[plug] Linux in _home_ education

[Bill Kenworthy]

Adding some more to a private response I gave to Leon earlier, the
thread of which is here:

Biggest problem faced is compatibility:
	Kids will want to share files with compatriots, supervisors etc. if not
using the same machine etc.  In the education world compatibility means
M$Office, on Mac's or PC's.  There are also the games and utilities that
kids use and share.  You will have lost the war if you depend on the
Linux utilities that are available to convert back and forward.

Second problem is who will do the SysAdmin:
	Kids should focus on learning - the youngest have a big enough problem
learning the 3r's without having to fight with a difficult environment. 
I know, unix style logins, permissions etc. just don't cut it with the
young unless someone older and knowledgeable is there ***ALL*** the
time.  Older kids learn and are capable, but if you don't trust them
(content control, web site access etc. which many parents want), will
you give them root access, and if not, how much skill/time will a parent
or supervisor require to do these tasks.  As an example, think how much
skill is required to install windows net nanny or similar and how many
downloads, commands and personnel time and the KNOWLEDGE it would
require to give similar protection to a Linux home PC (i know ISP
packages can help here, but this is an example, and do you trust your
ISP in this area?)  I have been using a "captive" environment for my
youngest and have gradually been freeing it up, adding passwords etc. as
he learns the skills needed to understand the environment grow, but this
takes knowledge and technical skills that many do not have or can afford
the time for.

	I have met some people who do home schooling for various reasons and
many (but not most) of the people in this area seem to be wary of
technology (computers are frightening things and the Internet is
unimaginable), and they have difficulties coming to terms with it - a
market windows with its emphasis on ease of use is still far better for
someone with limited technical abilities.  After all, they will have
gone with home schooling because they are not happy with some aspect of
mainstream education, not because they hate windows or want to learn
Linux, or even computers for that matter.  As others have said, the cost
advantage, the freedom of what you use and how it it is used should be
pushed, but I am not sure how to overcome the ease of use issue.  If you
think Linux is easy to use for the new PC user, you should spend some
time in the newbie news groups!  Its getting better, but perhaps a
special education distro with the right bundled software, and perhaps
remote admin from someone with both educational and SysAdmin knowledge? 

Now there's a potentially profitable niche market!

BillK 

David Griffiths wrote:
> 
> >
> >What points should I be careful not to miss?
> >
> 
> The biggest barrier for a lot of people to using linux at home for anything
> I think is still the difficulty of installation and learning to use the new
> OS vs using the windows that is most likely already installed, running
> software that most people are already familiar with.
> 
> I'd suggest including some creative ways of making that hurdle a manageable
> one, eg inviting the 14 yearold linux whiz down the street to do the
> install and some basic training in return for some pizza (or whatever has
> currency with 14 year olds these days) etc etc.
> 
> cheers,
> 
> Dave.