Re: [debian-edu] Re: We are asking the teachers: [Re: choosing software applications]
On Mon, Mar 07, 2005 at 04:34:04PM +0100, Ralf Gesel|ensetter wrote:
> Furthermore, I believe hat kids of today are much more used to cope with
> a multiplicity of options that most of us teachers.
Yeah, when I grew up, keyboards had ~50-60 keys on them, and video game
controllers were typically a stick and one button.
I realize that's a silly comment (and obvioulsy I've been a video game
fanatic for most of my years ;^) ), but I think it does point out how much
more complicated things have become, yet kids still seem to cope.
<snip>
> Raising "one app per task" to a maxime seems rather contraproductive to
> me. We have to consider that _using_ Skolelinux at the same time is
> _evaluating_ its advantages. By cutting off this and that from the very
> beginning we prevent teachers from knowing software that otherwise
> could become a "killer application" one day.
Indeed. Tux Paint, for example, is /pretty much/ one-of-a-kind in the
Open Source arena (I think the GCompris suite, which includes drawing
functionality, is the closest 'competitor'), so I'm lucky that I get
nearly 100% of the exposure when it comes to drawing program for kids
that's free (as in FLOSS). I get ALL the feedback. :^)
But even if there were some other popular competitor, I would strive to
be included places like Skolelinux for a number of reasons, and one of them
is exactly what you said: I want people out there evaluating it and giving
me feedback.
That kind of feedback loop is one of the main reasons I release software as
Open Source to begin with! (That and it's a lot easier[*] to give stuff
away than to bother trying to sell it ;^) )
-bill!
[*] In the sense of technical and business hurdles. However, the popular
software sites for Windows are VERY tough places to get OSS listed.
It's VERY depressing! I don't have $80 bucks to give to CNet just so
they can list my completely free application! >:^(
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