Why should open source software be used in schools? (2006)

"It is indeed a strange world when educators need to be convinced that sharing information, as opposed to concealing information, is a good thing. The advances in all of the arts and sciences, indeed the sum total of human knowledge, is the result of the open sharing of ideas, theories, studies and research. Yet throughout many school systems, the software in use on computers is closed and locked, making educators partners in the censorship of the foundational information of this new age. This software not only seeks to obscure how it works, but it also entraps the users' data within closed, proprietary formats which change on the whim of the vendor and which are protected by the bludgeon of the End User License Agreement. This entrapment of data is a strong, punitive incentive to purchase the latest version of the software, regardless of whether it suits the educational purposes better, thereby siphoning more of the school's limited resources away from the school's primary purpose. The use of such closed software in education may be justified only where no suitable open source solution exists."

Open Source Software In Schools : A study of the spectrum of use and related ICT infrastructure costs . (May 2005).

"This report records work that Becta has done with schools which have implemented a range of open source software (OSS) solutions. This project, funded by the DfES, was one of an interrelated series, all looking at ways of helping schools make effective and sustainable use of ICT by exploring the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their ICT infrastructure.”

“A number of open initiatives are actively resisting the extension of intellectual property rights. Among these developments, three prominent instances — open source software, open access to research and scholarship, and open science — share not only a commitment to the unrestricted exchange of information and ideas, but economic principles based on (1) the efficacy of free software and research; (2) the reputation–building afforded by public access and patronage; and, (3) the emergence of a free–or–subscribe access model. Still, with this much in common, the strong sense of convergence among these open initiatives has yet to be fully realized, to the detriment of the larger, common issue. By drawing on David’s (2004; 2003; 2000; 1998) economic work on open science and Weber’s (2004) analysis of open source, this paper seeks to make that convergence all the more apparent, as well as worth pursuing, by those interested in furthering this alternative approach, which would treat intellectual properties as public goods.”

"There is growing interest in the education community in the development and use of Open Source Software. This paper explains the ideas behind OSS and how what its significance is for education. It examines regional and national initiatives to promote the use of OSS. The paper considers the advantages of OSS and potential problems. It goes on to look at the idea of open content and the sharing of learning content, and provides short case studies. The paper concludes that the major significance of OSS and open content is in the new social relations engendered and in fostering innovation in e-learning, both in application development and new pedagogies."

"Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) is a recent phenomenon that has the potential to revolutionize the software industry. It has already gained a strong foothold in the server software segment, with a leading market share worldwide in some software categories. It is also gaining ground in desktop applications and it has been predicted that its use on the desktop will become significant in the near future. Interest in FOSS is growing globally, particularly in developing countries. Governments are considering policies to promote its use, businesses are recognizing its potential and various other sectors are giving increasing attention to the opportunity for localization that it presents. The impact of FOSS will be felt in many areas. In this primer we focus on FOSS in education and the role It can play in schools, colleges and universities. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to improve the quality of education. However, educational institutions are often faced with financial constraints. Competing demands for resources and the high costs of ICTs can be a major obstacle to providing ICT facilities in educational institutions. FOSS has the potential to help lower the cost barrier by reducing the cost of software, which is an important component of ICT facilities. Besides the cost benefits, there are numerous other advantages in using FOSS in education, including pedagogical benefits."

"Because of the rise in popularity and consideration of open source applications in all markets from education to government to business, it is critical for all decision makers to understand what open source applications are and what the implications are for their organization. This is especially true in the education market where budget pressures make the right decision an imperative. This white paper will offer a simple, yet thorough definition of open source in the context of education, describe the new market models, and dispel the myths about open source."

"This informal essay is designed to help educators better understand Open Source software and what it means to schools using technology. While a complete nderstanding of Open Source is beyond the scope of this paper, you will gain enough nowledge to get started. This paper is meant to be a primer for educators who are ooking for better and more efficient ways to use technology in schools."

“With Massachusetts Institute of Technology's bold OpenCourseWare Initiative, one of the world's leading universities is making its teaching material accessible on the Internet, free of charge, to any user anywhere in the world. While this seems counterintuitive in the trend toward commercialization in today's educational markets, we argue that this strategy could not only prove successful economically, but also exploit human capital resources that would foster innovation and strengthen the democratic foundation of a knowledge-based society.”