Education 2.0: The next evolution of school software has arrived
A detailed story on the use of open technology platforms in school education
Aiming to customize their solutions to meet the individual needs of teachers and students, a growing number of school systems are ushering in a new breed of school software that relies on open technologies – whether it's open-source software on their servers and desktops, or so-called Web 2.0 services available free of charge online. Economics and advancements in technology are fueling this latest trend in school software, proponents of the movement say – but it's also about customization, and the desire to employ a variety of solutions as users see fit.
I think ,that we have gone from dare to imagine, to imagine what is truly possible
Within five years, Hirsch predicts, not a single desktop in this 52,000-student school system in metropolitan Dallas will carry the image of a proprietary school software program. Gone will be the familiar Microsoft applications and desktop icons that over the years have become synonymous with document creation. In their place will be a suite of lesser-known, but equally capable alternatives--or, what Hirsch likes to call "open technologies."Though some might see his plans as ambitious, Hirsch is hardly alone in his dreams. Plano ISD is part of a fast-growing cadre of school districts across the country actively exploring the use of free web-based services and open-source school software alternatives.
Last summer, the state of Indiana announced a plan to deploy more than 24,000 computers with Linux operating systems in its schools. At the time, the project--called inAccess--represented the largest single distribution of Linux-based technology in U.S. K-12 schools (see story: Desktop Linux rolls into Indiana). Experts estimate the deployment could expand to more than 170,000 desktops across the state by the end of this year.
It was comedian Bill Bailey that said, People often ask me if I am an optomist, and I say, I hope so.
And in a recent post here we quoted Bruce Sterling who said
The future of the Internet lies not with institutions but with individuals. Low-cost connections will proliferate, encouraging creativity, collaboration
So at last a chance for every child?
Though industry watchers say it's unrealistic to think schools eventually will abandon proprietary software products in favor of open alternatives, the thinking among many district technology coordinators is that, as the market for open technologies in education expands, schools will enjoy the luxury of shopping for solutions aligned with students' and teachers' specific needs--regardless of platform.
And
Unlike proprietary software solutions that come shipped in boxes with complex license agreements attached, open technologies--the vast majority of which are downloadable over the internet at no cost--give schools the freedom to mix and match tools based on the needs of students and faculty, proponents of the movement say. What's more, many of them are available sans licensing agreement, which means schools can use them wherever and however they want, free of charge.
John Stuart Mill in writing On Liberty in 1859 said
Human nature is not a machine to be built after a model, and set to do exactly the work prescribed for it, but a tree, which requires to grow and develop itself on all sides, according to the tendency of the inward forces which make it a living thing
Like in business, human creativity is exponential, when it is unfettered, grassroots and allowed to flourish, I think that is what Mill was on about.
The industrial revolution was an abberation, in complete contrast to the natural world. If our world is going to be built on knowledge, knowledge creation etc., then we need a very different type of educated citizen.
For example Hirsch
is working with a U.K.-based firm called Editure to create an educational portal that will feature a whole suite of customizable solutions for use by teachers and students. Using an open-source model, Hirsch said, the portal would query the district's different informational databases, automatically pulling up learning resources, grading information, and other school-related applications based on a set of personal preferences and restrictions assigned to the individual, whether it's a teacher, a student, or an administrator.
Finally
As a next step, Hirsch says he is looking into how open technologies can be used in conjunction with cell phones, PSPs, and other portable devices to connect with students on the go."You have to think about being adaptable," said Hirsch. "I don't just want to connect with these kids in schools, I want connect with them outside the local Starbuck's, or wherever they are."
Other relevant posts on the CDB blog:
The education podcast network ||
Consortium for School Networking
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