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Free Software in Education (view source)
Revision as of 10:04, 31 August 2014
, 10:04, 31 August 2014Created page with "= Why is Free/Libre Software Important to Education? = == The Expanding Role of Computing in Education == In a 2009-10 study in Montevideo, primary-school students used comp..."
= Why is Free/Libre Software Important to Education? =
== The Expanding Role of Computing in Education ==
In a 2009-10 study in Montevideo, primary-school students used
computers as a tool for communication -- “a thing with which to be social
and expressive ” -- and problem-solving -- “a thing to think with”. Skills
that they will be able to draw upon not just in school but in life.
== The True Cost of Proprietary Software ==
Change is the one thing that is consistent in computing. Most of the
knowledge of IT taught in primary and middle schools some years ago is
completely deprecated due to rapid changes in software and
devices. This necessitates that software, knowledge and techniques
should be updated frequently.
A frequently cited reason for using Free/Libre Software is that is
it gratis: even upgrades are available at no charge.
Cost savings are possible, but don't expect the use of free software to be
gratis. Free software implies there is no license fee, but There are support
costs associated with all computing. (One secondary upside to Free/Libre
Software is that support and maintenance costs are an investment in building
local technical capacities.)
However, we should not focus mainly on cost, because there are more important
things at stake here!
The hidden harm of proprietary software is more insidious: it takes
away from the user the opportunity to achieve autonomy, mastery, and a
sense of purpose. In the context of school, it channels education into
consumption, passivity, and acceptance. Free/Libre Software, on the
other hand, focuses the student on creativity, activity, and
intellectual risk taking. The student (and teacher) has the license to
learn and, when properly staged, provides the means to leverage the
opportunities afforded by the license.
== A Culture of Autonomy and Responsibility ==
The “free” in Free/Libre Software refers to freedom (we say "libre" to
underscore that). Users have the license to use, share or modify it according
to their needs. The reality is that even for small software companies, an
individual school or classroom is too small of a market to consider
important. With Free/Libre Software, you don’t have to depend on third
parties to do things for you. You are empowered to shape the tools to
meet your own needs. It is the only way to stop being under the power of
software companies. (Because your can share Free/Libre Software, you need
not act alone: you can work within a community; communities arise
where ever Free/Libre Software is used and are often global in
reach). With autonomy comes responsibility: thus the culture of
Free/Libre Software is a culture of individualism coupled with
personal and communal responsibility. Not bad traits to instill in our
children.
== The Means of Mastery ==
Educatonal Free/Libre Software is built thanks to the direct feedback
between users and developers since there is no reason to build a “firewall”
between them. This means that learners and educators are collaborating
together with software developers in the design of educational software and
creating software which fits better in their classrooms. A common forum for
this interaction is “chat”. Many Free/Libre Software projects use open
chat-rooms as a place for developers to discuss their work. Anyone is welcome
to “listen” as domain experts openly discuss the problems with which they are
wrestling.
The interaction between learners and domain experts makes possible the
transition from a learner to a software developer and become a
contributor of a Free/Libre Software project. The Free/Libre Software
community is a meritocracy: all that matters is what you do, not who
you are. So there is room for personal growth. There is an open door
to mastery within Free/Libre Software that is usually closed with
proprietary software. Free/Libre software gives everyone the
opportunity to be both a learner and a teacher.
== A Sense of Purpose ==
Nothing motivates learning more than a sense of purpose. Neither
carrots or sticks come close. Free/Libre Software gives the learner
the opportunity to “scratch an itch” -- to pursue a problem of passion
and purpose. It is while engaging in authentic problem-solving where
one acquires the problem-solving skills that transfer across domains
and are applicable beyond the walls of the classroom.
Within the Free/Libre Software community, we do not passively accept
the status quo as inevitable, but actively embark upon making things
better. Instilling that habit of mind in the next generation is
perhaps the most valuable contribution Free/Libre Software makes to
Education.
== A Call to Action ==
The cultivation of Free/Libre Software in education doesn’t happen on
its own. The proprietary software industry will fight to maintain a
model of schools and learners as consumers. We need to protect our
freedom to create. It is our responsibility. It won’t be done for
us. If we don’t invest in the next generation of leadership, we will
be overwhelmed.
The Free/Libre Software movement needs to foster growth and leadership
among the next generation. We need to provide both the license and the
means to exercise this license.
The next generation might have reasons to spread the Free/Libre
Software culture, because they will be educated in that way. The most
important factors are the deployment of Free/Libre Software in
classrooms and the existence of an open community that facilitates
feedback with schools.
== The Expanding Role of Computing in Education ==
In a 2009-10 study in Montevideo, primary-school students used
computers as a tool for communication -- “a thing with which to be social
and expressive ” -- and problem-solving -- “a thing to think with”. Skills
that they will be able to draw upon not just in school but in life.
== The True Cost of Proprietary Software ==
Change is the one thing that is consistent in computing. Most of the
knowledge of IT taught in primary and middle schools some years ago is
completely deprecated due to rapid changes in software and
devices. This necessitates that software, knowledge and techniques
should be updated frequently.
A frequently cited reason for using Free/Libre Software is that is
it gratis: even upgrades are available at no charge.
Cost savings are possible, but don't expect the use of free software to be
gratis. Free software implies there is no license fee, but There are support
costs associated with all computing. (One secondary upside to Free/Libre
Software is that support and maintenance costs are an investment in building
local technical capacities.)
However, we should not focus mainly on cost, because there are more important
things at stake here!
The hidden harm of proprietary software is more insidious: it takes
away from the user the opportunity to achieve autonomy, mastery, and a
sense of purpose. In the context of school, it channels education into
consumption, passivity, and acceptance. Free/Libre Software, on the
other hand, focuses the student on creativity, activity, and
intellectual risk taking. The student (and teacher) has the license to
learn and, when properly staged, provides the means to leverage the
opportunities afforded by the license.
== A Culture of Autonomy and Responsibility ==
The “free” in Free/Libre Software refers to freedom (we say "libre" to
underscore that). Users have the license to use, share or modify it according
to their needs. The reality is that even for small software companies, an
individual school or classroom is too small of a market to consider
important. With Free/Libre Software, you don’t have to depend on third
parties to do things for you. You are empowered to shape the tools to
meet your own needs. It is the only way to stop being under the power of
software companies. (Because your can share Free/Libre Software, you need
not act alone: you can work within a community; communities arise
where ever Free/Libre Software is used and are often global in
reach). With autonomy comes responsibility: thus the culture of
Free/Libre Software is a culture of individualism coupled with
personal and communal responsibility. Not bad traits to instill in our
children.
== The Means of Mastery ==
Educatonal Free/Libre Software is built thanks to the direct feedback
between users and developers since there is no reason to build a “firewall”
between them. This means that learners and educators are collaborating
together with software developers in the design of educational software and
creating software which fits better in their classrooms. A common forum for
this interaction is “chat”. Many Free/Libre Software projects use open
chat-rooms as a place for developers to discuss their work. Anyone is welcome
to “listen” as domain experts openly discuss the problems with which they are
wrestling.
The interaction between learners and domain experts makes possible the
transition from a learner to a software developer and become a
contributor of a Free/Libre Software project. The Free/Libre Software
community is a meritocracy: all that matters is what you do, not who
you are. So there is room for personal growth. There is an open door
to mastery within Free/Libre Software that is usually closed with
proprietary software. Free/Libre software gives everyone the
opportunity to be both a learner and a teacher.
== A Sense of Purpose ==
Nothing motivates learning more than a sense of purpose. Neither
carrots or sticks come close. Free/Libre Software gives the learner
the opportunity to “scratch an itch” -- to pursue a problem of passion
and purpose. It is while engaging in authentic problem-solving where
one acquires the problem-solving skills that transfer across domains
and are applicable beyond the walls of the classroom.
Within the Free/Libre Software community, we do not passively accept
the status quo as inevitable, but actively embark upon making things
better. Instilling that habit of mind in the next generation is
perhaps the most valuable contribution Free/Libre Software makes to
Education.
== A Call to Action ==
The cultivation of Free/Libre Software in education doesn’t happen on
its own. The proprietary software industry will fight to maintain a
model of schools and learners as consumers. We need to protect our
freedom to create. It is our responsibility. It won’t be done for
us. If we don’t invest in the next generation of leadership, we will
be overwhelmed.
The Free/Libre Software movement needs to foster growth and leadership
among the next generation. We need to provide both the license and the
means to exercise this license.
The next generation might have reasons to spread the Free/Libre
Software culture, because they will be educated in that way. The most
important factors are the deployment of Free/Libre Software in
classrooms and the existence of an open community that facilitates
feedback with schools.