Larry:

Thanks for sharing your comments regarding open source software. I've
shared similar points with others, especially in regards to replacing
costlier programs in school districts' tech toolbox--namely, programs
like MS Office ($75), Inspiration Graphic Organizer software ($12),
Macromedia Fireworks ($3500 per campus, or $12)--with free, open source
software. As a matter of fact, since we are facing budget crunches
(especially in Texas where state legislators are into a 5th special
session to figure out funding, and districts are worried that there
won't be any money except federal funds and what was left over from last
year), open source software may be our only alternative.

Allow me to share an example of a real school district issue. Three
years ago, we developed a high tech, grade 6-8 curriculum that
incorporated Macromedia Studio MX. The curriculum focused on information
literacy approaches (such as Big6) that focused on problem-solving at
higher levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. We provided Macromedia Studio MX
licenses to 15 campuses for around $45K-$50K. We also provided extensive
professional development.

In analyzing the work done so far, after 2 years and multiple
professional development sessions, campus visits, etc., it's clear that
some teachers are working at the higher levels of Bloom's. Yet, others
are still not moving beyond computer literacy. This is not unusual and I
appreciate that it takes time to make the transition from computer
literacy to information problem-solving.

But what worries me is that neither teachers or student were using the
computer software that we paid so much money for to its full capacity,
whether they were teaching information problem-solving or computer
literacy. As I look back now, I feel I made the wrong decision. I should
have started with open source software FIRST. After all, upgrades on
that software are free and we could have saved a LOT more money that
could have been used for other purchases.

School districts just do not have the money to keep upgrading year after
year, or even waiting two-three years, all their proprietary software.
We can't keep spending loads of dollars in schools, providing the very
best when students aren't even going to use a fraction of the
power...let's be even more blunt about the truth, the software power our
students and teachers may actually use may not tap the depths of the
open source software we get for "free" much less the proprietary
software we go into debt for.

In my district, we're going to introduce open source options. Here are
the options...instead of...

...MS Office, suggest Open Office
...Inspiration, suggest Cmap Tools
...Fireworks/Photoshop, suggest THE Graphics Image Manipulation Program
(GIMP)

When you consider the cost of these programs--let's say $99 for Office,
Inspiration, Macromedia Studio--and multiply that by the total number of
computers in a district (18,000 in mine), imagine the savings. There are
also free anti-virus alternatives (Clamwin.com instead of Symantec
AntiVirus), the savings increase.

Multiply $99 x 18,000 computers, and we save $1.8 million---now, did you
know that my District's total tech allotment now is $1.2 million for 56K
students? Wow, we could double funding for technology if we only took
advantage of open source.

Total cost of ownership? What is against open source software initiative
in schools? I honestly believe it's our comfort level. We don't want to
try new tools and would rather continue to pay...we pay for expensive
tools but then fail to use all but their most basic features.

Let's stop believing in proprietary software and put the money back into
our children's education. Asked another way, how many more teachers
could we hire with $1.8 million?

Thanks again for bring the subject up...I hope someone will point out
the errors in the points raised in this email.
;->

Wishing you well,

Miguel Guhlin
Director, Instructional Technology
San Antonio, Tx
mguhlin@yahoo.com
http://www.mguhlin.net
RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/mguhlin/

Miguel Guhlin's blog Mousing Around has several posts on open source
issues and options. It can be found at
http://www.mguhlin.net/blog/archives/cat_freeopensource.htm

- posted by Larry @ 7:46 p.m.