Re: [Dfey-general-discuss] Remember *that* meeting?....

[Paul Sutton]

On 03/08/10 10:50, Joe O'Dell wrote:
> Hello All,
> 
> It seems such a long time ago since we held the meeting at the hackspace - 
> and nothing really has been done since!
> 
> I've got a lot of free time now, as I've just come back from holiday, so I am 
> willing to get cracking on the main idea - a booklet describing and 
> explaining FOSS in schools.
> 
> Here are the key points that I think should be included - please add points 
> or expand on them, but bear in mind it is a booklet, not an essay!
> 
> 1. Introducing FOSS
> Describe (in short terms) the philosophy of FOSS, the fact it has nil cost, 
> and that it is improved and repaired by the whole community?
> 
> 2. Taking Baby Steps
> Here should be ideas of the first things a school should use if it were going 
> to change over to FOSS - things like OpenOffice.org, Moodle, Firefox, 
> Audacity and Inkscape.
> 
> Do a "Popular Misconceptions" section like "Oh, it's open source so I can't 
> lock it down - FALSE: Many applications that are open source can be locked 
> down, and some made even more secure than proprietary alternatives"
> Perhaps it would be worth getting some of us to ask IT 
> Teachers/Lecturers/Technicians what their main fears/thoughts about using 
> FOSS are? I can ask mine when we get back in september.
> 
> Also talk about the open education disc?
> 
> 3. Complete Overhaul/Starting Afresh
> Explain that if they are thinking of a complete overhaul, or if they are just 
> venturing into IT Solutions, that Linux and FOSS alternatives are a key 
> player.
> Expand on the cost aspects, the compatability, the fact there are not 
> viruses, that it can be locked down heavily (sometimes even more secure than 
> MS), and the fact that it is much more resource-friendly.
> 
> Give options such as Ubuntu (Edubuntu for Primary schools) for desktops, Easy 
> Peasy for laptops (based on ubuntu), SmoothWall for proxy filtering, Ubuntu 
> Server/CentOS as an alternative to WIndows Server.
> 
> 4. Providing Resources
> I am thinking that it would be worth including CDs/DVDs of Ubuntu, Ubuntu 
> Server, SmoothWall, the OpenEducationDisc and perhaps another distribution 
> (fedora? I can get a fair amount of fedora dvds direct from fedora if you 
> want them). These could then go into plastic wallets at the back?
> 
> The only reason I am thinking this is because we are only going to send them 
> to schools/LEAs - not hand them out in public - and as such if we can ply 
> them with as much FOSS stuff as possible, they have a higher rate of using it.
> 
> Also include links to DFEY, Ubuntu etc. etc. - please add them if you want to 
> see them here!
> 
> So that's my idea at the moment - the only thing I will request is an EPS of 
> the DFEY logo - as we discussed at the hackspace, FOSS DTP software is far 
> from brilliant, and as I have a Quark license, I am happy to build it on that.
> 
> Finally, there is the printing (and postage) charges for all of this - 
> Outsourcing printing is the only reasonable option, as in-house printing on 
> an A4 inkjet is going to look terrible. The only problem being paying for it.
> However, there is O2 ThinkBig that can provide up to £2000 for projects - 
> this fits into their "Learning" category - as well as providing mobile 
> credit, a laptop and internet etc. etc.. If we could tap into that, it could 
> pay for a print run of the booklets, plus postage, plus media.
> 
> Please, give me as many ideas as you can - I am definitely all ears.
> 
> Joe
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Joe O'Dell



Sounds good to me,  can the dclug Jump in on this one,  as we are
looking at doing something similar,  so i have no problem burning copies
of the opencd for use locally (torbay)

As I am working to promote dfey in the south west then any resources
would be useful,

some useful links

http://theingots.org/
on a related (savings) note
http://theingots.org/community/ITQdevelopment sounds excellent 4 figure
sums of savings,

Perhaps they would be interestred in helping or even sponsoring, esp if
you can give them some space to write articles etc

Paul.




> 
> GreenerClassrooms Project Co-Ordinator
> http://www.greenerclassrooms.org.uk
> 
> Fedora Ambassador & Contributor (FreeMedia)
> http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/User:Ascenseur
> 
> bedsLUG Co-Ordinator
> beds.lug.org.uk
> 
> DFEY Member (SouthEast)
> dfey.org
> 
> 
> 
> 


-- 
Next Paignton meeting - Saturday 7th August 2010 - 3pm Lighthouse, Paignton,
Next Holsworthy Meeting -  Saturday 21st August @ The White Hart,
Holsworthy.


Thursday 22nd Tea Party 2pm - 5pm
Saturday 31st Salsa Night 8pm - 12:30
please e-mail address@hidden for more details.


SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY 2010
SATURDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2010  - LIGHTHOUSE, PAIGNTON