New Zealand Schools OER Portal/Curriculum/Gnu/Linux in the Social Sciences Curriculum Levels 1-4

How using Gnu/Linux software fits into the NZ Social Sciences curriculum

Possible learning objectives and activities

Students will gain knowledge, skills, and experience to:

Level 1

• Understand how people have different roles and responsibilities as part of their participation in groups.
  • That a Gnu/Linux user is part of a group that shares their ideas freely with others.

Social Sciences - with our friends GNU and Tux

Level 2

• Understand how people make choices to meet their needs and wants.
  • Choosing Gnu/Linux is free to use and can be shared with others.
  • In Africa where many people can't afford software it is provided by Freedom Toasters.
• Understand how time and change affect peoples’ lives.
  • In the past pen and paper were used to communicate, then fax machines, now Gnu/Linux and Open software.
• Understand how people make significant contributions to New Zealand’s society.
  • Gnu/Linux developers are people who share their ideas with others.
  • Software Freedom day where Gnu/Linux computers and software are given away for free.

Level 3

• Understand how groups make and implement rules and laws.
  • Developers of Gnu/Linux software have freedom to release ideas for the common good of society with Creative Commons, GPL and Copyleft licenses.
  • Users of Gnu/Linux are bound by the same rules of freedom.
• Understand how people make decisions about access to and use of resources.
  • Access to computer software should not be available all – including disabled and poor.
  • Local distributions of Gnu/Linux can reflect a particular societies needs.
  • By using Gnu/Linux software allows its users freedom.

Level 4

• Understand how the ways in which leadership of groups is acquired and exercised have consequences for communities and societies.
  • Studies of notary Gnu/Linux players - Richard Stallman, Linus Torvald, Mark Shuttleworth and Ubuntu Women.
• Understand how exploration and innovation create opportunities and challenges for people, places, and environments.
  • Collaborative approaches, Open Licenses lead to world wide distributions of free software.
  • Compare monopolies, corporates and the rise of capitalism with the Free Software movement.
• Understand how producers and consumers exercise their rights and meet their responsibilities.
  • Government passes laws that protect consumer.
  • Consumers have a greater choice when there is competition in the market place.
  • User of Gnu/Linux can recycle computers that were destined for the dump.
• Understand how formal and informal groups make decisions that impact on communities.
  • Gnu/Linux user groups are used to promote free software with consumers and government agencies.
  • Shuttleworth and Hewlett Foundations' support for Open Software and Education.

Software Freedom Concepts

“It's Free Software and it gives you freedom!”

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose
• The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs
• The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour
• The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits
• Free software can save money
• Free software is easy to use
• Free software is environmental friendly - it supports both new and older computers