[OS:N:] Learning curve of open source ?

[Kevin Verma <lists news linuxbite net>]

Hello Everyone,

During April-May 2003, I had an opportunity to perform as a training
consultant for Red Hat India, on the famous project of Rajiv Gandhi
Shiksha Mission (RGSM). RGSM is owned and run by Madhya Pradesh Govt.,
of India.

This was a bit customized solution based on RH8 to be deployed for
computer based education using Open Office presentations, Draw and
presentations and lectures made in Macro media Flash. My job was limited
to technical trainings of the initial support and teaching staff of
RGSM.

I am proud to say that RH India did a wonderful job well planning &
delivering the solution along the technical and non-technical trainings
and hard worked study material, throughout Madhya Pradesh. So did RGSM
preparing all the presentations and lectures for their school lectures. 

My own direct feedback from all those close to 150 folks is that they
were well satisfied and learned, and their commitments and dedication 
to wards the use of open source software, surprised and turned me emotional lot.

The project co-coordinator, and trainees liked this implementation so
much that they began discussing the future of this project as computer
education but of Linux based operating systems and software. Thats quite
positive perspective and the work is in progress. 

This is a happy project ending for all and lot more to begin. But I have
few self doubts:

-> how difficult and easy is for these kinds of institutions to arrange
good and stable study material for their choice of tools ?

-> How will their study material can remain always current with open
source software development phenomena ?

-> What changes would you suggest to the education community to be able
to make best use of open source in education ?

-> What strategy would you suggest to open source software teams to make
their software useful for education community ?

Best Regards,
Kevin Verma

-- 
Kevin Verma [RHCE]
<Linux & OSS Consultant>