[DS-discuss]NEWS: SEUL... GNU/Linux in education

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

URL             :  http://www.seul.org/edu/report94.html

   [1]seul-edu Logo Linux in education report #94

   April 21, 2003--A company named [2]I-Silver has announced [3]LUISA,
   the Linux Universal Internet Server Application. It appears that this
   is primarily an integration effort, with little or no proprietary
   software added. Their Spring Special pricing is US $1795.

   Lalescu Liviu told us about a [4]genetic algorithm/evolutionary
   program that he has written, aimed to automatically schedule the
   courses of a faculty/high-school. We haven't tried it yet, but it
   looks intriguing.

   Chris Puttick's [5]Schoolforge UK organization is developing nicely.
   The various localized Schoolforge groups are intended to be something
   like LUGs, but with the emphasis on the educational side of the
   balance rather than on the Linux side. So rather than having an
   occasional educational theme within a more general LUG, the
   Schoolforge groups will be focussed on education at all times, with
   Linux, open documentation/texts, free curricula, etc. as their regular
   topics. Another local Schoolforge group is getting started in Bangkok
   (it's unclear as yet whether it will be called Schoolforge Bangkok or
   Schoolforge Thailand). We expect to see more in the future.

   David Trask was recently interviewed by [6]DesktopLinux.com about his
   experiences installing Linux at the Vassalboro Community School. It's
   nice to see more interviews like this, and we look forward to the day
   when they're so common they won't warrant special articles!

   James Smyth has recently ported his DistrictDNA administrative
   software package (see the listing below) to Linux. It uses the
   Firebird open source SQL database for the database end. The client
   side is written using Borland's Delphi RAD environment version 6.0 or
   better (professional version). The client currently only runs on
   Win32, but James is looking into what would be involved in making a
   Linux port of that too.

   TJ Miller has updated his Linux curricula:

     You will find both the [7]intro and sysadmin courses here. I'm
     updating the intro course to align more with Linux+ certification
     (not my decision, honest...), btu any and all suggestions and
     improvements are more than welcome - I'd be more than happy to host
     those improvements as well.

   Mark Rauterkus is working with Alpha Chimp Studios to "plan
   (instigation and agitation) for a new regional event, a [8]YOUTH
   Technology Summit" in Pittsburgh, PA. If you're in the area and want
   to help out, visit the website for particulars.

   Chris Puttick told us about a new [9]academic helpdesk application
   under development at his school:

     We are currently paying (peanuts!) for the development of a school
     helpdesk system. While primarily for managing IT issues, it has
     been designed to allow for other types of request, such as admin
     assistance and site repair requests. It's also built to deal
     invisibly (from user perspective) with multiple sites (we support 9
     schools from here) and could easily scale to an entire LEA [a
     district or collection of schools, normally managed at city or
     council level, in the UK]. As it understands multiple sites, this
     will continue to be the demo server after it goes live (in 2
     weeks), so the knowledge base will hopefully become very useful.

   Some new applications came to our notice since the last report. Here
   are eleven new educational applications we've recently found:

   Probity Filtered Proxy Server
          Imagine schools and non-profits being able to afford reliable,
          fast, custom, clean internet access free of things such as
          violenece and pornography. Probity sets out to make that
          possible for such organiztions. Probity is a proxy filter
          library designed for mainly non-profits and schools, but can be
          used by anyone. This project is in inital planning. The filter
          is being designed to filter web, chat and file transfer
          protocols. Based upon the LGPL license, a Redhat RPM, and being
          a complete package allow it to be easily used by schools and
          non-profits of all kinds. This ensures that the project is open
          source, availble to commercial efforts, protected from
          commercial efforts, supports a popular linux distribution and
          can make things easy for places such as schools to set it up.
          (License: GNU Public License)
          [10]http://www.nongnu.org/probity

   Vocabulary Trainer
          Vocabulary Trainer is a flashcard training system for learning
          words in foreign languages. You can use language modules to
          change the language of its interface and can choose one of
          three learning modes (Random, Often-unknown words, and
          Seldom-asked words). (License: Public Domain)
          [11]http://free.pages.at/linuxvok/

   Project LRNJ
          The goal of Project LRNJ is to create an entertaining
          console-style RPG which teaches Japanese. Slime Forest is the
          first release: a demo of the battle system using graphics from
          the upcoming katakana adventure and a training set of 1000
          kanji. Its main purpose is to gather data and feedback on
          compatibility and effectiveness. (License: Freeware)
          [12]http://lrnj.com/

   Kanatest
          Kanatest is a simple, GTK 2-based kana drill tool. It offers
          three drill modes: hiragana, katakana, and mixed mode. The
          tester shows random kana characters and waits until you enter
          the romaji equivalent in an entry field. At the end, statistics
          are provided. (License: GNU Public License)
          [13]http://clay.ll.pl/kanatest.html

   Diet Monger Ass Kicker
          Diet Monger Ass Kicker is a program for designing diets to your
          own specifications. It allows nutrients and foods to be sorted
          and foods to be filtered. Calculations are made according to
          specified minimums and maximums, and using data from SR15.
          (License: Freeware)
          [14]http://home.edmc.net/~jstory/dmak_details.html

   StarDict
          StarDict is a international dictionary with many dict data
          files. It has powerful features such as glob-style pattern
          matching, fuzzy queries, and more. When the user selects a word
          in other software, it can pop up a floating window showing the
          selected word's meaning. (License: GNU Public License)
          [15]http://stardict.cosoft.org.cn/

   Metadot Portal Server
          The Metadot Portal Server is an open-source point-and-click
          website builder that allows non-technical users to build
          powerful websites and portals in just a few minutes. Metadot
          Portal Server is based on Apache, Perl and MySql, and runs on
          Unix-based operating systems like Linux, Solaris, and MacOS X,
          as well as Windows. The Metadot Portal Server has been deployed
          in many global corporations and leading universities. It is
          reliable and scalable, and can support very large communities
          of users. Community (free) support is available in the
          Community section. Commercial support is also available.
          (License: GNU Public License)
          [16]http://www.metadot.net

   timetable
          Automatically schedule the timetable of a faculty (or
          high-school) using genetic algorithms. (License: GNU Public
          License)
          [17]http://algorithms.ro

   PMathGen
          PMathGen is a random simple math problem generator. From the
          operators, format, etc. specified on the command line or in a
          worksheet description file, it generates LaTeX and optionally
          PostScript files that can be used as math worksheets. (License:
          GNU Public License)
          [18]http://www.frap.net/kenn/pmathgen

   Tux Math Scrabble v2.0
          Tux Math Scrabble is a math version of the popular board game
          for ages 4-40. Highly entertaining as well as great educational
          value. Challenges young people to construct compound equations
          and consider multiple abstract possibilities. Three
          skill-levels for practice from basic addition and subtraction
          through multiplication and division. Great for use in schools
          and at home. Runs on Windows and Linux. Written in Python with
          PyGame as multimedia toolkit. Kid tested, grownup approved.
          Windows/Linux Install Scripts Included. (License: GNU Public
          License)
          [19]http://www.asymptopia.com

   District DNA
          District DNA is an open source District and School
          Administrative System. It is written using Borland's Delphi RAD
          environment and using the Firebird open source database as its
          back end. The client portion runs on Win32 environments
          (Windows 2000 or above) recommended. The backend (Firebird) run
          on any Firebird compliant system (Windows, Linux etc). I use
          Linux at my school district. The software covers district
          information, school information, student information, employee
          information, grades, course scheduling, master schedule,
          attendance, discipline, awards, activities, medical records,
          SST, 504 plans, alumni, advisory committees, competency based
          education, Special Education (state of Massachusetts USA only),
          state reporting (state of Massachusetts USA), student parking
          permits, staff parking permits etc. It is very high performance
          (scheduling for 1200 students about 30 seconds). It is licensed
          under the open software licence 1.1 (License: Open Software)
          [20]www.districtdna.com

           [21]Previous Current Report is [22]Report 94 [23]Next


      Please report any technical problems to address@hidden

References

   1. http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/index.html
   2. http://www.isilver-inc.com/
   3. http://www.isilver-inc.com/solutions/servers.html
   4. http://algorithms.ro/
   5. http://schoolforge.org.uk/
   6. http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8952848817.html
   7. http://penguinisto.serverpro2.com/linux/
   8. http://summit.cloh.org/
   9. http://helpdesk.centralmanclc.com/
  10. http://www.nongnu.org/probity
  11. http://free.pages.at/linuxvok/
  12. http://lrnj.com/
  13. http://clay.ll.pl/kanatest.html
  14. http://home.edmc.net/%7Ejstory/dmak_details.html
  15. http://stardict.cosoft.org.cn/
  16. http://www.metadot.net/
  17. http://algorithms.ro/
  18. http://www.frap.net/kenn/pmathgen
  19. http://www.asymptopia.com/
  20. http://www.districtdna.com/
  21. http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/report93.html
  22. http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/report94.html
  23. http://richtech.ca/cgi-bin/seul/report95.html
  24. mailto:address@hidden