[K12OSN] K12LTSP @ Alabama Education Technology Association Conference

[Petre Scheie]

Using Teacher Tool to launch apps on a bunch of clients, or log them all off, etc., is 
great for the 'Wow!' factor.  I would also dig through the messages from Daniel Howard, 
William Fragakis, and James Kinney about how K12LTSP has revolutionized (my word) 
computer use at Morris Brandon in Atlanta.  I say revolutionized because using K12LTSP 
has allowed them to not just change the ratio of students to computers, but to also 
change the proximity between them: with LTSP, you CAN have 5-9 computers in each 
classroom, and when you do, it changes the way teachers use them, allowing them to truly 
incorporate them into the curriculum. And the proof in Morris Brandon's pudding was the 
increase in test scores, especially compared to comparable schools.  Like them, I'm not 
a big fan of all the testing, but nevertheless the scores demonstrate what Linux can do, 
that others can't, when properly played to its advantages.

The point is that only with Linux can you get to this state.  If you try to put that 
many Windows or Macs into a classroom, it would be too expensive to buy that many 
machines.  And even if some benefactor gave you the machines, schools don't have the 
staff to support that many additional machines, since each one must be managed.  And 
even if someone gave you the money for the staff to support those machines on a 
recurring basis, most classrooms aren't wired electrically to support that many fat 
client machines.  And even if someone gave you all the money for all that for a year or 
three plus new wiring, in three years you'd be right back where you started with 
outdated, slow machines.  And even if that benefactor was willing to repeat that 
generous grant for machines, staff and power increase every three years, you still have 
higher and more frequent disposal costs compared to disposing of old stripped PC 
clients, or better, actual thin clients, which will last 5-10 years.  With LTSP, all 
those problems go away.  It's the only way to do it.

There's a great presentation on Morris Brandon's migration at www.gosef.org.

Petre


rmcdaniel at indata.us wrote:
> I am going to be speaking on K12LTSP and FOSS at the upcoming AETA
> conference in Orange Beach on Oct 1-4 and would like any suggestions
> that anyone can provide that might capture the audience's attention.  I
> am considering demonstrating the simplicity of loading and basic
> configuration of a K12LTSP server and showing off some of the apps and
> possible Teacher Tool.  I am also looking to purchase some give away
> goodies that promote FOSS and K12LTSP. The title of the session is
> "Bridging the Digital Divide With K12LTSP and FOSS".
> 
> Thanks for the suggestions,
> 
> 
> Ron
> 
> 
> Ronald R. McDaniel
> Technology Coordinator
> Conecuh County Schools
> (251) 578-1752 x30
> (251) 363-3201 cell
> 1*4238*104 SouthernLinc
> rmcdaniel at indata.us
> 
> 
> 
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