Presentation about implementing open source software for basic education

1. Linux for Basic Education
Is it feasible?
M. Edwin Zakaria
medwin@opensuse.org

2. 2
Intro
• This is not a technical paper, rather it is a
“marketing paper” :-D
• Let the pro and hackers do the dirty work :-P
• But someone should step up to do this thing
otherwise we cannot see the growth of open source
usage
• We always say that open source has a lot of
superiority than the others, then why desktop user
still use the others?
• We should go out and learn why it is hard to ask
other to use it, …... school are the best place to
start

3. 3
Background
• Indonesia MOCI with Yogyakarta Province
Education Office have a program to enhance the
quality of basic education with the introduction of
computer based learning with open source software
• They have plan to give a lab with 22 PC per school
• Ask teacher to put the education material and exam
in computer
• How it affects the learning activities and measure
the result

4. 4
Technical Challenge
• It is easy to install OS, we have openSUSE Li-f-e
package with a bunch of educational software
• The owner also want to give the schools internet
connection, some with very challenging geographic
condition
• How to train teachers and schools staffs about linux
so they have the basic technical thing
• And…. there are 300 elementary schools and 200
junior high schools
• ……….. the headache began :-D

5. 5
Educational Challenge
• How about the education curriculum? Will it be inline
with the use of open source?
• This is not for IT subject, we don't want to change the
curriculum because we don't good at it :-)
• The work is considered as pilot project so we must
choose which subject for computer based learning.
• 2 subjects were selected, math and science for grades
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
• How to train teachers to create learning material
• How to measure the effect
• …… you get PITA :-D

6. 6
Socio-non-technical Challenge
• Would it add another work-load for teachers? They
should learn how to use open source software and how
to create learning material
• Linux? What is it?
• How to ask teacher from the school that get the labs to
invite other schools around it to also use the facility and
disseminate the knowledge
• Security of the schools…. Thief :-(
• Etc, etc, etc
• …… you need a bed rest :-D

7. How big the implementation ?

8. 8
“There are many choices in the
world, why we should limit it? The
important thing is make the choice
based on careful calculation and
responsible with it”

9. 9
“There are many open source
software that good for education.
Why we don't use it?”

10. 10
Conditions and how we approach it
• 2200 schools (elementary and junior high), ask them to
make a proposal (we teach them how to make it) and
select the best proposal from 300 junior-high and 200
elementary school
• Select 50 in the first year for piloting
• Evaluate the problem from pilot schools

11. 11
Conditions and how we approach it
• Infrastructure development
‒ Central repository / data center for network and learning
material in provincial level, make the lab in schools
‒ Make learning material model
• Capacity development for teachers and school staf.
Increasing the competency and dissemination of
knowledge
• Implementation in schools: mentoring and evaluation

12. 12
Schools location
• Google earth

13. 13
What is difficult
• Geographic condition in several schools
• Teacher capacity
• It is very hard to teach them how to use open source
software for creating learning material
‒ Finally we give them proprietary software to create learning
material. Result in SCORM based then upload to Moodle LMS
• Social factor

14. Video

15. Examples of learning material
http://lms.jogjabelajar.jogjaprov.go.id

16. 16
Is it feasible?
• No problem for student
• Some problem for teacher
• No problem as long as not for IT subject. However no IT
subject for elementary school.
• It is not easy but feasible

17. Questions?