Re: Good news - UK government officially adopts ODF

On Thu, Jul 24, 2014 at 12:33 PM, Kathinka <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Tom, wouldn't it be most helpful if students learned how to recognise the
> "questions", appearance or categories - not sure how to put this - in
> different programs rather than using one model, one version?  Whenever a
> new version comes out there are changes to adapt to, so flexibility,
> ability to recognise the tool rather than a Brand (A) tool, and then
> configure and use it is what will matter in their years post "schoolroom".
>

You're right, of course, that we should teach about general principles
rather than specific instances.  However, at some point we need to look at
concrete examples.  For example, if you want to learn about networking,
then sooner or later you must configure an *actual router*.  At my school
we use Cisco routers for this.   I'm comfortable with the decision to use
these proprietary devices to help teach networking.  I am very aware that
the decision to use a particular tool in a class communicates many things
both implicitly and explicitly and am mindful of that when making such
decisions.

Ideally, in my opinion, there would be computers set up with a variety of
> whatever it is that is being used at that stage in the curriculum, so
> students could get used to the fact that "there is more than one way to
> skin a cat".
>

 And I've pointed out that that is what we do in my programme.

>
> Neophobia has kept Windows "the only/best" in the view of IT purchasing
> decision makers who tend to be senior in the company.  Fear of the new [to
> them] keeps them locked into the safety of "proven, guaranteed, with full
> support" systems.
>
>
I've encountered this very thing in my own career, but I'm pretty sure that
if we asked my students they would say they're not getting a message like
that from me, nor do they from my colleagues.

It has to go both ways, though.  I'm not squeamish about using proprietary
software when it's appropriate to do so.

Kathinka.
>
>
>
>
> On 24 July 2014 11:44, Tom Clark <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> Nathan, I'm not trying to argue that your account was untrue.  Sadly, I'm
>> very nearly certain that it was.  I did not anyone to get the impression
>> that that sort of thing is common, or even regarded as reasonable, at OP.
>>  Thank you for showing me that there are opportunities to help some of my
>> colleagues learn how to better use technology in their teaching.  Now,
>> where did I put my cluebat?
>>
>> This conversation could quickly reach a point where it would interesting
>> to me and possibly even a very small number of other individuals, but not
>> most of this list.  So I'll try to summarise how things should work here:
>>
>> 1.  In a particular paper we may tell students that the course work
>> requires the use of certain software or other tools *that are made
>> available to them*, probably on campus.
>>
>> 2.  We sometimes require students to purchase books or other course
>> materials.
>>
>> 3.  We can't require students to install particular software on their own
>> machines, for practical reasons if nothing else.  We may, however, point
>> out what software students may want to install in order to perform course
>> work on their own machines.  For example, yesterday I told some students
>> that it would easier to for them use Linux for their work in my class.
>>
>> 4.  Finally rest assured that, if you study information technology at the
>> Polytech, you will be expected to use some Linux and other free software as
>> well as Windows and other proprietary software.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Tom
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Jul 24, 2014 at 10:34 AM, Thomi Richards <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> On 24 July 2014 09:48, nathaN P <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Tom I am sorry that you take exception to my comment but I had a family
>>>> member who has come home from Otago poly this week and the message she got
>>>> from the computing class was - she needs to get a copy of Microsoft
>>>> installed on her laptop - I saw red!
>>>
>>>
>>> Sadly, in New Zealand, and especially in Dunedin, the overwhelming
>>> majority of programming jobs are Microsoft based (most C#/.Net, from what I
>>> hear). If a student wishes to use their personal laptop for class work
>>> (which certainly used to be optional, _not_ a requirement for completing
>>> the papers) then it's only reasonable that the Polytech advice is to
>>> install windows & visual studio [1]. I'm sure a similar argument exists for
>>> some other papers, but I don't have any first hand knowledge there, so I'll
>>> not speculate...
>>>
>>> While I desperately want the local job market to change, it's not fair
>>> to criticise the Polytech for catering to the current market.
>>>
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> [1] Mono, and monodevelop are potential alternatives, but again, it's
>>> not fair to ask the Polytech staff to support something that's several
>>> versions behind the .Net library. It might be something to look into
>>> though...
>>> --
>>> Thomi Richards
>>>
>>
>>
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>
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