[DS-discuss]SITEWATCH: address@hidden@school...

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

URL :  http://www.fsfeurope.org/projects/education/tgs/tagatschool5.en.html

TUX&address@hidden - 5th edition

   Every month the column [4]TUX&address@hidden [2] reports about free
   software, a homepage on the topic and an easy to implement idea. This
   month I talk about [5]Tuxpaint [3], a free painting program for
   children, about "[6]Debian [4] at school" and about the idea "Easily
   understanding large numbers".

   Welcome to the 5th edition. As I promised last time, there are some
   news today. This is the first edition released under the roof of the
   [7]Free Software Foundation Europe [5] and the [8]GNU project[6]. In
   this context TUX&address@hidden will be released in different languages in
   the future but right now only in German and English. All earlier
   edition are in english available too ([9]TGS 1 [7], [10]TGS 2 [8],
   [11]TGS 3 [9] and [12]TGS 4 [10]). If there is anybody reading one of
   the older editions who want to implement an idea, go on. At this point
   I want to thank Christian Selig and Kristian Rink for their support
   with writing and translating. But we don't want to lose too much time,
   therefore I move on to the program introduction of this time.

Tuxpaint - Painting is fun

   [13]Tuxpaint [3] is actually a free painting programm for children
   which is released under the [14]GNU GPL [11]. I wrote "actually"
   because I heard of many adults who can't stop painting with tuxpaint
   ;-). I tested the version 0.91. of the 16.11.2001 under [15]Debian
   GNU/Linux [4] testing/unstable. On Debian you can easily install the
   program with the following shell command: apt-get install tuxpaint.
   The version 0.9.2 is the most up to date one which is available in
   numerous languages. These are e.g. German, French, English, Danish,
   etc. to name only a few. You can find the full list on the
   [16]homepage of the project [12]. What we surely should mention are
   the [17]ports[13] to the common platforms, such as GNU/Linux, Windows,
   MacOS X and FreeBSD. As with all Free Software, the sourcecode is
   available, so there shouldn't be a bar to other ports.

   When you start Tuxpaint either over the console or by a click on the
   corresponding icon, Tux with a brush in his hand appears. After a
   click in the window or a few seconds of waiting a screen as shown in
   screenshot 1 comes up. The interface is divided into five sections. On
   the left there is the tool panel, containing different tool groups, as
   well as general functions such as Print, Save and Quit. For each tool
   group, there are different choices on the right. An example for this
   are the different painting sizes of the color brush. A further example
   is shown in screenshot 1, that is to say the really numerous stamps.
   Whenever it's possible to use a color with a certain function, the
   choice can be made in the second last row. Right beneath, Tux, the
   little penguin, sits around, always saying something about each
   action. Either he gives tips or he explains on what you are clicking
   or what an selected stamp is showing. And eventually the most
   important and largest part of the screen viz, the artist's canvas
   which is situated in the middle. As you can see in screenshot 1 I made
   already some art ;-).

   Screenshot 1: Tuxpaint in action

Screenshot 1: Tuxpaint in action

   At the moment I have to brace up that I'm not painting and playing
   with Tuxpaint, but continuing this column. So as every good program
   for infants there is a sound for each action and for every click in
   Tuxpaint. For instance, when you use the rubber it sounds as if you
   really used one on your screen. This property is special with the
   stamps. The numbers for 0 to 9 are spoken in english and when you
   select the ghost stamp, it right then begins to ulutate. An the other
   hand when you select the moon landing vehicle, you can hear Neil
   Armstrong saying his famous first sentence. And there are a lot more
   of these special sounds for the stamps.

   As already mentioned the program is made for infants in the first
   place and therefore the Open dialog is made quite easy as you can see
   in screenshot 2. It's not necessary to click trough many directories
   till you find your picture and in any case you don't know what picture
   it is by means of the file name. In Tuxpaint the artist simply clicks
   on the Open button and then chooses the right picture in the window
   which appears where the canvas was before. You may also delete one of
   the pictures right here. By the way, under GNU/Linux all pictures are
   saved in a directory called .tuxpaint/saved which is always situated
   in the own home directory. The pictures are filed in the PNG format
   which is a free and standardized format. Even easier is printing. You
   have to simply click on Print and the picture gets printed, provided
   that mum or dad installed the printer correctly.

   Screenshot 2: Tuxpaint opens new pictures

Screenshot 2: Tuxpaint opens new pictures

   When you then accomplished it once to stop painting and you leave the
   program, of course Tux is pointing you out that you didn't save your
   picture yet and gives you right now the possibility to change this. I
   hope that all these who didn't know Tuxpaint yet now have a good mind
   to try it out. Tuxpaint is really a genial part of software that you
   can't keep back to your children. Therefore a large "thank you" to
   Bill Kendrick for his software masterpiece and we are all anxious to
   what you will create in the future.

   But now continues to the topic "Debian at school".

Debian at school

   Originally I wanted to introduce only the project [18]"Debian Jr."
   [14] at his place. But in the meantime it arises that further
   subprojects of Debian suitable to the topic came into being and that's
   why I want to try to introduce all the relevant projects. These are:
     * [19]Debian Jr. [14] - "Debian for children from 1 to 99"
     * [20]DDTP [15] - The Debian Description Translation Project
     * [21]DebianEDU [16] - Debian as the best distribution for education
     * [22]Debian Desktop [17] - Simplification for Debian on the desktop

   But before I come to the single items it's perhaps useful to introduce
   Debian in the first instance. Debian is a project which, quite similar
   to Linux (the kernel) itself, is developed and supported by volunteers
   from all over the world. Surely the most well-known distribution of
   this group is Debian GNU/Linux which is available for [23]11 hardware
   architectures [18] until now. Furthermore there are projects with
   other kernels, such as [24]Debian GNU/Hurd [19] and [25]Debian
   GNU/FreeBSD [20] [26](NetBSD) [21], plus other [27]subprojects [22].

   [28]Debian Jr. [14], as the title already says, want to make the
   Debian distribution easier and more attractive for children. Thereby
   the primary target group are children up to eight years. When once the
   distribution is adapted optimally for children of this age they want
   to repeat the same thing for children between 8 and 12. The subproject
   provides numerous [29]Meta packages [23] which are packages containing
   thematically sorted programs. Furthermore they want to provide means
   for parents and administrators too to customize the system to the new
   target group's needs. Of course as usual with Free Software Debian Jr.
   cooperates with related projects, such as, for example, the
   [30]SEUL/edu project[25] which has been introduced in the [31]4th
   edition [24]. What's just as important for the young debian users is
   the adaption to their mother tongue. This is a goal for Debian Jr.
   too, but right for this there is another special subproject: [32]DDTP
   [15].

   Screenshot 3: The homepage of Debian

Screenshot 3: The homepage of Debian

   The [33]DDTP - Debian Description Translation Project's [15] original
   goal was the translation of all package descriptions into all
   languages spoken on this planet. In the unstable version of Debian
   there are meanwhile more than 10000 packages, which means a lot of
   work. And even though, if I remember correctly for some languages
   already all packages descriptions are translated. As already indicated
   above DDTP currently limits not only to package descriptions but
   translates also texts of debian-own configuration tool debconf and
   will probably also help or do the translation of the new
   [34]"debian-installer" [26]. By the way it's very easy to help with
   the translations, you need only an email client and the very good
   written [35]instructions [27] of Michael Bramer, the project founder.

   DebianEDU is still quite young. It was founded by Raphael Hertzog in
   September 6, 2002. According to the [36]homepage [16] the main goal is
   to create the best GNU/Linux distribution for schools and education.
   DebianEDU originated in the [37]French distribution with almost the
   same name [28] developed in France specifically for this task. The
   knowledge and programs made for and with this work are intended to
   flow into the project and they shall be pursued and completed. In
   contrast to Debian Jr. they focus on software which could be important
   at school or in education in general. Of course there are several
   overlappings but by tight cooperation they avoid doubled work. Here
   too they grapple with the production and provision of meta packages
   which are already now rather numerous [38][29].

   The fourth and last Debian project I want to introduce here is
   likewise still very young. The goal of [39]Debian Desktop [17] is it
   to make Debian GNU/Linux easier and more attractive for desktop users.
   Its aims such as an easy installation with integrated and automatic
   hardware detection are on the to-do list, just as the provision of
   graphical configuration tools like [40]Webmin [30].

   Debian GNU/Linux is not only a manifold distribution, it is also the
   groundwork of many more or less successful commercial distributions.
   Beneath commercial derivatives like [41]Libranet [31], [42]Progeny
   [32], [43]Xandros [33] or [44]Lindows [34] which are unfortunately
   frequently mixed with proprietary software there are however free
   projects too which are built on the stable foundation of Debian. The
   most important example of this kind is [45]Knoppix [35] at the moment.
   Unfortunately even this distribution isn't entirely free from
   proprietary software. Knoppix is a distribution running completely
   from CD-ROM which isn't only useful for demonstration purposes. But
   more infos about this below. In contrast du vanilla Debian, you can
   worrilessly recommend [46]Knoppix [35] to absolute GNU/Linux newbies
   too.

   But now we're going on to the software idea of this edition.

"Easily understanding large numbers"

   Something which is no problem for most of us, it's especially pupils
   in the lower classes that still have to learn it grindingly: Large
   numbers. What I mean with "Large numbers" is not imperatively one
   million or larger but already 100, 1000 or then 10000. With numbers up
   to 100, it's mostly possible to represent them with everyday and
   eidetic examples, forming a base on which children can imagine the
   numbers in an abstract form by and by. But then with numbers larger
   than 100 it becomes more difficult to find examples, let alone to plot
   them. Well in this range of numbers you begin to abstract the numbers
   i.e. to separate them from concrete measures and values.

   Here in Switzerland, but probably not only here, in many cases little
   wood or plastic cubes are used. These are approx. 1 x 1 x 1 cm large
   and ten of them in a line result in a decadic row. Ten decadic rows
   side by side result in a one hundred field and ten of these fields,
   one stacked on the other, respectively side by side then result in a
   one thousand cube respectively in a one thousand field. The largest
   still useful applicable field is the ten thousend field which consists
   of 100 one hundred fields aligned in a square. I hope that the people
   who not already knew or saw these fields and cubes can imagine them on
   the basis of my descriptions.
   Well but what and how shall you transform this into software ? I would
   like to see that handily [47]OpenGL [36] or general 3D programmers
   generate these fields and cubes three-dimensionally and show them on
   screen. If children not only have to imagine this numbers but also can
   see them on screen, it would be much easier for them to calculate with
   large numbers. Perhaps they can even enter numbers into the computer
   and it generates the corresponding field and cube forms. On the other
   hand it would be interesting to see calculuses in these forms. The
   pupils then must calculate them with help of the 3D objects and
   afterwards they could compare their result with the computer's one.
   Well, it would be nice when [48]I [1] receive some implementations
   until next time which I then could introduce in TUX&address@hidden 6 at
   the end of January 2003. There are no limits for further going ideas
   except for the programmer's skills.

   But now to the last section, the news.

News and up to date program versions

BSI ships Knoppix at no cost:

   The German [49]"Bundesamt f?r Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik"
   [37] (Federal Office for information technology security) ships
   [50]Knoppix [35] CD-ROMs. If you send them a post-paid readdressed C5
   envelope, the German BSI will send you a GNU/Linux distribution
   running completely from CD. You can find more information about this
   on their [51]Knoppix page [38].

FreeEduc - Knoppix for free education software

   Although some time has passed, I want to mention it here once again.
   At the end of October 2002 the [52]OFSET - Organization for Free
   Software in Education and Teaching [39] released the first version of
   [53]Freeduc [40]. It's a distribution based on [54]Knoppix [35] whose
   main purpose is the demonstration of free educational software.
   Similar to Knoppix all of Freeduc's software runs directly from CD and
   you don't need to install anything. Thanks to the very good automatic
   hardware detection you don't need to configure anything yourself too.
   On one of the next days or weeks they want to release the version 1.2
   and I think we can eagerly look forward to it.

Up to date program versions

     * [55]KTouch 1.0 - Type writing course under KDE 3.0.5 ([56]TGS 1)
     * [57]GCompris 1.2.1 - Education plattform with different boards
       ([58]TGS 2)
     * [59]KGeo 1.0.2 - Geometry program under KDE 3.0.5 ([60]TGS 3)
     * [61]Ghemical 1.0 - Chemistry program for modelling and computing
       molecules ([62]TGS 4)
     * [63]Tuxpaint 0.9.2 - Painting programm for children and for those
       who stayed children ([64]TGS 5)

   Well, this was the fifth edition of TGS. But before I say good bye for
   this time there are still some questions left: After the last
   publication of TUX&address@hidden someone on [65]pro-linux.de [41] asked
   if it would be possible to receive the new edition by newsletter too.
   Because I don't think the idea is bad I want to ask now whether there
   is interest in general for such a version ? For this all persons who
   are interesting in a newsletter version should send [66]me [1] an
   email till the next edition, please. Of course as ever I'm interested
   in questions, criticism, comments and hints which should be sent to
   the same location.

   But now that's really the end of this time. Good luck and a happy new
   year is the last I want to say.

Links:

   [1] [67]Criticism, questions, comments, ideas and more please to:
   address@hidden
   [2] [68]The homepage of TUX&address@hidden:
   www.fsfeurope.org/education/tgs/tgs.en.html
   [3] [69]The homepage of Tuxpaint: www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint
   [4] [70]The homepage of Debian: www.debian.org
   [5] [71]The homepage of the Free Software Foundation Europe:
   www.fsfeurope.org
   [6] [72]The homepage of the GNU project: www.gnu.org
   [7] [73]TUX&address@hidden 1 in english
   [8] [74]TUX&address@hidden 2 in english
   [9] [75]TUX&address@hidden 3 in english
   [10] [76]TUX&address@hidden 4 in english
   [11] [77]GNU GPL - General Public License
   [12] [78]Supported languages of Tuxpaint
   [13] [79]Ports of Tuxpaint
   [14] [80]The homepage of Debian Jr.: www.debian.org/devel/debian-jr
   [15] [81]The homepage of the Debian Description Translation Project -
   DDTP: ddtp.debian.org
   [16] [82]The homepage of DebianEDU: wiki.debian.net/DebianEdu
   [17] [83]The homepage of Debian Desktop:
   www.debian.org/devel/debian-desktop
   [18] [84]Available ports of Debian GNU/Linux
   [19] [85]The homepage of Debian GNU/Hurd
   [20] [86]The homepage of Debian GNU/FreeBSD
   [21] [87]The homepage of Debian GNU/NetBSD
   [22] [88]Subprojects of Debian
   [23] [89]Meta packages of Debian Jr.
   [24] [90]SEUL/edu in TUX&address@hidden - 4th edition
   [25] [91]The homepage of SEUL/edu: www.SEUL.org/edu
   [26] [92]The homepage of the new debian-installer
   [27] [93]Instructions for contributing to the DDTP
   [28] [94]The homepage of DebianEDUC
   [29] [95]Meta packages of DebianEDU
   [30] [96]The homepage of Webmin: www.webmin.com
   [31] [97]The homepage of Libranet: www.libranet.com
   [32] [98]The homepage of Progeny: www.progeny.com
   [33] [99]The homepage of Xandros: www.xandros.com
   [34] [100]The homepage of Lindows: www.lindows.com
   [35] [101]The homepage of Knoppix: www.knoppix.de
   [36] [102]The homepage of OpenGL: www.opengl.com
   [37] [103]The homepage of the German "Bundesamtes f?r Sicherheit in
   der Informationstechnik - BSI" (Federal Office for information
   technology security): www.bsi.de
   [38] [104]Page of Knoppix on the homepage of the BSI
   [39] [105]The homepage of the OFSET - Organization for Free Software
   in Education and Teaching: www.ofset.org
   [40] [106]The homepage of the Freeduc distribution
   [41] [107]Pro-Linux.de: German News about GNU/Linux and Free Software

About the author:

   Mario Fux finished 1999 the PrimarlehrerInnenseminar in Brig after he
   made up mathematical and natural scientifical matura. In a body with
   two colleagues he founded the [108]"ALIS - Arbeitsgruppe Linux an
   Schulen" (Swiss work group for linux at school). Meanwhile he studies
   at the [109]Swiss Federal Institut of Technology Zurich
   [110]informations technology and electrical engineering. And if he
   once doesn't spend his time in front of the PC, he sits at his nature
   pond in the [111]mountains.

     This document is distributed under the terms of the [112]GNU Free
                           Documentation License.

        Copyright (c) 2002 Mario Fux. Permission is granted to copy,
   distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free
    Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by
        the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no
                Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.
                   A copy of the license can be found at
                 [113]http://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl.html.
   Last update: $Date: 2003/02/01 16:01:25 $ $Author: jonas $ [114]About
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