Open Source Schools is here to share information about open source software in schools. Our aim is to help you decide whether open source software might offer benefits for learning, teaching, engaging pupils and parents, managing information and resources, or school administration.

The website provides information and articles about open source software, advice on getting started, case studies of its adoption in schools, a directory for exploring what is available, and a glossary. All registered members are welcome to create content for the site.

We are building a community of people who have experience of open source software in schools, and those who are just getting started. There are a number of forums for you to share ideas and experiences and contribute to the debate about the use of open source software in schools.

dwillmot20's picture

New Free Software disc available

By dwillmot20 - Posted on May 13th, 2012

There is a new Free Software for Students disc available, featuring the latest versions of some old favourites and adding in some new ones. Teachers and students of Film or Media may find the newly Open-sourced "Lightworks" a great Pro-end tool. Please note it will need a fairly beefy machine to run.

Tagged:  

Schoolstech.org.uk wants your input

Submitted by putt1ck on Tue, 17/01/2012 - 11:58am

Naace and the Association for Learning Technology (ALT), working with the Department for Education, have created a site to encourage a public discussion on the implications of new technology developments in English schools, building on the impetus created by Micheal Gove's speech at BETT.

Google Code-In

Submitted by Admin on Wed, 09/11/2011 - 7:51am

Alison Daniel-Cutler of Google's pre-university education team writes:

Code In is Google's contest to introduce pre-university students (age 13-17 years old) to the many kinds of contributions that make open source software development possible. It runs from November 21, 2011 to January 16, 2012. We invite students worldwide to produce a variety of open source code, documentation, training materials and user experience research for the organizations participating this year. Find out more about tasks here and take part to be in with a chance of winning some great prizes!
Launch blog post: http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2011/10/google-code-in-are-you-in....
Further details: http://code.google.com/opensource/gci/2011-12
Code-In contest website: http://www.google-melange.com/gci/homepage/google/gci2011

We’re looking forward to a fun contest this year and hope you’ll participate yourself if you are eligible or spread the word to friends, family, and colleagues about the program.

If you have any further questions please email the contest discussion list and one of the contest administrators will be happy to point you in the right direction.

Alsa Modular Synthesiser

By nerak99 - Posted on October 25th, 2011

I have been playing with a piece of software call Alsa Modular Synthesiser(AMS) for a long time. AMS is an emulation of an Analog Synthesiser and this piece of software would allow someone to cover the contents of the A-level music Technology section on Analog Synthesis. The Analog Synthesiser of choice would be a Moog (pronounced to rhyme with Vogue). Unfortunately they are rather large and expensive. This piece of software is one example of two Analog Synth programmes that I have come across. The other one runs on Macs and I saw it at the RNCM. I believe it is fairly expensive. I put this tutorial together for a colleague who9 teaches A-level Music Tech and it was getting this software installed in the Music suite that drove me to implement the Active Directory link that I added to another Blog a few Months back. The Tutorial is here http://sciencensums.co.uk/lifetype/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=2&...

Tagged:  
johnyma22's picture

Shib report - Why it isn't working as planned

By johnyma22 - Posted on October 19th, 2011

Might be of interest to some people:  http://john.primarypad.com/single-sign-on-writeup

 

Tagged:  

Sight reading software

By nerak99 - Posted on October 18th, 2011

I have come across a piece of OSS software for practising skills in keyboard playing. (well any midi instrument I suppose). It is written in java and I have dome tests on Openjava as well as on a Mac. I have done a review here http://sciencensums.co.uk/lifetype/. I suppose I could do a review of lifetype as well, quite nice blogging software. Jaimus allows you to practise skills and get some feedback without having to have a music teacher on your shoulder giving you feedback. I think that especially the Rhythm work is useful for someone wanting to practise skills on their own. You can practise sight reading, Intervals and Rhythms as well as have a go on a number of games that are built in. I have documented some issues about latency which is probably a programming issue but overall, I think this is something that fille a gap in multiplatform OSS.

Tagged:  
annem's picture

Conference follow up

By annem - Posted on May 4th, 2011

The 'Opening opportunities - freeing learning' conference in April showed that interest in the use of open source software in schools continues to be strong and is spreading beyond the original converts. The conference was supported by SSAT, in particular by the ICT Register which provides networking opportunities across a range of educational technology themes for some 600 schools.  A significant new theme for the relaunch of the Register will be open source software.  Already there are around 100 schools on the Register reporting successful use of open source software. Following discussions at the conference, Open Source Schools is currently planning how best to collaborate with the Register while maintaining its unique identity.

dwillmot20's picture

FabriCamp Lx 1

By dwillmot20 - Posted on April 22nd, 2011

Open Source Design and Making

I always seem to find out about these events after they've occured. but I'll be watching for the next one.

There seems to be more and more open-source materials for the 3D world rather than "just" software.

Tagged:  
dwillmot20's picture

SketchChair

By dwillmot20 - Posted on April 21st, 2011

The furniture designer in me loves this idea.

open-source software that takes a sketch of a chair design and turns it into a set of files that can use a Computer controlled router and make your design.

or run it on a craft-robo knife cutter and make a model, make loads of models!

http://www.sketchchair.cc/

Watch a video

Tagged:  
annem's picture

national leadership conference - please help promote it

Submitted by annem on Fri, 18/02/2011 - 5:31pm

We want to recruit headteachers and senior leaders to our conference to show them the potential benefits and cost savings offered by open source software whether used alone or blended with proprietary software. We don't have a marketing budget so we are looking to the community to help us promote the event. We have produced a flier which can be found here. 

We would be very grateful if you could circulate it as widely as possible, through your networks, on your blogs or through twitter, targeting those senior leaders who are not yet using open source. We are encouraged by the line up of speakers so far, including Ian Usher, Tony Parkin, Paul Hynes, Paul Haigh, and Miles Berry.  Let's make sure they have an audience. Thank you.

Syndicate content