Re: What do you want to do
I have recently joined this list as I too would like to contribute and
assist the project to move forward. I have also put my hand up on the SEUL
list to sort out there what is ready to package. Hopefully these tasks will
work in parallel with DebianEdu.
I'm still finding my way about, but I can assist with some of your queries:
I'm talking a lot, but I've only just started to look into this
kind of thing, and so I'm not really confident about approaching
schools yet. What I would like to be able to do is put the
maintenance of Debian networks into the hands of teachers and
students, so that they won't rely on outside contracts for help.
I'm looking for some other people to work with.
I want to know about existing movements in this direction, and
to be able to point out success stories of Linux (and especially
Debian) in schools.
A lot of people that attended the EducationaLinux mini-conf
(http://plug.linux.org.au/~leonb/lca2003/) prior to Linux.conf.au 2003 have
formed a list to discuss, implement, and assist with a lot of what you are
trying to achieve.
The list has been set up by the organiser of the mini-conf:
http://lists.linux.org.au/listinfo/allies
I'd also like to see Linux contractors being able to take on
the kind of large contracts that many of our schools sign, as
a kind of direct competition with the contractors that install
and maintain networks of mainstream OS. I'd like to know how,
in general, these existing, often multi-year contracts would
affect efforts to install linux. Do they ever have clauses
that prohibit the co-networking of other machines, for example?
Also, in Western Australia we have set up the Society of Linux
Professionals (Western Australia) Inc (http://www.slpwa.asn.au/) so that
smaller ICT consultants that promote and encourage the use of OSS including
Linux can work with or by their peers. We have been able to submit for
large tenders, now that we know we have the people resources. As yet we
have not been successful, but just getting the words into the documents is
providing worthwhile advocacy.
There is a SLPWA member that is currently rolling out a LTSP in his school
that we are hoping to showcase.
But I'm sure that you will find people closer to you either in the
EducationalLinux mini-conf programme or on the ALLIES list that will be
able to answer your more specific questions. Policies wrt contracts differ
from state to state depending who negotiated those contracts.
All the best
Jacqueline McNally
http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/users/zenryaku/
Community Contact, Australia/New Zealand
OpenOffice.org Marketing Project
(www.openoffice.org)
Are you a computer angel? (www.ca.asn.au)
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