[IndiChix] Article on Free Software Workshop for Govt. School Teachers - 2

Vikram Vincent vincentvikram at swatantra.org
Sun Jul 19 03:30:33 UTC 2009


First they ignore you
Then they laugh at you
Then they they fight you
Then you win

- Gandhi Neat quote on the FSMK T-shirt! :)

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you,
then you win."
 --  Mahatma Gandhi

With this message a few geeks at Free Software Movement Karnataka
(FSMK) have been working on popularizing the open source software in
the government schools and offices. "Karnataka Government decided to
use free software for 8th 9th and 10th standards as a part of their
ICT at Schools project(Information and Communication Technology). As of
now It is vendor controlled project (Educom, EVeron, etc are
implementing it) under BOOT (Build Operate Own & Transfer)scheme. For
making it more accessible to teachers & students(IT enabled learning),
we are initiating this training as a pilot project in bangalore. This
is organised by DSERT and a Consortium of Free Software Organisations
in Bangalore (FSUG Bangalore, Sampada, FSMK, ITfC, DeepRoot Linux,
IT4Change & Moving Republic are the organisations associated.)", said
Naveen Mudunuru, an active volunteer with FSMK.

1. A session on FLOSS (Free/Libre/Open Source Software) philosophy.
2. Basic usage of the desktop explaining the various hardware components.
3. Use of Open Office.
4. Educational games on the distro.
5. Use of Internet.

The team comprised of volunteers from various groups typically
software techies from various companies some of who have moved to
social sector for good. The hall was packed with almost every system
occupied with about 25 teachers. The teachers very pretty enthusiastic
about the training and sat patiently for the long sessions absorbing
as much as they could. One teacher in particular didn't mind delayed
lunch as they were in middle of something.

The first day was mostly basic stuff covering the different components
like mouse (why it is so called?), CPU, etc. Many teachers were
curious about typing and use of kannada. Ktouch, gtypist, gcompris,
etc were suggested to the them. The afternoon session Naveen
introduced the teachers to the concept of FLOSS. Naveen used the
analogy of a bike. When someone buys a bike (s)he expects to use it
the way (s)he wishes. If a neighbor is in need and comes ask for the
bike for some work (s)he is free to lend the bike which may not be the
cased with a product from Microsoft or Apple or such. If it has some
problem one would like to have a look at the bike himself or herself
first and only then goto a shop. Even if (s)he has to goto a shop the
person is free to go to a local shop and doesn't have to go to the
same vendor who sold the bike. This 'freedom' is not there in closed
source software. There was a mention of how Einstein was able to come
up with concepts like theory of relativity as Newton, who said, "If I
have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants.",
didn't keep his knowledge to himself. The way to go ahead in
technology is to share and exchange knowledge. Reminds one of the
words from George Bernard Shaw -

"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples
then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea
and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will
have two ideas."

The second day was entirely spent on Open Office where equivalents of
Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. People who were familiar with
the office suite asked how they could do certain things they did in
the MS counterparts. The sessions were exhaustive and covered most of
the things the teachers would need. The day ended in a presentation on
a one of the schools made by the Teacher from that school. Looked
pretty well done. The teachers were briefly introduced to the use of
Kannada - the idea was to encourage them to use English. The detailed
coverage on the same is planned in the subsequent sessions.

The third day was devoted to the Internet. The teachers were also
requested to work in groups to infuse in them idea of sharing and
helping each other which is the basis for most development in FLOSS.
The idea behind the sessions was to equip the teachers to help
themselves by looking for help on the net. They were introduced to
checking emails, google, wikipedia, youtbue, etc. An email was created
for each teacher and also a mailing list containing all of them for
future queries and discussions. The teachers expressed their heart
felt gratitude.

If this initiative interests you please get in touch with

Naveen: naveenmudunuru at gmail.com 998640 3928
Vikram: vincentvikram at gmail.com 94488 10822

Software _must_ be accessible to people who could use it to bring
about a positive change in their lives. Such programs are only making
this a reality by touching the needier sections.

-- Mayank Rungta
-- article released under creative commons


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