Plan for Starting an Edubuntu Classroom

Once you have an Thin client network set up, then what do you do? What do you do with the kids? Will it last past this year, or will it just be another fad? You needs a plan.

Step 1 is very ready student access to the technology with an Edubuntu thin client network (Which is more than my class has now with one computer lab for over 500 students). However, we already know that just putting computers into the classroom does not necessarily improve student learning. It’s not about the tools, it’s about the learning.

Step 2 is high-quality Professional Development. The training needs to be over time to allow application of new techniques. The training must include collaboration between defined small groups that allow free exchange of ideas, best practices, successes, and failures. It needs to include ready access to online, on-demand, just-in-time learning. The teachers need to feel they supported and allowed to take some risks.

Step 3 is Support. This includes moral support from school leadership. The school administration needs to have a vision for how the technology and learning should look like in the classroom. There also needs to be technical support from the IT department. Some IT support people don’t want anything to do with non-proprietary software since support comes with software you buy. Some just don’t understand Open Source Software. However, some companies have developed their business model around supplying support for open source software. The software is free, but you can buy tech support. There are also online manuals and forums.

That is just the big picture planning before it can even be effectively used in the classroom. Maybe you are already at this point. If so what has been your experience so far in bringing technology into the learning with you students?

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Edubuntu Linux Thin Client network

I’ve really geeked out over this Christmas Break.

I have experimented with different flavors of Linux over the past few years.  I have tried Fedora, FreeSpire, Mandriva, Xandros, OpenSUSE, Ubuntu, and Edubuntu.  I am currently using Novell’s OpenSUSE as my main desktop . . . very slick.  I have a second hard drive that I use for trying out Linux distributions.  I have Windows Me on my first hard drive.  Unfortunately, I have had to reinstall more often than I would care to admit.  I usually have things backed up so I haven’t lost very much.  I have learned more about Linux than I really wanted to know.

My goal is to figure out how to easily set up a thin client lab.  I think this is a great, low-cost way to get more technology into the hand of students.  The leading project on this is the k12LTSP group.  However, when I look at how to install it after downloading, the instructions start listing commands to type on a command line.  Command-line typing!?  that went out with the 80’s.  (much eye rolling)  Can’t somebody get their act together and give me some things to click so it will just install and work like Windows?

Enter  the first operating system built exclusively for education.  Microsoft Windows is a business operating system that schools use because it is there, not because it is kid-friendly or education-friendly. First of all, Edubuntu is not trying to make money off of schools.  After all, it’s free.  Second, its choice of applications is education focused, rather than an expensive, one-size-fits-all Microsoft Office.

I like that the toolbar is customizable.  It starts at the top of the screen for a more Mac-like feel, but it can be moved to the bottom (or sides) for a more Windows-like look.  It’s clean and kid-friendly with simple options to reduce confusion.

What I like best about it is that it has a graphic Thin Client Manager interface.   LTSP is built right into the server edition, so I don’t have to install it.  It’s already done for me.  (Notice the smile rather than the eye-rolling.)  :)  The Thin Client Manager is great because it allows the teacher view an student screen, lock their screen, kick them off, send a screen or a message to a student or the whole group.  This pretty cool.

The only problem is that I can’t get it to work!  I have a couple old PCs I can’t to set up for my kids here at home.  I installed a second network card in my computer to go to the router and the client computers.  I made a little floppy boot disk for both computers so they can hook up.  However,  it doesn’t connect.  I have worked on it all week and it is driving me nuts!  I’ll include in a separate post the technical details of my problem.

If I could get it to work, I think it would be a great alternative to a computer lab.  A lab computer could be placed in each classroom with old, stripped-down, out-dated computers that would otherwise be thrown away.  They would not be 1-to-1 laptops, but they could be 1-to1, 2-to-1, or even 4-to-1 desktops for less than the price of one laptop (no need to pay for expensive Microsoft Windows and Office licenses).

I think it is a very workable path to work toward 21st century schools.

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