[Advisory] The use of Instructional Technology in Schools
Ian Lynch
ianrlynch@googlemail.com
Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:07:19 +0000
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On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 11:23 AM, Chambers, Simon <
Simon.Chambers@milton-keynes.gov.uk> wrote:
> Looks good in theory but:
>
> "you won't be able to download Chrome OS on an existing Netbook, you'll
> have to buy a Chrome OS-optimized Netbook."
> "Google hinted that it's going to require Netbook makers to deliver
> slightly larger Netbooks than are currently en vogue, with full-size
> keyboards and bigger touch pads."
> "this is an operating designed primarily for online use."
>
Its all open source so other people could develop other versions and adapt
it. No doubt BECTA's recommendations to refresh hardware every 3 years mean=
s
we'll have to wait maybe 5 years for this to really kick in ;-). However, i=
t
could be that Google's G-phone is adapted to make it suitable to access
Chrome OS. Probably you could build a box for about 25 quid that would plug
into existing keyboards and monitors. So pay 25k and give one per child i=
n
an average secondary with 4G web connections. Initial announcements are not
a constraint on adaptions and development.
> Implications?
> Schools will have to replace existing hardware.
>
But not with equally expensive stuff and the savings in virus software
licenses, technical support and management would easily off-set those costs
especially if phased over a few years.
> Chrome optimised, larger netbooks with full-size keyboards (sounds like a=
n
> "old fashioned" laptop to me) - who says these will be low cost?
>
Competition. Since Chrome is Open Source and Google has generally made
hardware specs open it seems more than likely that anyone will be able to
build these machines. Low cost/low power consumption processors like ARM,
less memory demand, no storage needed locally, no Windows license fee (Save=
s
about 20% of the cost by itself - probably over 50% if you take account of
allied hardware savings), no other software license fees - it all reduces
costs. My netbook is a replacement laptop already so I don't have a problem
with what it's called. More interesting would be a Smartphone replacement
for desktops and laptops and I'd expect those to start emerging in a year o=
r
two tops and unlike the i-phone the G-phone is open architecture and over 1=
9
major players have already committed to manufacture them. Just like the IBM
PC clones of the early 80s vs the emerging Mac. It's more a marketing than
a technology issue because the technology exists to do it now. Google isn't
interested in selling hardware, they want to proliferate chanels for search
and advertising. They don't care if people clone their stuff in fact they
positively encourage it. Different business model and bad news for those
trying to sell digital technologies under license but it was predictable.
Anyone see the share prices tumble for satnav when Google announced they
would be giving it away for free? Watch ad see where the share prices fall
next ;-)
Online use will require high spec, managed wireless networks throughout the
> building (and beyond). Which still needs local management - not necessari=
ly
> less management just different management.
>
I use a 3G wireless connection a lot to connect to the internet and there
isn't much to manage. Ok, you have to switch on encryption but that is true
of any wireless and most secondary schools therefore have that overhead
already. 3Gplus and 4G can give 20 meg which is more than enough to run app=
s
directly from the remote internet, though I should think schools might
still have some basic caching server locally and Wifi which if planned
properly is not very expensive and low maintenance. Still a lot less hassle
than managing the range of servers currently needed. Granted it isn't going
to happen tomorrow but I wouldn't bet against it being pretty standard by
the time Year 7 leave school. There is also nothing that says it all has to
be the same. You probably still want a more conventional desktop for
multimedia editing, music tech etc but for e-portfolios, virtual learning
and general productivity, Chrome OS makes a lot of sense. There is danger I=
T
in schools might become workable and affordable even though the country is
just about bankrupt :-)
Sort of makes you question the wisdom in investing millions in reinforcing
the desktop paradigm through 600 million on Curriculum on-line and all thos=
e
BSF millions on infrastructure ;-)
...
>
> Simon Chambers
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* advisory-admin@talk.naace.org [mailto:
> advisory-admin@talk.naace.org] *On Behalf Of *Ian Lynch
> *Sent:* 19 November 2009 21:54
> *To:* advisory@talk.naace.org; secondary@talk.naace.org
>
> *Subject:* Re: [Advisory] The use of Instructional Technology in Schools
>
>
> Google announce an Open Source web based operating system<http://news.cne=
t.com/8301-30684_3-10401524-265.html?tag=3Dnl.e703>for next year. What are =
the implications for schools? Few thoughts to kick
> off.
>
> - Nothing to install
> - Low cost netbook and smartphone terminals
> - No viruses or spyware - nothing user-installed on the terminal
> - No need for local servers or storage
> - Reduce management all round
> - Increase collaboration and co-operative learning strategies
>
> Overall a massive reduction in costs for school ICT to the extent where
> every child has a portable terminal. End of exercise books?
>
> Perhaps we need to revisit the e-strategy.
>
> Note that with such an operating system all applications are web based so
> the concept of a single learning platform from one supplier is akin to
> saying a desktop only need one mega-application from one supplier. Even i=
f
> it was possible it would be highly undesirable. We know what technologica=
l
> monopolies do. Good thing about the web is Open Standards so its not hard=
to
> integrate many different applications. And before anyone says what about
> Google gaining a monopoly, it's Open Source so any other company can do t=
he
> same thing using Google's code. I'd expect Mozilla to do a version based =
on
> Firefox, probably Canonical too.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Visit the Milton Keynes Council web site at
> http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk
>
>
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lly need to
>
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On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 11:23 AM, Chambers, Simon <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a =
href=3D"mailto:Simon.Chambers@milton-keynes.gov.uk">Simon.Chambers@milton-k=
eynes.gov.uk</a>></span> wrote:<br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><blockquot=
e class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);=
margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>Looks good in theory but:</span></font></div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span></span></font>=A0</div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>"you won't be able to download Chrome OS on an existi=
ng=20
Netbook, you'll have to buy a Chrome OS-optimized Netbook."</span>=
</font></div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>"Google hinted that it's going to require Netbook=20
makers to deliver slightly larger Netbooks than are currently en vogue, wit=
h=20
full-size keyboards and bigger touch pads."</span></font></div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>"this is an operating designed primarily for online=20
use."</span></font></div></div></blockquote><div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"=
left"><br>Its all open source so other people could develop other versions =
and adapt it. No doubt BECTA's recommendations to refresh hardware ever=
y 3 years means we'll have to wait maybe 5 years for this to really kic=
k in ;-). However, it could be that Google's G-phone is adapted to make=
it suitable to access Chrome OS. Probably you could build a box for about =
25 quid that would plug into existing keyboards and monitors. =A0 So pay 25=
k and give one per child in an average secondary with 4G web connections. I=
nitial announcements are not a constraint on adaptions and development.<br>
=A0<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px so=
lid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div=
>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>Implications?</span></font></div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>Schools will have to replace existing=20
hardware.</span></font></div></div></blockquote><div><br>But not with equal=
ly expensive stuff and the savings in virus software licenses, technical su=
pport and management would easily off-set those costs especially if phased =
over a few years.<br>
=A0</div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid =
rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>Chrome optimised, larger netbooks with full-size=20
keyboards (sounds like an "old fashioned" laptop to me) - who say=
s these will be=20
low cost?</span></font></div></div></blockquote><div><br>Competition. Since=
Chrome is Open Source and Google has generally made hardware specs open it=
seems more than likely that anyone will be able to build these machines. L=
ow cost/low power consumption processors like ARM, less memory demand, no s=
torage needed locally, no Windows license fee (Saves about 20% of the cost =
by itself - probably over 50% if you take account of allied hardware saving=
s), no other software license fees - it all reduces costs. My netbook is a =
replacement laptop already so I don't have a problem with what it's=
called. More interesting would be a Smartphone replacement for desktops an=
d laptops and I'd expect those to start emerging in a year or two tops =
and unlike the i-phone the G-phone is open architecture and over 19 major p=
layers have already committed to manufacture them. Just like the IBM PC clo=
nes of the early 80s vs the emerging Mac.=A0 It's more a marketing than=
a technology issue because the technology exists to do it now. Google isn&=
#39;t interested in selling hardware, they want to proliferate chanels for =
search and advertising. They don't care if people clone their stuff in =
fact they positively encourage it. Different business model and bad news fo=
r those trying to sell digital technologies under license but it was predic=
table. Anyone see the share prices tumble for satnav when Google announced =
they would be giving it away for free? Watch ad see where the share prices =
fall next ;-)<br>
<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid=
rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>Online use will require high spec, managed wireless=20
networks throughout the building (and beyond). Which still needs local=20
management -=A0not necessarily less management just different=20
management.</span></font></div></div></blockquote><div><br>I use a 3G wirel=
ess connection a lot to connect to the internet and there isn't much to=
manage. Ok, you have to switch on encryption but that is true of any wirel=
ess and most secondary schools therefore have that overhead already. 3Gplus=
and 4G can give 20 meg which is more than enough to run apps directly=A0 f=
rom the remote internet, though I should think schools might still have som=
e basic caching server locally and Wifi which if planned properly is not ve=
ry expensive and low maintenance. Still a lot less hassle than managing the=
range of servers currently needed. Granted it isn't going to happen to=
morrow but I wouldn't bet against it being pretty standard by the time =
Year 7 leave school. There is also nothing that says it all has to be the s=
ame. You probably still want a more conventional desktop for multimedia edi=
ting, music tech etc but for e-portfolios, virtual learning and general pro=
ductivity, Chrome OS makes a lot of sense. There is danger IT in schools mi=
ght become workable and affordable even though the country is just about ba=
nkrupt :-)<br>
<br>Sort of makes you question the wisdom in investing millions in reinforc=
ing the desktop paradigm through 600 million on Curriculum on-line and all =
those BSF millions on infrastructure ;-)<br><br></div><blockquote class=3D"=
gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0p=
t 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>...</span></font></div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span></span></font>=A0</div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=3D"#0=
000ff"><span>Simon Chambers</span></font></div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><span><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=
=3D"#0000ff"></font></span>=A0</div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><span><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"2" color=
=3D"#0000ff"></font></span>=A0</div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left">
<hr>
</div>
<div dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Tahoma" size=3D"2"><b>From:</=
b>=20
<a href=3D"mailto:advisory-admin@talk.naace.org" target=3D"_blank">advisory=
-admin@talk.naace.org</a> [mailto:<a href=3D"mailto:advisory-admin@talk.naa=
ce.org" target=3D"_blank">advisory-admin@talk.naace.org</a>] <b>On=20
Behalf Of </b>Ian Lynch<br><b>Sent:</b> 19 November 2009 21:54<br><b>To:</b=
>=20
<a href=3D"mailto:advisory@talk.naace.org" target=3D"_blank">advisory@talk.=
naace.org</a>; <a href=3D"mailto:secondary@talk.naace.org" target=3D"_blank=
">secondary@talk.naace.org</a><div class=3D"im"><br><b>Subject:</b> Re:=20
[Advisory] The use of Instructional Technology in Schools<br></div></font><=
br></div><div><div></div><div class=3D"h5">
<div></div><br>Google announce an Open Source <a href=3D"http://news.cnet.c=
om/8301-30684_3-10401524-265.html?tag=3Dnl.e703" target=3D"_blank">web base=
d=20
operating system</a> for next year. What are the implications for schools? =
Few=20
thoughts to kick off.<br>
<ul>
<li>Nothing to install
</li><li>Low cost netbook and smartphone terminals
</li><li>No viruses or spyware - nothing user-installed on the terminal
</li><li>No need for local servers or storage
</li><li>Reduce management all round=20
</li><li>Increase collaboration and co-operative learning=20
strategies<br></li></ul>Overall a massive reduction in costs for school ICT=
to=20
the extent where every child has a portable terminal. End of exercise=20
books?<br><br>Perhaps we need to revisit the e-strategy.<br><br>Note that w=
ith=20
such an operating system all applications are web based so the concept of a=
=20
single learning platform from one supplier is akin to saying a desktop only=
need=20
one mega-application from one supplier. Even if it was possible it would be=
=20
highly undesirable. We know what technological monopolies do. Good thing ab=
out=20
the web is Open Standards so its not hard to integrate many different=20
applications. And before anyone says what about Google gaining a monopoly, =
it's=20
Open Source so any other company can do the same thing using Google's c=
ode. I'd=20
expect Mozilla to do a version based on Firefox, probably Canonical too.=20
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