installed seven desktops, and have 12 more being updated in my garage. We
| have also helped start a computer club on campus, which we attend once a
| month to instruct students. So far, the kids are loving it. It’s amazing how
| easily they gravitate toward the Ubuntu operating system, and how much they
| enjoy learning computers after school. I believe we have some future Linux
| Systems Administrators in the making.
`----
http://www.myintervals.com/blog/2008/05/07/ubuntu-for-kids/
Related:
Expert shares secrets to saving thousands with K12LTSP
,----[ Quote ]
| The K12 Linux Terminal Server Project (K12LTSP) is a thin client
| distribution designed for use in schools.
|
| [...]
|
| Arkiletian estimates that his lab cost only $4,000 to set up --
| about a tenth the cost of buying replacement workstations.
`----
http://enterprise.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/01/16/1717243&tid=23&tid=46
'The Linux desktop is a complete blast'
,----[ Quote ]
| The Linux desktop is a complete blast. This market just went to a
| million downloads. It's hot, it's cool, it's a lot less expensive,
| the kids are loving it. School systems have some great desktop
| operating systems -- it's also in kiosks, retail systems,
| point-of-sale systems. A lot of those systems are being refreshed
| now, so the best thing now is really lowering the cost of
| ownership, increasing return on investment. This is a great space,
| very strong selling. We're 95 per cent there as a viable alternative
| to anything else.
`----
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070305.wqandaMcAuliff0306/BNStory/PersonalTech/home
http://tinyurl.com/yrvqr8
Spending on open source support services in Canada to soar
,----[ Quote ]
| The market for open source support services is going to boom over
| the next five years, according to a recent Gartner survey.
`----
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=42488&cid=6
Kubuntu Takes Over the Canary Islands
,----[ Quote ]
| The Canary Islands have two derivatives of Kubuntu, one which is being
| installed in all their schools and one used by the largest university.
`----
http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/1142
All Macedonian students to use Linux desktops
,----[ Quote ]
| NComputing announced this week that its multi-user virtual desktop software
| and low-cost virtual PC terminals will be used to equip every school child in
| the Republic of Macedonia, formerly part of Yugoslavia, with a Linux desktop.
`----
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS7546509093.html
Russian Linux (ALTLinux) to be installed in every school in Russia
,----[ Quote ]
| Russian OS is to be installed on every school computer in Russia by 2009.
| Furthermore, every pupil will get the opportunity to operate the applied
| software produced in Russia, Leonid Reiman, acting Minister of Communication
| stated at a press conference. According to Mr. Reiman, that might
| significantly reduce Russian dependence on foreign software.
`----
http://eng.cnews.ru/news/top/indexEn.shtml?2007%2F09%2F14%2F266177
Basics of a Linux-based School IT Infrastructure
,----[ Quote ]
| I've had some correspondence with Gregg Ferrie and Dean Montgommery at BC
| SD73 in Canada. These guys have a remarkable program where all the schools in
| the district are clambering over one-another to be the next one converted to
| Linux. Quoting Gregg at around the time of writing:
|
| School District No. 73 has 54 schools and another 6 administration sites
| including Board Office, Maintenance and Transportation. Roughly 4500+
| computers or desktops for all staff and students. Each Elementary School has
| one teaching lab of 30 computers, at least one computer in each classroom,
| computers in libraries, Learning Assistance rooms and the offices. Secondary
| schools range in size but the smallest have at least 2 teaching labs of 30
| ranging up to 8 in the largest school.
`----
http://bbmaj7.livejournal.com/3542.html
Athens schools promote 'open source' computing
,----[ Quote ]
| Athens was invited because it is one of few districts in Michigan teaching on
| Linux operating systems. Linux is a cost-free alternative to proprietary
| systems, such as Microsoft Windows or Apple's Mac O.S. While some open source
| software applications, such as e-mail programs, come at a cost, Linux is
| almost entirely free. Windows or Mac systems can cost up to $400 per machine.
|
| Open source means the source code for an operating system cannot be owned and
| is available for free.
`----
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080305/NEWS01/803050312/1002/NEWS01
'Installfest' Brings Open Source Tools to Northern California Schools
,----[ Quote ]
| The idea is to take advantage of the low overhead of open-source tools and
| operating systems, such as the Linux-based Ubuntu, so that computers that
| would otherwise have been discarded can be put to use for educational
| institutions and other groups, including low-income individuals and
| non-profits.
|
| [...]
|
| Some of the California schools participating in the March Installfest include
| Ascend School, Bella Vista Elementary, Casa Grande High School, KIPP San
| Francisco Bay Academy, Lockwood School, Mission High School, and Whittier
| Elementary School.
`----
http://www.thejournal.com/articles/22127
Linux will dominate UK schools within 5 years
,----[ Quote ]
| Yes, it does seem unlikely doesn't it? Windows has been the only reality for
| several generations of computer users. But is the tide finally beginning to
| turn?
|
| At the Education Show held in February 2007, the talk was of 'sustainable'
| computing and how schools could use technology to reduce their 'carbon
| footprint'. Nobody had any idea of what was to come – a host of Linux-based,
| ultra-portable, incredibly cheap and very green personal laptops.
`----
http://www.siriusit.co.uk/myblog/linux-will-dominate-uk-schools-within-5-years.html
One Laptop Per New York City Middle School Student
,----[ Quote ]
| One Laptop Per Child may have pilot projects in many schools worldwide, but
| the newest program has my rapt attention. Teaching Matters, an educational
| non-profit, is implementing a OLPC pilot in the Kappa IV school in New York
| City with a refreshing twist.
`----
http://www.olpcnews.com/countries/usa/new_york_city_middle_school_student.html
Kerala On Linux Express Highway
,----[ Quote ]
| The Linux slip-road that the state took is slowly becoming an
| express highway.
|
| [...]
|
| If we twist Napoleon's quote on China a bit, we can safely say, "Linux is a
| sleeping giant, let it sleep, because when Linux moves the world moves!"
`----
http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/fullnews.asp?edid=16139&magid=11
San Diego Students Learn on Linux Desktops From Novell
,----[ Quote ]
| San Diego Unified School District is the second-largest school
| district in California, serving more than 130,000 students,
| 100,000 of whom are in grades three through 12 and are
| targeted by the Always-On Learning Initiative.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070521/aqm036.html?.v=13
Kubuntu Takes Over Georgia; Ubuntu Summit Video
,----[ Quote ]
| Georgia is rolling out Kubuntu in all their schools. This is being
| done as part of a project to bring the internet to every school
| in Georgia.
`----
http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/2797
Students may get recycled computers
,----[ Quote ]
| All of the hard drives have been reformatted so it contains no
| district information. Each computer will also include a free set
| of software which will include a word processing application,
| a photo manipulation application and a few games along with a
| Linux operating system.
`----
http://www.wcmessenger.com/news/news/EEZlAlVkEpEFmkSpXI.php
Vista sales could boost PC recycling
,----[ Quote ]
| As customers line up to buy new PCs capable of running Microsoft
| Corp.'s new Windows Vista OS, vendors like Dell Inc. and
| Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) are preparing to process a surge
| of discarded, outmoded computers.
`----
http://www.itworld.com/Comp/1183/070131pcrecycle/index.html
Schools across Japan may switch to Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported late last week that the
| Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to introduce
| the open-source operating system Linux for use within classrooms
| across the country in the near future.
`----
http://gyaku.jp/en/index.php?cmd=contentview&pid=000112
Primary school goes Ubuntu
,----[ Quote ]
| I prepared 5 CDs and installed 14 PCs in less than two hours,
| including account setup and Firefox preparation (start page to a
| kids friendly site, Adblock).
`----
http://www.gadgetguy.de/2007/03/12/primary-school-goes-ubuntu/
District to save money by switching computers to Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| Hyland said the district hopes to get all of its computers
| running Linux exclusively by 2010. By that time, administrators
| should have identified new Linux programs for Bexley students,
| including kindergartners. Hyland said she wants to get
| kindergartners started with a program that teaches typing so
| that Bexley students are familiar with technology early on.
`----
http://www.thisweeknews.com/?sec=home&story=sites/thisweeknews/022207/Bexley/News/022207-News-310108.html
Microsoft Windows ousted at California school district
,----[ Quote ]
| By this summer, all 5,000 students and 250 teachers will be working
| off of a Linux-based thin client running OpenOffice.org, and the
| majority of the district's servers will be running Novell SUSE
| Linux Enterprise Server.
`----
http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1245710,00.html
Reason Why Schools Should Adopt Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| Can I Import My Previous Work Into Linux? Consider this: you have
| document after document tied up into formats, such as Outlook, MS
| Publisher and so on. Now, with Outlook, I "believe" the data can bee
| xported without too much trouble. But last time I checked, your
| Publisher files were stuck as is, period. So it's fair to say
| that challenges like this can indeed, seem like a deal breaker
| for some users. I mean come on, this is not a solution and the
| fact that Publisher is so commonly used in the Windows world is
| certainly not helping anyone. This issue would seem trivial to
| most of us, but to those who just installed Linux, it can prove
| to be frustrating.
`----
http://www.madpenguin.org/cms/?m=show&id=7802
Stretching the Education Dollar With Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| The fact that open source solutions offer a wider range of choices
| and options than their proprietary counterparts make them truly
| useful alternatives to closed solutions, Henson says, especially
| for administrative tasks. "[W]ith open source solutions,
| organizations can freely customize the software to their
| specific requirements. This is particularly important when
| organizations wish to integrate with their existing software
| -- such as student and employee management systems. Developing
| such APIs is often extremely costly and time-consuming to
| facilitate with proprietary software vendors."
`----
http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/56656.html
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