teaching in NYC DOE --urge for edubuntu

[Adam Schwartz]

Thanks for all the great advice!

This will indeed be a struggle, to use Edubuntu--or any Linux--in NYC
schools.

The push-back in the NYC DOE seems to be top-down. On my first morning of
campaigning, I was told by our building tech (from Central) that Linux is
not a "permitted operating system" within the DOE, and that computers
utilizing this system will not be serviced for software--only hardware.
Sadly, this applies even in the case of a dual boot install--a "back door
for viruses" that could compromise the entire system.

It seems that this policy is more about contracts than common sense.

Its not surprise that large systems are resistant to change, but  we are a
school in the specialized Innovation Zone. I had hoped for more
possibilities.

The Tech called me a Revolutionary. But really, this battle is too big for
me.
(open to your ideas)

As it is now, I'll have to start small, to investigate the ease of running
virtual Edubuntu.




On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 1:01 PM, Don Davie <dedavie at gmail.com> wrote:

> I agree with Charles, A well rounded tech that can objectively look at the
> pros and cons of all software is a major plus.   the biggest issue we have
> encountered with opensource and Ubuntu is teacher buy-in.  They are
> comforitable with Microsoft products and that has been the single road block
> to my tech plan.  Our english department went crazy when we didn't puchase
> MS Office!  I even created tutorials on how to open/save
> OpenOffice/LibreOffice in MS Word and a teacher inservice on OpenSource
> software :)
>
> our high school is on a college campus, and we are not allowed to have a
> server.  Our SIS uses a LMS (similar to moodle) through Pearson.  It handles
> a good chunk of the homework submission and exams.  We send out a flyer home
> with our students with direction on how to create a Gmail Account or a
> Hotmail account and the importance of backing up their documents.
>
> We also use windows embeddid for print stations.  It allows the students to
> load a thumbdrive and print any doccument without the worry about them
> toying around with the OS.
>
> each student has been issued a laptop with DeepFreeze from Feronics.
> Its.... ok.  Nothing is ever 100% effective and some of my students are
> expert hackers.  I end up recloneing their drives after each semester :)
>
> I am expereminting with Netbook version of Ubunto on our netbooks to
> replace the Win7 Starter.  Hopefully our english department will begin to
> see that there are friendlier alternatives available.
>
> If you need more info, im here to help anyone on the list
> Don E. Davie
> University Preparatory High School
> 915 S Mooney Blvd
> Visalia, CA 93277
> 559-737-5455
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 5:40 PM, Adam Schwartz <aschwartz at aupnyc.org>wrote:
>
>> howdy ubunteurs
>>
>> I'm an educator (hope I got the right list!)
>> I'm a teacher in the NYC dept of education, where I have ended up as the
>> go to tech guy as well.
>>
>> I use ubuntu 10.4 at home on a dell desktop, and just got a 10.4 acer
>> aspire one netbook--just installed edubuntu suite on that. anyway, I am
>> writing because., I want to start using it at s
>> My school is lucky enought to have been chosen at an IZONE school for next
>> year, and we are actually hiring a tech guy!
>>
>> My school is lucky enough to have been chosen at an IZONE<http://schools.nyc.gov/community/innovation/izone/default.htm>school for next year, and we are actually hiring a tech guy!
>>
>> chool.
>>
>> My school is lucky enought to have been chosen at an IZONE school for next
>> year, and we are actually hiring a tech guy!
>>
>> but I hate the idea of having 100's of WinX or even Macs running in our
>> classrooms--just more targets for malware and game software. that's why I
>> want to go for edubuntu
>>
>> Any NYCDOE teachers out there? anyone have any advice for adopting
>> edubuntu for a serverless school environment--(using google docs and online
>> storage systems)
>>
>> thanks!
>>
>> --
>> Adam J Schwartz
>> The Academy of Urban Planning
>>
>> --
>> ubuntu-education mailing list
>>
>> ubuntu-education at lists.ubuntu.com
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>>
>>
>


-- 
Adam J Schwartz
The Academy of Urban Planning
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