A general introduction to how
Linux can help at school
Foreward:
In secondary schools, it has nearly always been the case that all desktops,
servers and SIMS systems have always been run on Windows. This culture has long
existed because most educational staff see Microsoft Windows as the 'popular,
well-supported and easy-to-implement' system of choice.
Whilst this view was quite correct, and users were happier using a 'popular and
easy-to-use system', the initial overall thought of "Microsoft software is
good"
has led to the purchase and implementation of other Microsoft products such as
Office, Frontpage, etc.
However, with the advent of the Microsoft Windows release-cycle being sharply
increased - together with the Windows & Office tie-up (where Office XP more than
likely *only* works with Windows XP) there are increasing issues which need to be addressed
carefully.
For example:
- Windows NT *does not* support USB, so when a department buys 1-10 new USB scanners - what then
? Go and tell them "sorry mate, that won't work on your classroom PC - it's only
NT4!"
- With the ever growing product releases and update constantly being un-necessarily OS specific, i.e.
"works with winME & win2000" - just how is
that going to be addressed?
- No doubt, educational software publishers are going to be looking to tie their software to specific Windows OS's.
- etc, etc.
Critically, the core issues are these :
- What happens when you need to purchase new hardware which is OS specific (i.e. USB based devices do not work on *ALL* versions of
Windows)?
- Look carefully at upgrade issues - some departments may require updated software - which is OS
specific!
- Weigh up the issues surrounding the implementation of OS specific software, for example:
- You may need to install a different version of Windows just for an OS specific
software package / system.
How will this affect key elements such as:
- network inter-operability
- user, class, software support
- user, machine, network #access#
- user, machine, network #security#
Is there a 'real-world' example? Yes, at my school staff were given laptop computers as part of an IT training initiative (great).
However, the difficulty came when integrating Windows ME into a Windows NT only network. Issues surrounding software availability, network connectivity
(including user, laptop, security, software) were notoriously challenging!
Satisfaction?
There are real concerns for IT staff in secondary schools regarding Microsoft
software.
Let's just take a moment to assess the key issues.
- In the server environment, is Windows really up to the job? Or is it 'just about managing' with the ever increasing load on resources from software to
users?
- In the desktop enviroment, is Windows proving as stable as you would like -
or are there constant faults, resource issues and fatal errors?
- When your users **demand** a high-availablity, dependable network how does
Windows fare? When I say DEMAND, that really isn't an over-statement. Just
look at the phenominal growth in IT based learning software over the last 18
months - ranging from on-line GNVQ based resources, to a whole entourage of
subject specific packages!!!! Of course, in 90% of cases - the use of such
software really COUNTS CONSIDERABLY in pupils coursework / exams.
Clearly the days when terms like 'MISSION CRITICAL', 'HIGH AVAILABILTY', '100%
UPTIME' only applied to the SMEs (small to medium enterprises) are a distant
memory.
It's really at this point in the article that you should cast an eye upon
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ictfutures/.
To quote the closing statement:
"The challenge for the future [of ICT-based teaching, learning and management]
is how to ensure that these opportunities become available for all."
This really does give the IT staff a gaze through the 'crystal-ball', throwing
up a potentially challenging issue - how?
How - does the school integrate disparate systems, include a wide range of
growing software in it's installation, implementation and support strategies.
Further, how does the school create the HIGH AVAILABILITY, MISSION CRITICAL,
100% UPTIME network? Whilst balancing costs over performance and managing
return-on-investment?
How - does the school integrate disparate systems, include a wide range of
growing software in it's installation, implementation and support
strategies. Further, how does the school create the HIGH AVAILABILITY,
MISSION CRITICAL, 100% UPTIME network? Whilst balancing costs over
performance and managing return on investment?
For answers to all these and more, see my next article.
:: Essential Links ::
http://www.gnvqict.com/p40/
http://www.capitaes.co.uk/productinfo/products/schools_b/index.asp
http://lft.ngfl.gov.uk./
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ictfutures/
Redhat's Introduction to Linux for educators
Article written by Matthew
Carson.
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