[Top][All Lists]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[DS-discuss]NEWS: SEUL... GNU/Linux in education
From: |
Frederick Noronha (FN) |
Subject: |
[DS-discuss]NEWS: SEUL... GNU/Linux in education |
Date: |
Tue, 22 Apr 2003 22:12:56 +0530 (IST) |
URL : http://www.seul.org/edu/report94.html
[1]seul-edu Logo Linux in education report #94
April 21, 2003--A company named [2]I-Silver has announced [3]LUISA,
the Linux Universal Internet Server Application. It appears that this
is primarily an integration effort, with little or no proprietary
software added. Their Spring Special pricing is US $1795.
Lalescu Liviu told us about a [4]genetic algorithm/evolutionary
program that he has written, aimed to automatically schedule the
courses of a faculty/high-school. We haven't tried it yet, but it
looks intriguing.
Chris Puttick's [5]Schoolforge UK organization is developing nicely.
The various localized Schoolforge groups are intended to be something
like LUGs, but with the emphasis on the educational side of the
balance rather than on the Linux side. So rather than having an
occasional educational theme within a more general LUG, the
Schoolforge groups will be focussed on education at all times, with
Linux, open documentation/texts, free curricula, etc. as their regular
topics. Another local Schoolforge group is getting started in Bangkok
(it's unclear as yet whether it will be called Schoolforge Bangkok or
Schoolforge Thailand). We expect to see more in the future.
David Trask was recently interviewed by [6]DesktopLinux.com about his
experiences installing Linux at the Vassalboro Community School. It's
nice to see more interviews like this, and we look forward to the day
when they're so common they won't warrant special articles!
James Smyth has recently ported his DistrictDNA administrative
software package (see the listing below) to Linux. It uses the
Firebird open source SQL database for the database end. The client
side is written using Borland's Delphi RAD environment version 6.0 or
better (professional version). The client currently only runs on
Win32, but James is looking into what would be involved in making a
Linux port of that too.
TJ Miller has updated his Linux curricula:
You will find both the [7]intro and sysadmin courses here. I'm
updating the intro course to align more with Linux+ certification
(not my decision, honest...), btu any and all suggestions and
improvements are more than welcome - I'd be more than happy to host
those improvements as well.
Mark Rauterkus is working with Alpha Chimp Studios to "plan
(instigation and agitation) for a new regional event, a [8]YOUTH
Technology Summit" in Pittsburgh, PA. If you're in the area and want
to help out, visit the website for particulars.
Chris Puttick told us about a new [9]academic helpdesk application
under development at his school:
We are currently paying (peanuts!) for the development of a school
helpdesk system. While primarily for managing IT issues, it has
been designed to allow for other types of request, such as admin
assistance and site repair requests. It's also built to deal
invisibly (from user perspective) with multiple sites (we support 9
schools from here) and could easily scale to an entire LEA [a
district or collection of schools, normally managed at city or
council level, in the UK]. As it understands multiple sites, this
will continue to be the demo server after it goes live (in 2
weeks), so the knowledge base will hopefully become very useful.
Some new applications came to our notice since the last report. Here
are eleven new educational applications we've recently found:
Probity Filtered Proxy Server
Imagine schools and non-profits being able to afford reliable,
fast, custom, clean internet access free of things such as
violenece and pornography. Probity sets out to make that
possible for such organiztions. Probity is a proxy filter
library designed for mainly non-profits and schools, but can be
used by anyone. This project is in inital planning. The filter
is being designed to filter web, chat and file transfer
protocols. Based upon the LGPL license, a Redhat RPM, and being
a complete package allow it to be easily used by schools and
non-profits of all kinds. This ensures that the project is open
source, availble to commercial efforts, protected from
commercial efforts, supports a popular linux distribution and
can make things easy for places such as schools to set it up.
(License: GNU Public License)
[10]http://www.nongnu.org/probity
Vocabulary Trainer
Vocabulary Trainer is a flashcard training system for learning
words in foreign languages. You can use language modules to
change the language of its interface and can choose one of
three learning modes (Random, Often-unknown words, and
Seldom-asked words). (License: Public Domain)
[11]http://free.pages.at/linuxvok/
Project LRNJ
The goal of Project LRNJ is to create an entertaining
console-style RPG which teaches Japanese. Slime Forest is the
first release: a demo of the battle system using graphics from
the upcoming katakana adventure and a training set of 1000
kanji. Its main purpose is to gather data and feedback on
compatibility and effectiveness. (License: Freeware)
[12]http://lrnj.com/
Kanatest
Kanatest is a simple, GTK 2-based kana drill tool. It offers
three drill modes: hiragana, katakana, and mixed mode. The
tester shows random kana characters and waits until you enter
the romaji equivalent in an entry field. At the end, statistics
are provided. (License: GNU Public License)
[13]http://clay.ll.pl/kanatest.html
Diet Monger Ass Kicker
Diet Monger Ass Kicker is a program for designing diets to your
own specifications. It allows nutrients and foods to be sorted
and foods to be filtered. Calculations are made according to
specified minimums and maximums, and using data from SR15.
(License: Freeware)
[14]http://home.edmc.net/~jstory/dmak_details.html
StarDict
StarDict is a international dictionary with many dict data
files. It has powerful features such as glob-style pattern
matching, fuzzy queries, and more. When the user selects a word
in other software, it can pop up a floating window showing the
selected word's meaning. (License: GNU Public License)
[15]http://stardict.cosoft.org.cn/
Metadot Portal Server
The Metadot Portal Server is an open-source point-and-click
website builder that allows non-technical users to build
powerful websites and portals in just a few minutes. Metadot
Portal Server is based on Apache, Perl and MySql, and runs on
Unix-based operating systems like Linux, Solaris, and MacOS X,
as well as Windows. The Metadot Portal Server has been deployed
in many global corporations and leading universities. It is
reliable and scalable, and can support very large communities
of users. Community (free) support is available in the
Community section. Commercial support is also available.
(License: GNU Public License)
[16]http://www.metadot.net
timetable
Automatically schedule the timetable of a faculty (or
high-school) using genetic algorithms. (License: GNU Public
License)
[17]http://algorithms.ro
PMathGen
PMathGen is a random simple math problem generator. From the
operators, format, etc. specified on the command line or in a
worksheet description file, it generates LaTeX and optionally
PostScript files that can be used as math worksheets. (License:
GNU Public License)
[18]http://www.frap.net/kenn/pmathgen
Tux Math Scrabble v2.0
Tux Math Scrabble is a math version of the popular board game
for ages 4-40. Highly entertaining as well as great educational
value. Challenges young people to construct compound equations
and consider multiple abstract possibilities. Three
skill-levels for practice from basic addition and subtraction
through multiplication and division. Great for use in schools
and at home. Runs on Windows and Linux. Written in Python with
PyGame as multimedia toolkit. Kid tested, grownup approved.
Windows/Linux Install Scripts Included. (License: GNU Public
License)
[19]http://www.asymptopia.com
District DNA
District DNA is an open source District and School
Administrative System. It is written using Borland's Delphi RAD
environment and using the Firebird open source database as its
back end. The client portion runs on Win32 environments
(Windows 2000 or above) recommended. The backend (Firebird) run
on any Firebird compliant system (Windows, Linux etc). I use
Linux at my school district. The software covers district
information, school information, student information, employee
information, grades, course scheduling, master schedule,
attendance, discipline, awards, activities, medical records,
SST, 504 plans, alumni, advisory committees, competency based
education, Special Education (state of Massachusetts USA only),
state reporting (state of Massachusetts USA), student parking
permits, staff parking permits etc. It is very high performance
(scheduling for 1200 students about 30 seconds). It is licensed
under the open software licence 1.1 (License: Open Software)
[20]www.districtdna.com
[21]Previous Current Report is [22]Report 94 [23]Next
Please report any technical problems to address@hidden
References
1. http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/index.html
2. http://www.isilver-inc.com/
3. http://www.isilver-inc.com/solutions/servers.html
4. http://algorithms.ro/
5. http://schoolforge.org.uk/
6. http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8952848817.html
7. http://penguinisto.serverpro2.com/linux/
8. http://summit.cloh.org/
9. http://helpdesk.centralmanclc.com/
10. http://www.nongnu.org/probity
11. http://free.pages.at/linuxvok/
12. http://lrnj.com/
13. http://clay.ll.pl/kanatest.html
14. http://home.edmc.net/%7Ejstory/dmak_details.html
15. http://stardict.cosoft.org.cn/
16. http://www.metadot.net/
17. http://algorithms.ro/
18. http://www.frap.net/kenn/pmathgen
19. http://www.asymptopia.com/
20. http://www.districtdna.com/
21. http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/report93.html
22. http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/report94.html
23. http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/report95.html
24. mailto:address@hidden
[Prev in Thread] |
Current Thread |
[Next in Thread] |
- [DS-discuss]NEWS: SEUL... GNU/Linux in education,
Frederick Noronha (FN) <=