K12opensource.org
Open source resources for K-12 education.
The open source community has proven itself as an effective way to develop software by producing applications like Apache, a web server that outperforms proprietary alternatives, and Samba, network server software that allows hosts with different operating systems--e.g., Windows, Macintosh, and Linux--to share data among each other. There are open source alternatives to all of the major applications: word processors, spreadsheets, databases, and image editors. There is also a wide array of open source educational software. Open source thin client software like that from the K12LTSP Project has the potential to save schools money in hardware and administrative costs.
Intended Audience: K-12 educators
Resource Requirements: A computer with a web browser.
Justification: As technology use in school increases and budgets get tighter it would be irresponsible to not explore options for technology implementation that can provide equivalent functionality for less cost. But there are also good educational reasons to look at open source software. “Free” can mean free to provide the software for students to use at home. “Free” can mean free to look at source code. “Free” can mean free to modify and improve software. “Free” can mean free to join a project and help produce documentation that supports the use of a project’s software.
The open source community presents opportunities for students to meet the GEs, e.g., write a procedure, while producing authentic documentation for a software project. Open source software provides an affordable constellation of high quality applications for students to use to demonstrate their proficiency with technology. There are many educational opportunities that open source software affords to students that closed source software does not.
Descriptors: FOSS, “free and open source software”, “open source”, “k12opensource”, “free software”
(Editor's Note, 3/23/08--It appears that this site has not been updated since 2006.)
