OStatic

Educational Institutions Doing Homework on Open Source Software

Maybe it's personal bias, but a few of us here at OStatic have wondered why using open source software isn't a foregone conclusion in education.

The BBC has posted an insightful piece on open source software in schools that not only touches on the strengths of the software, but also the complexities of deploying it in these environments.

It's not always about cost, upfront or long-term. And while the "new software learning curve" is always mentioned, it's not necessarily learning the software that throws the wrench in plans. It's often the sheer act of timing, planning, and learning enough to make the right choice for schools.

The BBC article quotes John Spencer, the head of business development at Sirius IT:

... [Educators] don't want to move away from what they know, not just to Linux but equally to Vista and Office 2007 as well. Good teachers will always be looking to move forward but they are so busy that they are often conservative.

It's a good point, and one I've seen in my travels through libraries. Upgrading can be painful. I had a librarian ask me at one point (because Linux was working well on the library's public computers) what would be involved in migrating the staff machines to Linux. He'd become rather attached to the Linux systems, but his impetus for asking centered on the heftier hardware requirements and learning curve that moving to Vista would involve.

The important matter to highlight here is that he was considering it seriously, prior to needing to sign contracts, prior to anything becoming a crisis situation. The BBC article emphasizes that the key to success is making an informed choice, and realizing that any solution (free or proprietary) has its costs.

I might add that it's beneficial to let go of the ever-intimidating learning curve spectre. Education is about exploration, it's about taking things apart and putting them back together, and then applying what was discovered in one situation to a different situation. Technology -- hardware, software, on a local computer or on a remote server somewhere -- is in flux, it's ever-changing. Educating students with open source software doesn't mean they'll be lost when using proprietary applications -- it could very well mean they're more likely to click a menu option to see what it really does.

• open source
• adoption
• education
• migration

by Kristin Shoemaker on Feb. 02, 2009

Hi Arthur,

Ack, that's a doozy of a slip up on the BBC's part - and I admit I didn't catch it reading through. You're right, of course, open source doesn't mean there isn't a license of some variety on the software -- and the language used in that passage in no uncertain terms implies otherwise (even if they'd said "closed licensed and open source" - it wouldn't have been completely accurate, but would have at least hinted that many different licensing types exist).

The BBC did a decent job at presenting the use of OSS in schools from the standpoint that it was neither overly optimistic about money saved (tech can be costly, no matter), but it wasn't heavily pushing the usual "hard to learn, and even more expensive in the long term" ideas that often throw these stories off balance. However, the implication (though probably unintended) that open source software doesn't use any licensing is misleading, and sadly probably has left a few interested educators slightly puzzled, and possibly even suspicious about how it all works.

And hi Ilan!

Thanks for the reminder about the OSSIE conference at SCaLE! Should be a great opportunity for educators to learn more, network and spread the open source in education bug. Um, feature?

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