[Koha] Call for Wkshop Proposals: BossEd Bangkok Conference Oct 31-Nov 1 @ KIS.AC.TH
David M. Bucknell
dbucknell at iteachnet.org
Mon May 11 04:23:22 NZST 2009
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Education is being challenged to change with the times. Lately, we
hear words like "transparency," "community," "teamwork,"
"project-based," and "networked" in the same context as we used to
hear, simply, reading, writing and math(s). Project-based, teamwork
led by students themselves has come to the fore. This is the kind of
learning, we are told, that enables students to develop the social
learning skills and intellectual flexibility that is needed in this
brave new world.
Such learning requires a different kind of software, a different kind
of text as well as a different classroom-process than we used to use.
While some struggle to create new Web2 technologies that enable the
kind of learning and teaching deemed necessary, many have noticed that
Free and Open Software (LAMP.org) and Content (e.g. Wikipedia.org)
already embody the very lessons we are trying to teach. After all,
they are made by teams via the Internet with flexible leadership
positions gained by proven capabilities and dedication. Respect in
these groups is based on skill, accomplishment and social-networking
effectiveness.
What's more, the tools and artefacts produced by these groups are open
to scrutiny, dissection, and adaptation and exist at the pleasure of
those interested. They encourage curiosity, creativity and sharing:
they embody what schools' mission statements say is important:
lifelong learning, curiosity, respect across borders, etc.
In the day-to-day work of schools, teachers, students and school
administrators look for "soulutions" to various problems in the
Office, the library, the classroom or at home: a text, a puzzle, a
tool for reporting, creating or analyzing; something else for
organizing, sending and printing; another for storing, searching and
dissecting. There are now Free/Open Source (FLOSS) tools for almost
anything that can be done on a computer. This is no surprize given
that they are generally created to fulfill specific needs or, as Eric
Raymond observed, "to scratch an itch."
We know that system admins have long used FLOSS; programmers too; now,
more and more teachers are using FLOSS. FlOSS itself is a product of
idea-sharing; so we would like to extend the FLOSS development process
with a technology-assisted physical gathering designed for sharing
ideas, problems and Solutions which are being used now or planned for
the near future in your schools.
Your ideas are welcome.
To the idealist:
What does Freedom and Openness mean for education? Is your "practice"
as a teacher or administrator or student being challenged to be more
"open" in some way than before? Does Free and/or Open Source Software
(a.k.a. FLOSS) and Free and Open Content (e.g. wikipedia.org) play a
part? Should it? Can it?
Propose a Session: Show, Tell and/or Teach us how you think/have
experience using FLOSS can help you and colleagues meet students needs
more effectively than with closed, proprietary solutions.
To the pragmatist:
Are you saving money while staying legal as a result of using
free/open tools or resources? What about security? Viruses and
Hacking under control as a result of free/open strategies? Do you find
that the tools you need are less stress-producing than the alternatives?
http://opensourceschools.org/bossed2009callforproposals
Propose a Session: Show, Tell and/or Teach us how you saved money (or
plan to do so), increased security, stability and/or power and ease of
use with FLOSS.
http://opensourceschools.org/bossed2009callforproposals
--
* IKN (International Knowledge Networks, Co., Ltd. Thailand)
* http://intknowledge.com
* Web Ideas, Tools and Sites for Teachers, Schools, Businesses and You.
* Cell: +66(0*)84 329 1183; Office: +66(0*)2 980 9464 (*No "0" if calling from
overseas.)* Skype: dbucknell
----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.
More information about the Koha
mailing list