Open source advocates have conceded that open source software for schoolwork is weak right now, but promise a better future, as the battle for Britain's school IT systems continues.
"Some schools are hooked on particular applications that only run on Windows," said Richard Rothwell, chairman of educational user group Schoolforge UK, "but there are ways for schools to get onto high quality sustainable open source software".
Rothwell, who is also head of computing at Handsworth Grammar School in Birmingham, conceded that there was something in Microsoft's claim that open source systems had fewer applications for coursework. However, open source content has fundamental benefits that will give schools better long term value, he said.
Last week, Microsoft was stung by a report from the UK government's school ICT agency, the British Educational Communications and Technology Association (Becta), which concluded that open source software can save schools money.
The software giant seized on the report's caveats, including a comment that content-specific open source software is "weaker", than that for Windows.
But despite Microsoft's focus on the negative aspects, Rothwell claims the overall Becta report was "unbelievably positive". He suggested several ways that schools can keep access to legacy closed-source software, and pointed to future developments with which open source could trump proprietary content.
"Ninety percent of what people do in classrooms uses standard office applications, Web browsers and productivity applications," he said, pointing out that open source software is readily available for all of this.
"Just like every organisation, there is a must-have application in every school," said Rothwell, citing the maths and science suite Crocodile Clips as one example of an application that presently only runs on Windows. "Schools are going to have to decide what their response is," he said.
Access to back-end systems running on Windows will also be an issue, as schools are unlikely to move these critical systems as readily as other applications. "MIS systems often support web access, but often this actually only runs with Internet Explorer," said Rothwell.
The options for schools who want to migrate to Linux but are constrained by their Windows-only applications include running it under a Windows emulator; or using a server to run Windows applications in terminal mode, to limit the licences required.
More forward looking schools should look at getting the content they want in open source form, said Rothwell. "If a dozen schools want something, for the cost of licensing the software, they could probably have it written," he said. David Hargreaves, the head of Becta, has advocated schools creating content, in his work at the Learning Working Group, published by Demos, said Rothwell.
Talkback
what about photoshop, illustrator, flash and all those other pc/mac only apps...lets linux versions of them...lol..plus its no good teaching kids to use open source software when the work place is windows orientated, and they will lose out on kids used to windows software...lets just try and be sensible about this shall we...
Sensible about what? The applications you mentioned are rarely used in the schools I have visited. I would rather see the schools move to a cheaper/better IT infrastructure and have the money saved get rolled back into the schools.
As to preparing kids for a windows-centric working world, let's be real. I have yet to meet a user who could not in a matter of 30 minutes figure their way around a GNU/Linux machine and become productive. The argument about retraining costs is a false one. The vast majority of users know how to point and click their way around a screen. Besides, every time MS comes out with a new email client, word processor, or OS, the menus change and the users have to relearn their applications or even the OS. Also, no one makes this argument when Apple Macs are installed in a school system and the Mac is VASTLY different from either Windows or Linux.
I use both platforms and have discovered that while running under GNU/Linux I dont worry about virii, spyware, etc. Under Windows I have to run spybot, Anti-virus, etc.
In the 1950s, the UK school system stopped pretending that it's mission of one of education. Schools became either vocational or grade-factories. As such, isn't it the duty of a vocational educational establishment to provide the software that best prepares students for that which they will use in their post-school lives?
With Windows, students learn like "Monkey see, Monkey do". On FOSS, students learn the fundamentals of computing, and consequetly, they will be able to work with any OS or apps. Now tell me which one is more empowering and should be used in schools?
Photoshop, etc... are easily replaced by GIMP, InkScape, etc... and for free. Why waste the schools badly needed money when you can have much better tools for free?
Now please, be serious. It is time to be sensible and realistic.
It's bad enough that kids are coming out of school with supposed IT qualifications, only to find that they need retraining for commercial work. If education is going be worth anything other than for educations sake, schools must teach the applications and skills necessary for the real world.
To get a feel for what I'm saying, have a look at the AS Level sylabus for ICT...there's very little practical application, just large sections on "the impact of ICT", etc. etc. I presume this is necessary as the sylabus cant keep pace with change in the real world.
Yes, I'd love our company to be developing Linux appliations for our clients - but our clients are steadfastly using Windows apps, so we must do the same.
I keep hearing this tired and invalid argument that we should be sticking with Windows "because that's what they'll have to use when they leave school".
These arguments can only be made by people who have never used anything except for Windows.
Anyone who cannot switch between different similar applications on Windows, Mac, or Linux and be up to speed within a couple of hours is really incapable of using a computer effectively, and will struggle to use Windows in any case.
Familiarity with specific applications is NOT what is taught in schools. If it was we would be sending the kids on generic software training courses and not bothering equipping the schools with expensive PC kit.
What IS taught is concepts and techniques which are applicable across platforms.
As for vocational training, open source gives a massive opportunity to provide exposure to real-world computing platforms and technologies that are difficult or expensive to provide on Windows, and to help fill a knowledge gap. Things like SQL, PHP, UML tools, Object Oriented design and programming.
The reality is, most of the very skilled IT professionals in the market today didn't grow up with Windows in their school. They had BBC Micros, Sinclair Spectrums, Amstrad CPCs, Ataris, Nascoms, and Dragons, and few would claim they are less skilled because of it.
With this in mind, how can (for instance) Linux as an advanced, modern computing environment harm children's educaton. It can't! In fact much of the evidence suggests it could be good for them.
So let's get our heads out of the sand, and give it a go.