Comments on: Open Source and Open Learning http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/ At home with Jono Bacon, Community Manager and Author Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:24:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jaduncan http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-129000 jaduncan Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:35:43 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-129000 <p>OLPC. All day every day. Although I've often thought that Ubuntu should offer hosting space for Ubuntu related projects like OSS charities and outreach.</p> <p>Are there any plans for that?</p> OLPC. All day every day. Although I’ve often thought that Ubuntu should offer hosting space for Ubuntu related projects like OSS charities and outreach.

Are there any plans for that?

]]> By: jono http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128972 jono Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:01:15 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128972 <p>I can't remember the name of the center now (it was a long time ago), and I have no idea if it is still there.</p> <p>Unfortunately, there is no documentation from the work. When I get some time, I might try and write something up from what I remember.</p> I can’t remember the name of the center now (it was a long time ago), and I have no idea if it is still there.

Unfortunately, there is no documentation from the work. When I get some time, I might try and write something up from what I remember.

]]> By: InfectedWithDrew http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128971 InfectedWithDrew Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:17:25 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128971 <p>I am a new member of the New York LoCo and I forwarded this post to our mailing list.</p> <p>I'm very interested in setting Ubuntu up on junk computers. I installed it on a fiend's family's failing computers that ran XP and were inundated with viruses, and I know that most regular Americans live under such conditions. It would be nice to see some of the more competent and courageous ones taking the plunge and trying Ubuntu.</p> I am a new member of the New York LoCo and I forwarded this post to our mailing list.

I’m very interested in setting Ubuntu up on junk computers. I installed it on a fiend’s family’s failing computers that ran XP and were inundated with viruses, and I know that most regular Americans live under such conditions. It would be nice to see some of the more competent and courageous ones taking the plunge and trying Ubuntu.

]]> By: Antonio Roberts http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128961 Antonio Roberts Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:54:54 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128961 <p>I use GIMP, Inkscape and Blender quite a bit. I find them very useful but totally agree that it's hard to get others using them, especially when they're used to Adobe/proprietary software.</p> <p>I think to get their interest you should definitely show some more famous examples e.g. Blender was used for Spiderman films and many electronic artists and musicians use Pure:Data, Supercollider and others.</p> I use GIMP, Inkscape and Blender quite a bit. I find them very useful but totally agree that it’s hard to get others using them, especially when they’re used to Adobe/proprietary software.

I think to get their interest you should definitely show some more famous examples e.g. Blender was used for Spiderman films and many electronic artists and musicians use Pure:Data, Supercollider and others.

]]> By: Antonio Roberts http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128960 Antonio Roberts Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:47:22 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128960 <p>Is that community space still in Aston? I live near there and have unfortunately never herad of it. Also, was there any documentation of it?</p> <p>I'm trying to start something similar and it'd be great to hear more of your experiences!</p> Is that community space still in Aston? I live near there and have unfortunately never herad of it. Also, was there any documentation of it?

I’m trying to start something similar and it’d be great to hear more of your experiences!

]]> By: Odysseus Flappington http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128959 Odysseus Flappington Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:33:14 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128959 <p>Actually, this biggest problem for these people is actually getting online.</p> <p>"Disadvantaged people" often live in areas which dont have broadband.</p> <p>Have you ever set-up a dial-up modem in Linux? It's not easy hey.</p> <p>Additionally, these "disadvantaged people" that I speak of are people that are often extremely non-technical. They get support from friends and family who all know windows 2000/xp, you can't give them a machine with linux and say well, support's not our problem.</p> <p>A pirated copy of XP will be on there within the day.</p> <p>Once they're online, then they would actually settle in very quickly. Kids, especially, their heads are like sponges. But most of the time, the support required to get the machine set-up and online is something that charities can't afford.</p> Actually, this biggest problem for these people is actually getting online.

“Disadvantaged people” often live in areas which dont have broadband.

Have you ever set-up a dial-up modem in Linux? It’s not easy hey.

Additionally, these “disadvantaged people” that I speak of are people that are often extremely non-technical. They get support from friends and family who all know windows 2000/xp, you can’t give them a machine with linux and say well, support’s not our problem.

A pirated copy of XP will be on there within the day.

Once they’re online, then they would actually settle in very quickly. Kids, especially, their heads are like sponges. But most of the time, the support required to get the machine set-up and online is something that charities can’t afford.

]]> By: Keithpeter http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128946 Keithpeter Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:14:18 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128946 <p>Hello Andy</p> <p>Yup, I'm pushing for ELGG but a start with Moodle will help reassure people that the students can focus and work within sensible rules that they negotiate themselves (so we can remove the 'rules' built into the software through permissions and roles).</p> Hello Andy

Yup, I’m pushing for ELGG but a start with Moodle will help reassure people that the students can focus and work within sensible rules that they negotiate themselves (so we can remove the ‘rules’ built into the software through permissions and roles).

]]> By: andylockran http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128939 andylockran Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:25:29 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128939 <p>Keithpeter. I'd recommend looking at elgg if you're wanting an out of the box solution - or if you're more technically minded (and like django/python) then pinax could be the thing for you (http://pinaxproject.org). Let me know how you get on (I'm an expat Brum!)</p> Keithpeter. I’d recommend looking at elgg if you’re wanting an out of the box solution – or if you’re more technically minded (and like django/python) then pinax could be the thing for you (http://pinaxproject.org). Let me know how you get on (I’m an expat Brum!)

]]> By: Mackenzie http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128934 Mackenzie Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:26:23 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128934 <p>When the labs were setup for the housing projects, I wasn't with the LoCo yet, so I'm not sure, but I think it was just "hey we have computers, let's do something with them." For the School Without Walls computers, what happened was Jozef contacted me over UbuntuForums and asked if I could come to the office where he works to clear the drives and install Edubuntu and find a school that could use them. School Without Walls is only a couple blocks from my apartment and didn't look like it was in very good shape, so I figured they could use free stuff.</p> <p>As to the library lab and classes...those sort of fell into place. One of the guys, Sanjay, is the one who came up with the classes idea, so he's organized those. I think he's also how we ended up with a lab there that Kevin runs. At first I volunteered to teach the GIMP classes, but I had to back out when school got too intense. I don't know who teaches them now.</p> When the labs were setup for the housing projects, I wasn’t with the LoCo yet, so I’m not sure, but I think it was just “hey we have computers, let’s do something with them.” For the School Without Walls computers, what happened was Jozef contacted me over UbuntuForums and asked if I could come to the office where he works to clear the drives and install Edubuntu and find a school that could use them. School Without Walls is only a couple blocks from my apartment and didn’t look like it was in very good shape, so I figured they could use free stuff.

As to the library lab and classes…those sort of fell into place. One of the guys, Sanjay, is the one who came up with the classes idea, so he’s organized those. I think he’s also how we ended up with a lab there that Kevin runs. At first I volunteered to teach the GIMP classes, but I had to back out when school got too intense. I don’t know who teaches them now.

]]> By: Good People. Great Teams. | jonobacon@home http://www.jonobacon.org/2009/01/06/open-source-and-open-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-128933 Good People. Great Teams. | jonobacon@home Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:05:05 +0000 http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1559#comment-128933 <p>[...] response to my last post about open learning, Dan Trevino from the Florida LoCo shared a story about some of the excellent work that they are [...]</p> [...] response to my last post about open learning, Dan Trevino from the Florida LoCo shared a story about some of the excellent work that they are [...]

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