Ramanraj K wrote: ,---- | The most important objective of computer science education in schools | ought to be to make every child a proficient and intelligent user of | computer programs. Free Software Distros, School Level GLUGs, running | a school from a network, will all help. `----
Very true. For "Free Software Distros" (aimed at schools) there are plenty already out there. For instance look at the SkoleLinux project[1]
,---- | We can also request developers to write the most elementary | introductory tutorial keeping in mind that it will be used by high | school students. [The best example I can cite is that of the | documentation that comes with PostgreSQL ] `----
One practical problem we faced in Demo@Schools was the lack of some sort of a thing (which I haven't yet understood completely) which results in documents/tutorials getting half way through.
,---- | Most teachers take their job seriously and may not be able to | visualise anything remotely resembling free software. The Management | and teachers think in concrete terms of text books, class work, home | work, tests and marks, and if a bare outline of the curriculum is laid | bare, then, I think most schools and teachers would be more than happy | to teach the students not only free software but the high value of | sharing in life that can be easily learnt at school level. `----
Completely Agree. From what I experienced, Its a chicken and egg problem -- Without convincing them (the school) how well the students can learn free software they wont let you present a valuable syllabus to follow and without following a proper syllabus, practicals, tests and "marks" the school wont know how to grade / judge the students. For all we did in demo@schools was to teach, teach and teach in weekends. Infact after a point we even convinced ourselves that "its okay if the students are interested by themselves. they will start hacking all by themselves after a point.". But that wont happen until they get a good grip on things... and THAT didn't happen... :(
,---- | and I was surprised to see the level of interest of several govts in | Europe over using free software in school projects. Some of the | School `----
Brazil is going very good with this, more than europe.
-Suraj
[1] http://www.skolelinux.org/portal/index_html