BBOSI People/How and why GNU/Linux for New Zealand Schools

Working together for digital independence

Digital Independence

Will allow NZ schools to run independently of proprietary software and will eventually save the Ministry Of Education money :) 

• The Ministry of Education has just renewed its 3 year contract with Microsoft and other proprietary software providers
• The cost is $186 per computer for proprietary software including Microsoft Licenses, anti-virus software and web filtering software from 2010-2013
• The total population of New Zealand primary and secondary pupils at July 1st 2009 is 760,859
• The ICT in Schools Report 2009 gives a ratio of 5 computers per pupils in primary schools and 3 computers per pupils in secondary schools (pg 35)
• Using an average ratio of 1:4 of total pupils to computers we have 190,000 computers in NZ schools
• Approximately 80% (150,000) of these computers require proprietary software (pg 39/40)
  • The other 18% is Apple and many of these computers need the same Ministry proprietary arrangements???
  • The final 2% use a Gnu/Linux operating system - which is free
• The approximate total cost is $28,000,000 for supporting proprietary computing in New Zealand schools from 2010-2013

The Ministry of Education should support schools to become totally digitally independent by 2016

• In the school's operational funding for 2013 there should be a software budget based on a per computer basis of $30 per computer (approx)

1. Half of what is presently paid on behalf of schools choosing to use proprietary software
2. 30 times more than is presently paid to schools choosing to use free software
3. Allowing schools to choose software of their own choice - free or proprietary (proprietary choosing schools will have to fund any difference)
4. Giving schools independence to seek support of their chosen software

• This would save (based on current costings) $14,000,000 for 2013-2016
• By 2016 the MOE could stop all software funding - schools would be responsible for funding their own software and would give New Zealand schools digital independence

If the MOE eventually stopped funding proprietary software this would be an incentive for schools to use alternatives

How

Step 1 - Cautious approach:

While still running a Windows computer install:

• Firefox web browser
• Open Office - set spell check and thesaurus - Tools - Options - Language Settings - Language - set language to English (UK)
• Gmail email system for email accounts
• Xmarks - synchronize all bookmarks/address bars/passwords etc
• Picassa - photo editing and storage software

For classroom installations don't bother with above

Step 2 - Visiting Ubuntu.com:

• Wubi is an officially supported Ubuntu installer for Windows

and also

• Download Ubuntu and burn onto a disk

Step 3 - Playing with Ubuntu:

• Continue using Ubuntu via Wubi

or

• Ubuntu trial - place the Ubuntu CD or DVD into your computer and run as a live CD
• Ubuntu will run slower using the Live CD, as it is using the CD like a hard drive

Step 4 - Save and store all that data:

• Before migrating across to Ubuntu save all personal data such as photos (on Picasa) music and documents onto a CD, DVD or memory stick
• Synchronise Xmarks

Step 5 - Jump off time:

• Before installing read and have a copy of these Ubuntu install instructions available
• Take a big breath - this is a leap into the world of Free Software
• Insert disk and answer the few questions
• Press enter and restart
• Log into computer with your user name and password
• Preferences>Network proxy settings>Direct for at home (manual for school)>Apply system wide
• For wireless connection - click on the 4 vertical lined icon in toolbar (top right) - set network user name and password (if any)
• System>Administration>Update manager>Install updates
• Restart now
• Let out your breath - you have done it

Step 6 - Tweaks:

• Login
• System Administration - Users - unlock - add users and privileges
• Internet - Mozilla Firefox - search Xmarks - install Xmarks -
• Send link via gmail - configuring gnome to use Gmail as default mail handler
• Under System>Preferences>Preferred Applications set the mail option to custom. Place this command in the space provided

   perl -MURI::Escape -e '$to= shift; if ($to =~ /^([^\?]+)\?(.*)$/)
   {$to=$1;$args="&".$2;$args=~s/\&subject=/&su=/};$to =~
   s/^mailto://i; exec("firefox","https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=1&view=cm&to=".
   URI::Escape::uri_escape($to).$args);' %s 

• (Please be aware that this is 1 line, but has been broken up in the interest of readability)
  • Now when an e-mail link is pressed firefox will open with a gmail compose dialog.

• Adobe Flashplayer - required for YouTube - Applications>Ubuntu Software Center>Sound & Video>Adobe Flash Plugin - also install from Sound & Video VLC media player
• Videos playing needs extra plugins and codecs - go to Medibuntu and install

1. libdvdcss2
2. w32codecs
3. non-free-codecs
4. realplayer

• Connecting a printer >System>Administration>Printing>New

(Ricoh drivers info here)