Open Source in Education

 

PresentersAaron GrillDirector of Technology The Browning School, NYC Robert MillerDirector of Information and Communication TechnologiesNew Canaan Public Schools, CT

William StitesDirector of TechnologyThe Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJEmail: wstites@mka.org / Twitter: twitter.com/wstites  

Follow Along and Chat

Google Presentation• http://tinyurl.com/yh3s2s9 Chat Room• http://www.ustream.tv/channel/aaron-grill

 OPEN SOURCE• Source code:

o Available to publico Modifiableo May be redistributed

• Community of developers • Free•  Support can be

community based or paid• Open Source Initiative

FREEWARE • Free• Developer chose free

distribution• Source Code not available• Distribution from

developers site only 

SHAREWARE • Free for limited/trial period• Developer owns rights• Source Code not available• No collaborative

community• Payment often required

Open Source, Freeware & Shareware

Open Philosophy- Creating a Balance

• Moodle running on a Apple, Linux or Windows Server• Moodle integration with Turnitin, VoiceThread or Google• Moodle integration with Apple Open Directory, Microsoft

Active Directory or any LDAP Server • PDF Creator installed on all computers in district• Audacity recording and mixes imported into Microsoft Movie

Maker • OpenOffice's ability to share documents with Microsoft

Office • Choice of hardware

Common Misconceptions... Concerns

• There is no support for open source software• Not as secure as paid software• Harder to learn• Harder to support internally• Software is inferior to paid software• Requires linux• No or slower updates to software • Free is NOT Open Source 

o What happens when no longer free, updated, or supported by software company?

Do's and Don'ts

Do:• Create pilot groups when

first trying out a new Open Source project

•  Make sure that you have your support options clearly outlined

• Spend time testing as every type of user. 

 

Don't:• Rush into an Open Source

solution and implement School wide right away

• Assume because it is free there are no costs

Open Source/Free  Apps vs.  Traditional Software

Open Source Open OfficeGimpScratch (free under CC)ScribusFirefox   

Traditional Microsoft WordAdobe PhotoshopMicroworldsInDesign/Quark Internet Explorer

Open Source Web Apps

Moodle - CoursewareWordpress (and Wordpress MU) - BloggingJoomla - Content ManagementDrupal - Content ManagementGallery2 - Photo ManagementZencart - Online StoreElgg - Social Networking Mahara - ePortfoliosOpenSIS - Student Information System Samples at

Open Source - "Back End"

• Nagios - Network monitoring• Untangle - Firewall/Content filter • AMP - Apache, MySQL, PHP• NMAP - Security scanning• Linux - Operating System • MySQL - Database

One Click Installs on Web Host

Web Hosts with One Click Installs• Dreamhost• Siteground (using Fantastico)• Bluehost

 

Supported Open Source Hosting

• Moodle Rooms • Open Academic • Remote-Learner.net

Examples:WordPress: • Irish Studies - http://irishstudies.mka.org • WAMash - http://www.wamash.com 

 Moodle:• MKA - http://moodle.mka.org

Sandbox Websites    Feel free to demo the websites. They will be available through the weekend at the links below.

Gallery• http://sandbox.browning.edu/gallery• user "admin" pass "panther"

 

Joomla • http://sandbox.browning.edu/joomla• user "admin" pass "panther"

 

 Moodle• http://sandbox.browning.edu/moodle• Admin - user "admin" pass "panther"• Teacher - user "teacher" pass "panther"• Student - user "student" pass "panther"

 

Wordpress• http://sandbox.browning.edu/wordpress• user "admin" pass "panther

 

Examples: DatabaseGraduation Requirements

K-5 Language Arts

• MySQL Database• PHP Web Design• On-site developer

employed by districto Risk & Reward

• Custom Databases

Articles and References• “EDUPUNK: Open Source Education” -

http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/1514 and http://jimgroom.net/presentations/

•  SchoolForge - http://www.schoolforge.net/• EduForge - https://eduforge.org/ • NYCIST April 2009 Meeting Notes -

http://nycist.wikispaces.com/April+2009+Meeting+Notes• "When Free Isn’t Free: The realities of running open

source in school" -  http://www.techlearning.com/article/16504

• "How the Open Source Movement Has Changed Education: 10 Success Stories" - http://oedb.org/library/features/how-the-open-source-movement-has-changed-education-10-success-stories

• Find Open Source Alternative Software - http://www.osalt.com/