arky introduced me a few days back, on the lists. my name is nirmal thacker. im a UG student in BMSCE. thats all about me, but there was something on my mind which i'd like to share.
i had signed the VTU petition for the use of open source software a long time back. i was not aware of this lists at that time. anyways have you guys heard of EDUSAT? it is a distance learning project already in full swing by VTU. and Microsoft Corp is a major part of it. heres the link to the edusat site: http://elearning.vtu.ac.in/
heres the link to the several newspaper articles of edusat. you will find several instances of Microsoft helping EDUSAT in different ways :http://elearning.vtu.ac.in/inmedia.htm#
what im getting at is will VTU still use open source software? after all if microsoft is playing a huge role in EDUSAT , VTU may feel commited towards them although the use of open source software is beneficial for both them and us.
Secondly, again before joining up for this lists i had decided that i would do my bit for the open source community by distributing CD's like GNU/ linux distros, open source software collection and anything related to it (on cds!) for free. since we have a newsletter in our college, where im actively involved , making announcements are easy. and i really dint mind spending a bit of money ( an empty cd today costs only about 9/8 rs each, if bought in bulk) if i could convince people of the benefits of this new revolution. Cant we do the same? i mean as a group , our reputation would increase if we began in ways such as these. who knows , you may then get sponsors to distribute open source stickers, t shirts, etc.
one of the best ways to spread anything related to engineering students is by getting involved with the various fests held by the colleges.
please send in your replies and opinions. do we have some kinda meetings ? im new around here so im not sure
thanks again for letting me be a part of this!
nirmal thacker
Hi Nirmal,
Welcome to FSUG.
On Tue, 2005-08-09 at 17:42 +0530, Nirmal Thacker wrote:
what im getting at is will VTU still use open source software? after all if microsoft is playing a huge role in EDUSAT , VTU may feel commited towards them although the use of open source software is beneficial for both them and us.
First, Thank you for showing your support by signing the VTU campaign and most people still don't know about FSUG-Bangalore.That's why we want to do events in Colleges/Schools to introduce them to Free Software.
Regarding your first question, Universities like VTU will be continuing to use proprietary software solution from likes of Microsoft, Matlab and other until we rise up and put forward our ideas. We do not have the marketing muscle or donate Crores of rupees to set up labs in Universities, but with constant and continuous activism we can change the education system.
Secondly, again before joining up for this lists i had decided that i would do my bit for the open source community by distributing CD's like GNU/ linux distros, open source software collection and anything related to it (on cds!) for free.
You need spend your pocket money, Ubuntu project will send any number CD's you want.Once you order it online for free, it will take 4 weeks to get delivered.
The link address is: http://shipit.ubuntulinux.org/
I have a couple of them with me, you can collect them when we meet.
since we have a newsletter in our college, where im actively involved , making announcements are easy.
Perhaps you announce about FSUG-Bangalore there, and do a small write up on VTU FLOSS campaign or just introducing Free Software.
you may then get sponsors to distribute open source stickers, t shirts, etc.
You can also participate in the organising of Stall at LinuxBangalore Event and if you follow up with your college them we can do the same event on Freedom Software Day (Sep 10) in your campus.
one of the best ways to spread anything related to engineering students is by getting involved with the various fests held by the colleges.
Yeah, that's a good idea. Do have a schedules of these events with you.
please send in your replies and opinions. do we have some kinda meetings
We used to meets called as Gnu(s) Grazing, perhaps we will one very soon this month.
Welcome once again Nirmal, and bring all your friends who are interested in Free Software too.
Cheers
Nirmal Thacker wrote:
what im getting at is will VTU still use open source software? after all if microsoft is playing a huge role in EDUSAT , VTU may feel commited towards them although the use of open source software is beneficial for both them and us.
The role of the university is to provide a education to its students - aligning itself with a commercial entity should not be on its agenda. Do question your teachers why you are using tools and course materials which will tie you to a particular vendor instead of learning skills and tools that would enable you to work on any platform. If any of the teachers say that MS technologies are more in demand, feel free to contact me. I will give them a piece of my mind
Secondly, I will restate that approaching the VC is not the correct way to bring about a change. There is a need to tell the students and teachers about why free software is good in education. The change should come from the bottom-up rather than from top-to-down
Secondly, again before joining up for this lists i had decided that i would do my bit for the open source community by distributing CD's like GNU/ linux distros, open source software collection and anything related to it (on cds!) for free.
Don't hand out anything in free. It will only attract freeloaders. Charge a nominal fee for it - remember the free in the free software means "mukt" rather than "muft"
one of the best ways to spread anything related to engineering students is by getting involved with the various fests held by the colleges.
Is your college willing to host such an event ? If they can provide for an auditorium and some desktop machines, an event demoing the capabilities of free software is quite feasible
On 8/9/05, Raj Shekhar rajlist@rajshekhar.net wrote:
Secondly, I will restate that approaching the VC is not the correct way to bring about a change. There is a need to tell the students and teachers about why free software is good in education. The change should come from the bottom-up rather than from top-to-down
There nothing wrong in contacting VC thought I completely agree to your point in spreading awareness to students. Through campaign only we got Free Software included in Kerala high school curriculam. Now every school has a chice between MS windows and GNU/Linux and MS Office and Open Office. By convincing VC of Mysore University we were able to bring in FLOSS in Mysore University too.
Anyway enjoy these pics of VTU campus in Belgaum !!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/vtu/
Top-down and bottom up are two ways of reaching the goal and both has its own pros and cons. I don't think it would have been possible to reach the large number of students if the curriculam didn't have FLOSS.
On Wed, 2005-08-10 at 06:27 -0700, Praveen A wrote:
On 8/9/05, Raj Shekhar rajlist@rajshekhar.net wrote:
Secondly, I will restate that approaching the VC is not the correct way to bring about a change.
There isn't a __correct__ way, the only way is do __something__ about it.And VTU FLOSS Guys have taken the initiative.
That's what matters !!!!
Kudos fellows
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Nirmal Thacker -
Praveen A -
Raj Shekhar -
Rakesh 'Arky' Ambati