Re: [ubuntu-uk] Is the new UK Computing GCSE any better for FOSS?
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 On 27/01/15 19:25, oli_kester wrote: >> Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:17:05 + From: Barry Titterton >> To: "Talk, UK" >> Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Is the new UK >> Computing GCSE any better for FOSS? Message-ID: >> <54bfdf11.8070...@gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; >> charset=utf-8; format=flowed >> >> Hi All, >> >> Do any members of this list have contact with the UK education >> system? My own sons are well past GCSE education but I am still >> interested what the schools are teaching today as I am actively >> trying to evangelise FOSS in my local area. I am specifically >> interested in the newly introduced Computing GCSE. Is it any >> better at covering FOSS issues? >> >> I am under the impression that the UK education system has, for >> the last generation, taught the mantra:- >> >> Microsoft = Computers and visa versa > > I recently (within the last five years or so) went through this > education system myself, and I definitely agree with this being the > message - especially in the younger stages of education. It was > only in the upper stages (into my late teens) that we were given > any inclination that other ways of using hardware existed! > >> The new GCSE is, in my understanding, supposed to teach a more >> rounded approach to computer science. However a quick look at the >> BBC Bitesize revision aid has the following page:- >> >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z6r86sg/revision/4 >> >> ...with the graphic at the bottom describing open source software >> as having "No guarantees of high quality". Most of us (sarcasm >> alert) are well aware about the high quality experience that one >> gets from some proprietary software so I found this comment to be >> rather unfair. Therefore, returning to my original question, does >> anyone know if the new GCSE course content give FOSS a fair >> review? > > I certainly hope so - there's no excuse given the big usability > improvements to Ubuntu and GNU/Linux in general over the past > decade - and with recent innovations like the Raspberry Pi. I do > remember my school talking of getting some of those for use by > students when I was there about three years ago. It would be > interesting to know whether they did so in the end. > > Best, > > Oliver > > I think schools get them, realise they cna't use them and put them in a store room. We had an apprentice come to the last pi jam, and he said they hardly cover Linux, or what they cover was the fact it is out there. Unless the people teaching a) have experience and b) have a good experience with it, then there is no way they are going to try and teach it, It may be down to people here trying to reach out to users and support pi jams, coder dojos and other initiatives and the young people that go to those, and make sure if they are stuck, they get help, that looks good on the community plus helps them progress and not give up because for example they can get networking on arch linux working, due to no one being able to support them. Paul - -- http://www.zleap.net @zleap14 @zleap14 diaspora : zl...@joindiaspora.com Documentation lead @ ToriOS http://www.torios.org -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1 iEYEARECAAYFAlTH6B4ACgkQaggq1k2FJq0HtQCfX1qpszOHd/j9twlhXbbTEPrC LPEAn0JU6w8lKar4B0LWb4rXWQ1FCunU =22aM -END PGP SIGNATURE- -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
Re: [ubuntu-uk] Is the new UK Computing GCSE any better for FOSS?
> Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:17:05 + > From: Barry Titterton > To: "Talk, UK" > Subject: [ubuntu-uk] Is the new UK Computing GCSE any better for FOSS? > Message-ID: <54bfdf11.8070...@gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > Hi All, > > Do any members of this list have contact with the UK education system? > My own sons are well past GCSE education but I am still interested what > the schools are teaching today as I am actively trying to evangelise > FOSS in my local area. I am specifically interested in the newly > introduced Computing GCSE. Is it any better at covering FOSS issues? > > I am under the impression that the UK education system has, for the last > generation, taught the mantra:- > > Microsoft = Computers and visa versa I recently (within the last five years or so) went through this education system myself, and I definitely agree with this being the message - especially in the younger stages of education. It was only in the upper stages (into my late teens) that we were given any inclination that other ways of using hardware existed! > The new GCSE is, in my understanding, supposed to teach a more rounded > approach to computer science. However a quick look at the BBC Bitesize > revision aid has the following page:- > > http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z6r86sg/revision/4 > > ...with the graphic at the bottom describing open source software as > having "No guarantees of high quality". Most of us (sarcasm alert) are > well aware about the high quality experience that one gets from some > proprietary software so I found this comment to be rather unfair. > Therefore, returning to my original question, does anyone know if the > new GCSE course content give FOSS a fair review? I certainly hope so - there's no excuse given the big usability improvements to Ubuntu and GNU/Linux in general over the past decade - and with recent innovations like the Raspberry Pi. I do remember my school talking of getting some of those for use by students when I was there about three years ago. It would be interesting to know whether they did so in the end. Best, Oliver -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
[ubuntu-uk] Is the new UK Computing GCSE any better for FOSS?
Hi All, Do any members of this list have contact with the UK education system? My own sons are well past GCSE education but I am still interested what the schools are teaching today as I am actively trying to evangelise FOSS in my local area. I am specifically interested in the newly introduced Computing GCSE. Is it any better at covering FOSS issues? I am under the impression that the UK education system has, for the last generation, taught the mantra:- Microsoft = Computers and visa versa The new GCSE is, in my understanding, supposed to teach a more rounded approach to computer science. However a quick look at the BBC Bitesize revision aid has the following page:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z6r86sg/revision/4 ...with the graphic at the bottom describing open source software as having "No guarantees of high quality". Most of us (sarcasm alert) are well aware about the high quality experience that one gets from some proprietary software so I found this comment to be rather unfair. Therefore, returning to my original question, does anyone know if the new GCSE course content give FOSS a fair review? Barry T PS. The first page of that BBC Bitesize section has a "Tell us what you think" button if anyone else would like to register their feedback as well. -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
