Thanks - you've been helpful. I'll get on there and make myself known On Sun, 2007-01-14 at 21:03 +0000, Andy Trevor wrote: > Toby Smithe wrote: > > On Sat, 2007-01-13 at 10:17 +0000, Andy Trevor wrote: > > > > > Toby Smithe wrote: > > > > > > > Hi Phil, > > > > > > > > I am all too keen to work with Becta. However, I feel that they should > > > > at least allow me the simple courtesy of a hard-earned reply. > > > > > > > > > > > Guys there is already channel set up with Becta. Ian Lynch from > > > SchoolForge UK meets with them on a regular basis. > > > > > > > This is good to hear. What has been achieved so far through this > > relationship? > > > The profile of OSS has been raised but it is a case of slowly prodding > away. > > Becta are aware of the benefits of using OSS but these things take > time. > > > > > > > Becta asked for a single point of contact to the OSS community to come > > > from OSC or Schoolforge UK. Ian was chosen due to his depth of > > > knowledge in this area. > > > > > > > I feel that a single point, whilst convenient, is fallible. The > > community is so vast and varied. No matter how deep someone's knowledge > > is, they cannot know everything. > > > > The single point of contact was at the request of Becta. > > I agree that all interests cannot be covered by one man, but that is > what they wanted. > > Ian is a very knowledgeable man and has been in the education and OSS > game for a long long time. > > For the moment I think the best idea is to get signed up on the > Schoolforge mailing list and get involved with things that way. > > > > > Co ordinating efforts through the Schoolforge mailing list may be the > > > best option. > > > > > > > On Fri, 2007-01-12 at 21:44 +0000, Phil Bull wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Toby, > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, 2007-01-12 at 20:16 +0000, Toby Smithe wrote: > > > > > [...] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I have been quite busy on the fight for free software for schools, > > > > > > and > > > > > > am publishing any developments on that front at > > > > > > http://tibsplace.co.uk/blog/index.php/category/free-software > > > > > > > > > > > > I don't really trust BECTA. They didn't reply to my completely > > > > > > serious > > > > > > e-mail, so I just assume they are been pressurised into preferring > > > > > > proprietary software. They could just have issued this statement to > > > > > > make > > > > > > us content. I will again write to them, but until I receive a > > > > > > reply, I > > > > > > have no idea why I should think they are trustworthy. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I've been following some of your efforts, and it does seem as though > > > > > you've just been sent stock responses by their PR department. This is > > > > > unfortunate considering the effort you've obviously put into this, but > > > > > it's something we need to confront. > > > > > > > > > > I think entering into a dialogue with BECTA will be necessary as a > > > > > gateway to the LEAs (Local Education Authorities). A great deal of IT > > > > > policy-making in schools rests with the LEAs, I believe, even if some > > > > > schools choose not to follow their recommendations. FOSS-sympathetic > > > > > LEAs would be able to provide resources and support on a level which > > > > > could make the adoption of FOSS seem much more practical for a great > > > > > deal of schools. > > > > > > > > > > Please take a look at this Becta press release [1], especially the > > > > > three > > > > > reports in the 'Notes to Editors' section. I found them very > > > > > enlightening; the biggest problem the schools studied seemed to come > > > > > up > > > > > against was a lack of support from the LEA. Some LEAs even seemed to > > > > > actively discourage open-source adoption: > > > > > > > > > > "The LEA provides no ICT support to the school, and some animosity has > > > > > grown over the issue of the school using OSS." [2] > > > > > > > > > > By working with Becta, we could hopefully open a useful communication > > > > > channel with the LEAs. > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > > > > > Phil > > > > > > > > > > [1] - http://www.becta.org.uk/corporate/press_out.cfm?id=4681 > > > > > [2] - Open Source Software in Schools: A case study report [1] (Page > > > > > 6, > > > > > Case Study 3, 'ICT in the school') > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Andy Trevor > > > Technical Director > > > Cutter Project Limited > > > 18 Lynn Rd, Ely > > > Cambs, CB6 1DA > > > Phone: 08700683356 > > > Mobile: 07840 988311 > > > http://www.cutterproject.co.uk > > > ------------------------------- > > > Ubuntu Partners > > > > > > > > > -- > > > This message has been scanned for viruses and > > > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > > > believed to be clean. > > > > > > -- > Andy Trevor > Technical Director > Cutter Project Limited > 18 Lynn Rd, Ely > Cambs, CB6 1DA > Phone: 08700683356 > Mobile: 07840 988311 > http://www.cutterproject.co.uk > ------------------------------- > Ubuntu Partners > > > -- > This message has been scanned for viruses and > dangerous content by MailScanner, and is > believed to be clean. -- Help me get to Venezuela! http://tibsplace.co.uk/venezuela
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