Linux in Schools?
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User
10 posts
Posted: 15/04/2009 1:04 PM
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Has anybody noticed how the Windows fans on this thread - and in general for that matter - can't spell or punctuate correctly? The posts from Sp33d d3mon, NetR@nger and tim2hawkes demonstrate borderline illiteracy IMHO.
Eg., this is from tim2hawkes:
>> yes
>> its a windows world
>> Im only 14 and I run everything windows
>> win mobile on 2 phones 3 win laptops all win desktops
>> ITs what you learn with
>> WINDOWS the only sensible choice
Okay, I know that you're only 14, Timmy, but have you never come across commas, full stops, capital letters (other than for SHOUTING!) or apostrophes before? Here, show this to your English teacher and ask him to explain why it doesn't look like your own version:
"Yes, it's a Windows world. I'm only 14 and I run everything on Windows: Win Mobile on two phones, three Win laptops and all Win desktops. It's what you learn with Windows; the only sensible choice."
I know we all make typos here and there, but if you can't spell and punctuate properly then you can't articulate your thoughts properly. In other words, you can't *think* properly.
And *that*, boys and girls, is one reason why we still have so many Windows fans in the world.
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Consultant training facilitator
Advanced Forumologist
186 posts
Posted: 15/04/2009 4:04 PM
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Nicely said BrownieBoy. I am staggered at the poor literacy levels (borne of an inability, spell, form proper sentences or use grammar and punctuation) of people on the many fora that I read from Australia and other English speaking countries. It is completely understandable when English is not a person's first language, but when it is that is another issue especially in an age of spelling checkers (yes, spelling checkers, not spell checkers - we're not witches and warlocks) and grammar checkers. All I need to read is another piece of research that "proves" text-language is not interfering with literacy. GARBAGE!
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User
105 posts
Posted: 15/04/2009 7:04 PM
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Well what can you say about transcribing on windows mobile.
BrownieBoys post was quite realistic and opened my eyes to what I saw to be a new forum post
And After reading his enlightenment I must argue that my original post shared similarities to
what he had written.
The moral here: Don’t use a transcriber unless your handwriting is nearing perfection
Typed on a pc
Not a tablet or windows phone
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New user
14 posts
Posted: 16/05/2009 9:05 PM
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Me In Oz wrote:
We provide some schools here in Qld with hardware and software (Both Win and Mac) !
The answer to whether the gov will endorse Linux is a resounding "NO" because of the reason I have been saying all along about Linux ...............
-It is not a newb/novice friendly OS
-It doesn't support many common apps
-Too many hidden functions which need CLI expertise
-But the biggy is ............. There is NO official support !!!
Most of my techies cringe at the thought of going out to machines running Linux because it is just so hit-and-miss and we are thinking as to whether we should continue with this offered service. There are way too many distros and versions of distros to try and find solutions for that most of the time it is simply left, and us having to say to the customer "I'm sorry" (with no charge) or upgrade to an OS that has genuine support and drivers for common hardware !
I'm not bagging Linux !
Just trying to point out that Linux will never be used in the average computing environment as long as there are a million people contributing to a kernel/code which is written to suit a million different individuals.
The argument by some which say "my grandma is using Linux" doesn't stack up because the person saying this is available to his grandma for IT support 24/7 ........ Most users don't have this luxury !
I think that Linux in schools is a great idea, not wasting money on MS licenses.
Let me argue a few of your points, Me In Oz.
1. "It is not a newb/novice friendly OS" - Try Ubuntu now. You'll be surprised.
2. "It doesn't support many common apps" - There is a MS-compatible Linux equivalent for every MS app. For those areas who don't have a Linux equivalent, the WINE package reliably runs Windows programs in Linux.
3. "Too many hidden functions which need CLI expertise" - No way. Sorry!
4. "But the biggy is ............. There is NO official support !!!" - You can buy support from Canonical for example, the developers of Ubuntu. If not, there are free forums everywhere with thousands of helpful members.
I'm sorry, Me In Oz, you fail.
Oh and by the way, I'm using Ubuntu Jaunty right now, and have never been happier or worry-free.
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CEO Home Computer Systems(HCS)
New user
50 posts
Posted: 22/05/2009 5:05 PM
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BrownieBoy wrote:
The posts from Sp33d d3mon, NetR@nger and tim2hawkes demonstrate
BrownieBoy,i am on a forum not in an english class,you fool!!.How dare you call me illiterate!.I hold a diploma in i.t as well as a degree in computer engineering!. I also run a very successful computer distributorship,have a pilots license as well as my own aircraft!!!,so what have you achieved??.AND YOUR CALLING ME ILLITERATE,please.F%@K you.
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User
105 posts
Posted: 23/05/2009 7:05 PM
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Be fair brownie fob lives with his mother.
He may be fat but dont laugh
he may not be able to do much due to his disability but still
grammar is all he has.
Apart from his dads Ba115
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User
77 posts
Posted: 23/05/2009 9:05 PM
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Delan Ahmad wrote:
Try Ubuntu now. You'll be surprised.
I have tried Ubuntu 8.xx a few times and found it atrocious.
- Couldn't get drivers for a 4 year old network card.
- Couldn't get my SB Audigy 2 card working.
- Couldn't get drivers for my TV Tuner card.
- At that time the ATI Graphics support was nearly non-existent.
- A few dozen hours trawling the Linux websites for help/support yeilded nothing but frustration and abuse.
- Couldn't get a few apps to run properly (mainly POS apps we use for work and Quicken was also a no go!)
- And lets not get started on online gaming or gaming in general !
................ etc etc etc !!!
Delan Ahmad wrote:
There is a MS-compatible Linux equivalent for every MS app.
EVERY App ? .................... You are delusional !
Delan Ahmad wrote:
No way. Sorry!
You ought to be! You Linux geeks are proud of the fact there are those secret and hidden functions that only the secret society of Linux geeks can access!
Delan Ahmad wrote:
I'm sorry, Me In Oz, you fail.
Again, you ought to be! And I didn't know it was a competition!
I'm mainly a gamer and our customers are gamers! Linux IS NOT an OS for this market!
Delan Ahmad wrote:
and have never been happier or worry-free.
Great! If you ever diversify away from word processing and spreadsheets into gaming, then let us all in how happy you are at getting a copy of Crysis or GTA IV running in SLi or Crossfire hardware on a Linux rig!
I can tell you now that it will be you who will fail in this situation!
Cheers
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New user
3 posts
Posted: 24/05/2009 7:05 AM
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I'm a teacher in Queensland and I'll tell you now that there is no way that Linux will be put into schools in Queensland because most of my fellow teachers DO NOT like any change no matter how small.
1. We use a lot of old computers and hardware and imagine having to get drivers for all that hardware. We also have over the years spent thousands of dollars on software which will NOT run on linux machines!
2. Teachers on the whole are very conservative and over 90%++ run Windows in their homes and expect the same at school.
3. They are not very computer literate even in the Windows world.
4. Teachers main job is to teach there priority is not to go out and learn all about a new operating system and different programs. Most are just getting comfortable using Excel and PowerPoint. Don't ask them to "learn" another program which they haven't got at home.
5. Most are comfortable in using XP because they still use that at home.
The department even doesn't feel most teachers can handle a change to Vista or Office 2007 let a totally unfamiliar operating environment and programs.
6. We all help one another and imagine if Linux was suddenly dropped onto us. We wouldn't know how to get a printer operating or fix the small issues which now at least some one on staff can do. Schools do not have techies on hand even now. We muddle on as best we can.
It is a complete joke to imagine Queensland schools suddenly being told we are going to use Linux. There would be an uproar and I for one would be very angry. I have never used linux and I have not the time to try to "learn" it. I couldn't sudden;y tell my wife who is even less confident around computers we are ditching Windows at home and going linux because that is what I now use at school!!
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CEO Home Computer Systems(HCS)
New user
50 posts
Posted: 24/05/2009 7:05 AM
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I must admit,i don't like change(Unless its for the better).
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New user
162 posts
Posted: 24/05/2009 8:05 AM
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Hey Argurios, it's good to see some input from a teacher.
My mother was a primary school teacher, and I always found the constant changing of curriculum and resources she was expected to learn each year ridiculous. My personal experience is limited to attending in the private school system (not the rich ones - internet wasn't introduced until 2000 or so).
What does your school use computers for? They weren't well utilised when I was a student (even Computer Studies would have been better done on pen and paper at the time). I assume it's more than just Excel and Powerpoint.
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