Why open source sucks
A critical look at why open source software solutions fail at most South African schools and why you should rather invest in propriety software.
A few days ago I was chatting to an IT administrator at a very prominent private school near Cape Town. The school in question has 4 beautiful computer labs and a very elaborate server setup. Even the tuckshop has a dedicated server to log and track transactions. So in the minds of computer nerds, this school setup is super cool.
As we chatted about education, it became very clear that the IT administrator is an advocate for open source software. The school uses Moodle for instance, and I’m sure they’ve dabbled in a number of other open source products. The IT administrator told me that open source solutions are the way of the future and that systems such as Moodle are replacing propriety software such as EvaluNet XT.
For those of you who don’t know, “open source” refers to free software where the code can be freely edited and customised. “Propriety” refers to software that you pay for, and which you cannot edit yourself.
Without giving the matter much thought, one would immediately and without question say that free software which can be edited and customised to suit your needs is a much better way to go than having to pay for software that cannot be edited or customised. And bear in mind, when I say “customised”, I am not referring to the content of the software (e.g. curriculum), but rather to the actual software code. The “inner workings” of the software.
But give the matter a bit more thought and you will begin to notice the very glaring pitfalls that open source software solutions pose, very specifically to schools …
1. Open source software is NEVER plug and play. It requires experience and a knowledge of servers, networks and connections to install and setup.
As a teacher, have you ever tried to install Moodle, WordPress, Drupal or Joomla? No? Well, do you know what Apache, PHP, C++, Java, Perl or Python are? I didn’t think so.
Let’s go back to the IT administrator I referred to above. I asked a simple question: “Do you have a teaching degree?”. He answered by telling me he has an engineering degree and experience with setting up of networks for prominent schools and businesses across the country. A more direct answer to my question would just have been “no”. With no teaching degree, this IT administrator punting open source solutions to the school management committee and governing body, has very little knowledge of what it means to be a teacher and the struggles and issues teachers face on a day-to-day basis WITHOUT the extra pressure of having to design and customise open source software.
2. Normal teachers do not (and are not expected to) have knowledge of servers, networks, connections and all that other programming language the nerds talk about.
By making the school reliant on open source software, the IT administrator is essentially ruling out the option of having a normal teacher replace him if he ever decides to move to another school or retire. Coding, customising and managing of open source software is not a very simple thing and not something your average teacher has time to learn about. Someone with this kind of experience is going to cost. And this is money that average schools cannot afford to spend on a non-teaching staff member.
3. Open source software does not have dedicated support channels.
Open source generally attracts a large community of users and fans. However, what most people don’t realise is that there is no “support hotline” for open source software. Why? Because if the software is free, then no one is going to sit manning a technical support centre! Of course you can rely on support forums and chat rooms, but as a teacher, when you have a problem with the software you’re using, you want immediate help. Propriety software (software you pay for) always has dedicated support channels to help you whenever you need it. If something goes wrong, the company is obliged to assist you. With open source, if something goes wrong, you normally need to figure it out on your own or wait until a more experienced user is willing to help you.
Can you hear the warning bells going off here? As a teacher, wouldn’t you rather be teaching, marking, doing admin and then going home to be with your family, instead of having to sort out software issues in your computer centre?
Let’s continue …
4. Open source can be great for businesses, or schools with lots of money and lots of time to waste.
Let’s say your school is a Michaelhouse or Bishops of this world, then sure go ahead and try open source. If however, your school is an Edgemead High of this world (which is where I matriculated from), then for the love of education, please do not waste your time with open source!
Seriously, how many schools can actually boast that they have successfully setup and use an open source software solution to the REAL benefit of learners and teachers? A couple, I’m sure. However when it comes to the majority of schools, open source is just not a viable solution. A school is an institution of learning. Yes, many people say that schools should be run like businesses, and I agree. But, and this is a BIG BUT – I don’t believe that schools should be spending time or money trying to develop or customise open source solutions when excellent quality, easy to install and use, propriety software solutions are available that do NOT require technical know-how in order to use properly.
Many teachers struggle enough with learning how to use computers and integrate IT into the classroom, so why make them struggle more with open source software?
5. There is no on-site training available in open source solutions.
Have you ever heard of a Moodle Trainer coming to a school to show the teachers how to use the system? Or a Joomla Representative presenting a workshop on new features? No? Not surprising considering that such things do not exist in the world of open source. Sure, the Shuttleworth Foundation has invested in getting schools and teachers to use open source solutions, but they are a very long way off the mark. Most propriety software solutions have training options available for teachers and many even present free hands-on workshops. Why? Because you have paid for the software. But at least you’ll know how to use and implement it properly!
6. Open source is NOT free and is normally NEVER ‘finished’
Open source software solutions will do much better when the open source advocates start acknowledging that open source is not actually free. A lot of time and effort needs to be put in place in order to use open source software, and as I mentioned, you DO need to be a “techie” in order to know what is going on when something breaks or doesn’t work as it should. Many open source solutions are only half-finished products.
Don’t waste your teachers’ time. They deserve better. Invest in propriety solutions until such a time comes that South African schools are ready for ‘open source’.
My challenge … if you are a school that has successfully implemented an open source solution, write your story in the comments box below.
Until next time – Microsoft rules and open source sucks!
Teacher's Monthly experience
Well, well Adrian! I am suitably shocked at this article! You have made several startling assumptions and generalisations that deserve a response. Instead of doing so in these comments, I shall post my thoughts in my Online Teacher column next month. Stay tuned…
Come now, you know much of what I say is true. HOWEVER, I have planned a follow up article “Why PROPRIETY software sucks”, so keep an eye out for that. I look forward to your official response in your next column …
On-site Moodle training is wildly available around the world. You do have to look, of course.
As far as I can see you are complaining that OS software allows you to do the support yourself but has the audacity to ask for you to pay for support if you can’t do that or don’t want to.
The alternative of course is to have to pay regardless of your own abilities, and wait for updates that suit the seller. I have the freedom (and use it) to modify Moodle for specific needs and don’t have to wait for someone else to go and do it for me.
The word is proprietARY.
You do realise, surely, that your blog is running on a piece of Open Source software called WordPress? It seems to work pretty well, and not require a rocket-science degree to setup and use.
Open Source software is intended to be “Free Software” but not necessarily free of services. In fact, hundreds of successful companies do nothing but provide services and support to open source clients.
This sort of black and white thinking is divisive, inaccurate, and (frankly) dangerous. I would encourage you to write a more balanced follow-up in order to recover some journalistic integrity.
Shocked,
My article about open source software is specifically aimed at the use of open source within a SCHOOL environment.
Hence Point 4 Part I: “Open source can be great for businesses …”
Teacher’s Monthly runs a variety of open source products. Our staff have qualifications in programming, analytics, emarketing, graphic design, content authoring etc etc. These are not skills you will find in a normal, average school environment. The final product of Teacher’s Monthly is a culminated of years of very hard work. So no, a rocket-science degree is not required, but years of time certainly is!
Thus Point 4 Part II: “…or schools with lots of money and lots of time to waste.”
I do not consider schools with lots of money and lots of time to waste to be “average”.
That my article should be divisive, inaccurate and considered dangerous is strangely humorous to me, personally. I’ll tell you what I do find dangerous: IT administrators spending months and months on open source products (that they view as their pet project) that end up to be a complete waste of time, while learners AND teachers suffer (I consider not using a computer centre at a school optimally to be a terrible thing). After all, every day counts in educating a child.
I refer back to my challenge: “My challenge … if you are a school that has successfully implemented an open source solution, write your story in the comments box below.”
So, Shocked, if you are, then please take the time to share your experiences and successes with us so that our readers can learn the recipe for success with open source software in a school environment.
Oh, and please understand, I am very pro-Web 2.0 for the use in classrooms and by teachers for the benefits of themselves and their learners. I am just not at all convinced that open source solutions have benefits for a ‘whole school’ in general … if you are an average, South African school, struggling with the basics such as numeracy and literacy.
We will shortly be introducing a new author to Teacher’s Monthly whose sole focus is to expound upon the internet in South Africa and getting teachers to be internet literate – which is a good first step to the ICT/School mind-shift barrier. So be sure to look out for that.
As a teacher, you must feel ashamed with your ignorance about sharing knowledge.
Interesting.
We make software for schools. I suppose that one could label it proprietary.
We don’t give away the source code to our intellectual property, but we’ve proudly built our app on open source tools, and our schools own their data. We also write apps for the open source Android phone/tablet platform.
If open source sucked, we’d have to license proprietary software for our web and database servers, and our users would suffer those costs. If open source sucked, the thousands of kids that rely on the OLPC and EduBuntu for access to computers would be without. If open source sucked, Android wouldn’t be the most popular phone platform in the world.
I know that these items aren’t all directly linked to education. But I do know that there’s a lot more to open source than servers and nerd stuff.
People don’t have to use Internet Explorer because we have open source browsers called Firefox and Chrome. Students don’t have to buy Microsoft Office because we have OpenOffice (and LibreOffice).
I make a living on selling software to schools. But I can’t accept that open source sucks.
Best,
Tim
Tim,
staffroom (http://www.mystaffroom.net) by Umoya (which for the benefit of other readers is what you are involved in) is a perfect example of using open source software the right way. As far as I can tell it is based on an open source platform?
I would strongly encourage schools to invest in systems like this, because generally one would be able to offer these solutions at very competitive prices, and the software is often light-weight and adaptable due to the open source platform. I also have no doubt that you offer a good support, implementation and training structure.
What I discourage (strongly), is a school trying to gun it alone. I firmly believe that schools should rather spend money on the finished, polished, and well-supported software products instead of spending money and time trying to do it from scratch.
For instance, the Western Cape Education Department is famous for having spent a very large sum of money developing their own ‘software’ products, only to be completely out-done by products created by educational software development companies. This is a classic example. Logic tells me that it is better to spend money with a company that is an expert at what it does than to try and build your own products.
Hence my point that schools should focus on educating, and software companies should focus on building useful, creative and exceptional products that support the schools.
If I wanted to drive across the Sahara, I’d buy a 4×4. I wouldn’t buy a DIY kit.
Thanks for your comments!
Open Source runs the gamut from poorly supported, high maintenance junk to excellent, very profssional ‘plug and play’ software quite competitive with commercial software. A brief selection I use in my school include:
- TuxPaint, TuxTyping, TuxMath (childrens educational painting, typing and maths programs).
- OpenOffice (word-processor, spreadsheet, etc)
- Firefox (web-browser)
- FreeMind (mind-mapping)
- G-Compris (educational suite aimed at junior grades)
- Gimp (image editor)
- Inkscape (vector editor)
In all cases these opensource applications run on Windows as well as Linux – most even have Mac versions. They are also all very useful in a real world, cash straped, no time for maintenance, school context.
In some cases the names in this list are so well known that it is very easy to forget that these are still opensource. Opensource is not limited to Linux and web-based applications.
Dismissing either opensource or proprietry software out of hand means dismissing a wide range of potentially useful applications. Rather evaluate each tool on its merits. Then cost-effectiveness, especially if you need licenses for a full computer lab, becomes a very important consideration.
regards
Mark
(PS, NCSA provides ‘Moodle in a box’ – a single installer download for Windows aimed at educators with little technical knowledge who want to experiment with this as a learning support environment).
It seems you have hit a nerve. Open source software can be a good solution if it’s good software (like WordPress) that your blog is using. However, when it’s bad software that has become popular just because it’s cheaper than the commercial alternative, or because the IT person is a religious about the software, then people forced to use that software tends to suffer. Moodle is a prime example of a crap piece of software that has a community of people who follow it like a religion. What to see the bad side of this open source project, browse some of the info below…warning, the links below are NSFMD (Not safe for moodle disciples):
http://www.educhalk.org
http://www.eldoom.org
Figaro, the eldoom.org address doesn’t work … ?
Sorry…need to fix that when I get a chance. Try the .com
“However, what most people don’t realise is that there is no “support hotline” for open source software.”
For Moodle, there is a support hotline, provided by Moodle partners. You get the best of both worlds – if you have the local knowledge to run Moodle, you can do it without extra cost. If you don’t, you can have commercial (paid/sla’d/contracted) support via the Moodle Partners at Moodle.com.
10% of the revenue that Moodle partners earn from customers goes back to directly support Moodle development, so it’s a pretty honest and straightforward attempt to provide a win-win in educational software.
Not everyone is happy with this, but it does work for many educational institutions and the effort saves them money they can spend on teaching and learning rather than software liceneses;-).
“If you don’t, you can have commercial (paid/sla’d/contracted) support …”
This is exactly my point. If you want the support, you need to pay for it – so open source is never ‘truly’ free. Unless of course you are very familiar with the open source software you’re making use of and have the knowledge to run it yourself. But even then, you must count in the cost of the time you spend running it yourself.
And this is where the problem lies. Computer IT teachers/administrators should be spending their (paid) time on teaching.
Adrian – you don’t understand the terminology you’re using, and that makes your statements meaningless.
Open source is open, closed source is closed. Free is free, paid is paid. Community or paid support are just that, free and paid hosted services are that too.
Examples exist which sit in each of these different sectors (Microsoft provide open source software, you can use WordPress on WordPress.com with paid hosting and community support, etc). You’re using the terms interchangeably without understanding your own statements fully.
Nice try with the exciting headline though
Chris, I do understand the terminology as do you, and as do most people who are reading this blog.
However, the problem lies specifically with a handful of IT teachers here in South Africa who punt open source as “free software” to try and convince governing bodies and management committees to go the open source route.
I really had hoped that by now, someone would have shared a success story where open source has worked well within a South African school environment …
And if no success stories exist (and I’m sure that many do!) then perhaps a success story from a school in a different country … ?
I thought the heading would turn a few heads
First Google result for “moodle training” is http://moodle.com/training/ and that page lists screeds of commercial providers. Likewise a google for “joomla training”.
I’m amazed that someone in the education sphere would be proud to exhibit such deliberate ignorance or paucity of research.
Ah, you got me Chris! Point 5 should have been much better worded. As you’ve pointed out, yes, there is paid training available for many of the open source products.
However, what I ask within point 5 is: “Have you ever heard of a Moodle Trainer coming to a school to show teachers how to use the system? Or a Joomla Representative presenting a workshop on new features?”.
The key to the above is the word “school”, specifically within a South African environment. And remember, I am asking questions. So, if you do know of a school that has made use of one of the available training providers, please do share.
My article is not based on ignorance, but rather a strong, strong call for open source advocates to share success stories where they exist within South African school environments.
I checked your web site out, and clearly your company is promoting open source in the right way.
I agree with this statement from your site (which I trust you won’t mind me publishing here) “Depending on the specific need, there are several excellent CMS options available.” This is very true. I just want to see if and how it can be used within an average South African school environment where teachers are already worked to the bone with large class sizes, admin, discipline issues, low pay etc.
Thank you for your comments and for taking this discussion further!
I’ve worked on large closed source projects and on large open-source projects and, frankly, have struggled to see much difference. Nearly all your points could apply just as well to closed-source software as they do to open-source software. An ordinary teacher doesn’t have the experience to install/administer (say) Moodle but they don’t have the experience to install/administer Blackboard/WebCT/Desire2Learn/Whatever either. The difference is that the open-source route gives them some flexibility. If they do happen to have the experience they are free to give it a go – they are free to run low cost/risk pilots and trials in whatever way they see fit.
The point about support and training is also neither here nor there. Popular and well-used open-source software drags the commercial support companies/training along behind it. Again the advantage, to my mind, is choice. You can choose your support company and (hopefully) free-market pressures improve quality of service. With closed source software you may not have that degree of choice.
Any open-source advocate that says open-source is free is mad. Most do not say this. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. You have to provide hardware, support your users and provide training. That costs money. There are just different models for achieving that. Again, open-source may give you some additional options in choosing those.
Many open-source solutions are indeed half-finished solutions. Many are very good indeed (e.g. WordPress that you are using and, most likely, the server software sitting behind it). Your responsibility is choosing software that is fit for purpose. For most users the licensing model is completely irrelevant – does it do what you need and does it fit your budget. No software is ever finished, it is the nature of the beast. I take it you have noticed that new versions keep appearing of pretty much *all* “supported” software.
Howard, good point on the support. Although I’ve found that the same pressures apply with propriety software – the more competition that is around (even if the software achieves different goals) the more effort the closed source software companies put into their support.
All a world away from the oft tripped out misinformation that “there is no support for open-source software”. A lot of open-source software is, in effect, indistinguishable from closed source in deployment and support. As I say, the licence model is often an irrelevance to the end user.
On the question of credentials:
“With no teaching degree, this IT administrator punting open source solutions to the school management committee and governing body, has very little knowledge of what it means to be a teacher and the struggles and issues teachers face on a day-to-day basis”
Does your school’s physical plant manager have a teaching degree? How about your finance people?
Jeremy, the IT administrator in question has a direct impact on the productivity of the teachers (through solutions that assist them) and the growth of the learners (through solutions that aid learning).
I fail to see what direct impact a finance secretary or school caretaker have on teachers teaching and learners learning?
Software developers or purchasers failing to understand, or get the involvement of, their real end users is at the root of a lot of unpleasantness or even total failure. Once again, nothing to do with open source per se, although I might have to agree that open source is more susceptible to the ‘geek lead development’ phenomenon.
Hi Adrian,
Not sure if the following can count as success or not, but our school is K-12 with open source running everywhere. Some samples are given below:
Main systems & services
Desktop: Xubuntu
Server: Linux
Authentication: Fedora-ds
Web Server: Apache+Perl / PHP+MySQL
WebSite (CMS): Joomla, Drupal
File share: Samba
File share Access from Home : WebDisk
Web Proxy: Squid-cache
Mail Server: Postfix
Library Management System: Koha
E-learning: Moodle
E-Portfolio System: Mahara
Blog: WordPress-Mu
Wiki/FAQ: Wiki Media
Podcast: Podcast
Gallery: Gallery2
Room / Resources Booking : MRBS
Timetabling: FET
Teaching and Learning Apps
Office: Open Office & Open Office 4 kids (OO4kids)
Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox
E-Mail Client: Mozilla Thunderbird, Evolution
FTP Client: FileZilla
Image Editor: Gimp
Vector Editor: Inkscape
Audio Editor: Audacity
Music Editor: MusE
Image Viewer: gthumb
CD/DVD Burner: K3B
Movie Player: VLC, Totem Movie Player
Interior Design:Sweet Home 3D
Programming: Robo Mind, Scratch, KTurtle
Mind Map: Freemind
Diagram: Dia Diagram
Scan: Xsane
Other Educational Software:
Tux Paint, Tux Math, Tux Typing, KTouch, G-Compris, GeoGebra
This the the third year after we’ve migrated to Open Source school wide. We may not have this day without support from everyone in our community, management team, teachers, staff and, of course, good IT support team. We’ve never use external training service. We run everything in house.
From where such a hate to the free open knowledge and software? Is it because site is powered by EvaluNet and that Moodle is used instead of EvaluNet?
You are wrong with the first! You say “Open source software is NEVER plug and play. It requires experience and a knowledge of servers, networks and connections to install and setup”
Many hosting companies offer free installers or the so called Fantastico with the help of which no technical knowledge is needed to install open source software like Moodle, WordPress, Joomla, Mambo, Drupal, Elgg and others. I use GoDaddy and installed my wordress like plug and play. Everytime when updates available users are notified about updates which can be applied with just a few clicks. No technical knowledge is required anymore!
Ibrahim,
You need to take into consideration the context of my entire article, firstly. Secondly, I definitely don’t hate open source software.
The failings of Moodle are actually to the benefit of software such as EvaluNet XT, QuestionMark and VirtualAssessor.
Where Moodle can be flaky as described by North Carolina State University below, the software offered by EvaluNet, QuestionMark and Eduflex is not.
“Moodle suffers from flaws (bugs and deficiencies in design) that directly affected our and our students’ ability to use the system efficiently and effectively. Some of the bugs affect Moodle modules used in grade determinations, and this raises concerns about the university’s legal liability.”
In addition, hostile responses to my views of Moodle are to be expected, again as described by North Carolina State University: “Some (not all) Moodle developers exhibit an almost evangelical attitude toward this open-source product, and thus tend to take a dismissive or hostile attitude towards some of the concerns noted herein – “kill the messenger” as some moodle.org participants have characterized responses to questions about some flaws and design decisions – but that of course does not invalidate the concerns.”
Finally, I base my opinions on Moodle (and various other open source software) on what I have seen happen in South African schools. I have seen schools waste time and resources. That’s what I have seen.
Having said that, Pat (see comment above) mentioned that they do use Moodle as part of their elearning management, and I am assuming, based on Pat’s comments, that it has been successfully implemented. I’d like to see how they make use of it.
As I’ve mentioned in my article and many comments thereafter, if you’re a school teacher and you’ve successfully implemented open source, please share your stories here …
Ps. Fantastico is a great piece of software, I will admit! However, there is a difference between installing something successfully and actually implementing it successfully too.
Adrian,
I have heard about the latest Moodle that it is slow. I prefer using Atutor LMS instead. These days I am using the latest Blackboard 9 which has lots of features but not 100% perfect. It has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the things I do not like its dependency on Java environment.
Just google inurl:blackboard and inurl:moodle to find out which one is ruling!
So if the problem is in the Moodle, why create such a big stereotype to the Open Source movement? Open Source is not only Moodle or just free software. There are many proprietary software which also suck, but nobody is saying whole proprietary commercial software are bad.
For just viewing and printing PDF document which is 10kb in size, these days people without knowing there are lighter open source viewers download a gigantic Adobe Reader which is 58.57 MB in size! Imagine what a teacher with a very low bandwidth have to wait to download 58.57 MB!
Last, but not least nobody is for 100% guaranteed to have a reliable software. It is better to read the long End User License Agreements EULAs of the “ruling Microsoft” first!
I’ll take a look at Atutor LMS. I presume it’s also open source?
My gripe is not really with open source software per se. After all, at EvaluNet we make use of many open source products! WordPress being one of them.
I think that there are a number of unfortunate individuals/schools that have been sucked into the Moodle stream without truly understanding what it entails. Perhaps a better title would have been “Why Moodle Sucks”
As I mentioned in one of my previous comments above, I think that open source has a lot to offer in terms of lightweight stability that many proprietary systems often struggle to achieve.
I agree, there is a lot of proprietary software out there that should be archived in the files of history forever!
I think, at the end of the day, schools should always FIRST identify and agree on goals and objectives for their computer centres, and then research what systems will help them achieve these. An informed decision is a good decision …
1). Several Open source solutions are plug-and-play, and I’m not aware of any non-open source solutions for classroom websites that are truly “plug and play.” By definition someone at the school needs to be your website administrator, someone knowledgable in how to run it. Teachers don’t have to know wordpress or Moodle installation at my school, the IT dept sets it up in the summer for them. They just need training on posting, adding assignments etc. We’re a small school and can’t afford a blackboard solution, and from what I’ve seen those suck even worse.
Also have you seen Alfresco vs sharepoint? I’d rather install alfresco and run it locally than buy Sharepoint and work to get it setup.
2). Even a small school like mine has an IT person (me) and no one would expect a regular teacher to take my place. I came from the classroom, but with a Comp Sci background. My future replacement will have IT knowledge behind him/her.
3). It depends on the project, I get more support on WordPress & Moodle than my Powerschool setup despite Pearson’s “dedicated support channel.” Usually I end up going to community forums for Powerschool (a commercial product) to get timely support.
4). Have you ever struggled with Blackboard or studywiz? Talk about time to waste! With Open Source apps you trade application cost for time, and local employee knowledge. Sometimes it’s cheaper and faster, sometimes it’s just cheaper, sometimes not. Moodle 2 for example has a host of issues, but other apps work well and can be productive quickly.
Some open-source solutions work well, like Alfresco, others don’t. You have to judge it by the project.
5). There are lots of Moodle, & wordpress trainers and for Drupal there are sites like: http://www.drupalize.me for video support and companies like lulabot which provide support if you can’t do it yourself. I’ve conducted a number of workshops for schools on Moodle and WordPress.
6). I’ve never seen a major software package outside gaming that was well and truly “finished.” Sharepoint for example has a lot of things incomplete. Powerschool is very much a work in progress. Again you need to judge things by the product not generalize by the license. WordPress for example is a well-constructed blogging platform that functions well. It does what it’s intended to do. Alfresco, and Moodle (1.9) also function well and easily run. Anyone who bought Windows 98 or ME knows that just because there’s a shrink-wrapped package and you paid money for it, that doesn’t mean it works well or at all.
If you’re a school with no IT staff:
A). That’s silly
B). Then you shouldn’t try technology at all as you don’t have anyone to go to.
If you do then judge what the capabilities of your staff are and either:
A). Work with what you have, if you have a limited staff use iWeb, or wordpress or Google sites to run teacher websites and stick with that.
B). Invest in people-infrastructure. Get a good DBA and a good website manager and you can roll with an integrated site using any of the following:
Wordpress, Drupal, Moodle
C). Outsource it, you can buy packages and pay outside companies to do everything for you, but in my experience it’s always been more expensive and given us less control over the end-product and we have less buy-in.
Much of my time is spent in a classroom and although it is not completely plug and play to set up your own open source software you don’t always have to have knowledge of all you mentioned. I have set up an open source video sharing platform, LMS and I didn’t have to invest a huge amount of time in installation and configuration. On Amazon Web Services (AWS) there are preconfigured systems that only require a bit of setting up like your ip address and email. With this I have a working version of Kaltura video server (30 minutes to set up) and you can get Moodle in a pinch (I am using Instructure which is open source but has paid hosted version as well). If you don’t like it shut it down, you are charged very little per hour, it works out to about 70 usd for always on in a month. AWS can do backups so when something breaks you have got a snapshot to back to (although you will loose some information). Beyween open source and cloud computing Universities are not the only ones that can afford to invest in learning technologies.
Interesting read.
To be honest, I prefer open source projects over paid commercial projects.
#1 reason, I simply do not have the cash.
#2 reason, I have some extra time to spend.
when looking at different LMS (learning management systems)
A: I started the general google searches and picking through stuff till, i started getting Terms. Example: LMS, CMS, etc… that would apply to software packages geared to help with learning.
B: Through above search, I picked up various software packages, and started getting into those 1 maybe 2 websites, were someone took the time to make a “spread sheet” or comparison table of various features of software. I know these are generally outdated, but help narrow down and focus in on common features of different software packages, along with “nice latest features” that some other software package may not yet have.
C: About this time, I start looking at given software websites. to look at there “plug-in’s / add-on” section, to get a feel on community knowledge and disabilities in core software package.
D: Start looking at forums, I honestly hate to say it, but VBulletin software forums, I see more often on strong communities vs other forum software. If there is a hard communication problem. Then more likely less overall performance from the community.
E: Start checking out demo’s of each software package, after doing all above. both end user, and admin side, along with checking out 2 to 5 sample sites that are running software. To see overall look and see the good / bad designs.
F: Start looking at source code, or API’s, or the like. This includes documentation, which may be manuals, web based, or directly within source files, or all the above. And is there enough info there and knowing my own abilities to make things work. without spending extra time learning something completely new, beyond, learning the structure and coding methods in a given software project.
G: one of my pet peeves is, how old are the underlying API’s from other sources being used. Examples: jquery, yahoo api’s, or google api’s, etc… to get an idea of how old of technology it is, an if there is any built in limitations, just because of old code use. and any add-on’s may not be “run as fast” or “more buggy” due to extra work arounds done.
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it does not matter, if it is open source or paid commercial software. I look at all above, and 9 times out of 10. I can find an open source project with all the features I want.
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as far as moodle is concern. my major beef is “shopping cart ability”, but I do not remember were I read it. was creating a software that promotes learning freely. adding an option that also promotes $$$$$$$ can be a bad thing most likely in there eyes.
as far as moodle, not being ready for production. is any 1.0, 2.0 ready for production? any new complete rebuild of any large software is never ready for production. taking microsoft windows. I no longer count how many times folks state wait till first “service pack” before even thinking about using any new OS or office product from microsoft. Firefox, wordpress, etc… they been same way. 1.0, 2.0, etc… are production releases to masses for strong use. first time large use were bugs may show up for first time.
Is oscommerce 3.0, or moodle 2.0 ready for main stream? no, they are open source projects. They have a different model and path vs large commercial projects. Open Source projects get the main developers creating the next large main core updates, then folks that use it, creating stuff for it. Unlike commercial large software projects. That more likely have Quality insurance built in. were Extra things are tested. and a staff that works things out before a new release. and if a feature is not added into a given new large release number. most likely a given feature will wait till next large release number. Unlike an open source. were someone more likely create a half way or good useable add-on to add the feature fairly quickly (fairly quickly being within 1 to 5 months)
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For schools, the IT staff and there knowledge is a very big thing. if the staff does not know a given computer language, or like. you will more likely be paying extra cash out for “hot line phone numbers” and tech support. If the staff understands, the program, and is able to easy figure out in and outs. and then change if need be. more likely ya you will be relying on the staff to keep things up and going, and at that time it depends on your IT staff.
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Speaking of which, ability to get source code regardless if open source or commercial. and then having a open forum, or a closed forum. were folks can help each other while at same time get help from higher ups. Sorry, but I have ran into way to many folks, that do not have a clue, and will tend to give you the run around. vs getting in touch with folks that know. Forums to me in that part more so open forums. tend to allow info to get passed along easier. without info going through the grape vine.
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Pitfalls. I do not care if it is commercial or open source. they all have there Pitfalls. or rather I should say Cons vs Pros.
Sorry, had to end above early. ((microsoft auto update wanted to restart pc *ughs*))
I see it way to many times, people not doing there “HOME WORK” and more of doing “impulse buying”. For folks with “impulse” buying, having a “hot line” you most likely have to pay for. most likely comes in very handy. For those that done there home work. there more likely to be prepared for this and that, and except some random things to happen short little things to long drawn out down times, and more likely, done some “test bed” running of things, so when something does happen. They have a good idea of what needs to be done. or better yet, were to go, to find the info they need to get the problem resolved.
if you have a company come in and install all the electrical, network lines, setup some routers, perhaps a couple servers. most likely some microsoft operating system software. when you get a problem and need to call someone. do you call microsoft or the company you called that installed the stuff?
What I am getting at. is there are different local companies with different knowledge in different things. and then there is the internet as well. Making those calls before you get into what could be a very expensive purchase then long term stuck with doing. So you know you have someone to fall back on, that might have more experience with a given software, or might have better resources that can fix a problem.
Falling back on a commercial company phone number. Does not always work. and may leave you out over a weekend, then good portion of a monday.
open source or commercial. i am willing to bet good portion if not all local computer companies / software companies that install / setup / and/or maintain stuff for folks. has someone or has ability to help figure out stuff fairly easily.
to state “open source sucks” or even to go down onto moodle. to me, is more like trolling, or releasing some stress, to possible point of given up, due to ya in over ya head. if any portion is that. all i can say, is keep at it. been there done that. in many things.
Wow! AWESOME article, Adrian Marnewick!
Open source is BULLSHIT. So many times, throughout my life and career as an engineer, scientist, and mathematician, I’ve heard the speeches from tech-heads who want to push this useless worthless crap onto me.
I and my family have used a PC with some type of Microsoft (MS) Operating System (OS) since 1985 and we’ve done wonderfully.
Yes – sure – those OSs, MS Word with Design Science’s Mathtype, and other software (Sony Click2DVD, Dazzle, etc) that runs on the MS OS have given us almighty HELL at times.
But, compared to the worthless TeX and LaTeX typesetting system, which I have attempted at least half a dozen times since 1990, and which have produced NOTHING, ZERO, for me, other than wasting my time downloading them and then deleting them from my computer,
the MS products like MS Word are miracles.
There is a REASON proprietary software and WYSIWYG were invented:
so users of computers could GET OTHER STUFF DONE with the computer,
rather than waste YEARS and DECADES of their lives RESEARCHING
the computer as a tool itself, looking to the ends of the galaxy for some command, only to forget it one line later and look to the ends of the galaxy again.
Proprietary software FREES THE USER UP to focus on their math or science or making video or whatever it is they are trying to do.
Open source drags the user down into the depths of computer hell.
Yes, I agree: the total lack of compatibility among the flood of different proprietary OSs and software AND hardware is a travesty.
Seriously, back in the early 1980s, when we envisioned a high-tech computer-filled world, we imagined, hoped for, and predicted a uniformly ORGANIZED and Soviet-style approach to all software and hardware: a universal standard, so that EVERYTHING would be interchangeable with everything else. But capitalism DESTROYED all that and created that horrible mess.
But, open source is NOT the answer.
The answer would be a single universal government-created organized system of computer language, software, hardware, to do everything from digitizing analog video, word processing, math and science typesetting, spreadsheets, video and audio editing. I truly had imagined and hoped for such an organized world back in 1980.
I guess the anti-law conservatives who want to destroy all governments got the upper hand.
Yes Government should decide. Perfect Government would perfectly create the perfect software for us. Because as we all know, Governments do not waste, always choose the correct solution and always have the best interests of their citizens at heart. Yes, my friend, we should all look to Government for our salvation.
Oh, I forgot to add, I’m sorry the world doesn’t fit into your idea of organisation. What a disaster for the rest of us.
Your sarcasm would be funny were it not for your total hypocrisy that whenever somebody allegedly commits a “crime” against you, you conservatives rant and rave demanding that government protect you and bail you out and do anything you ask it to to the defendant.
Not all open source software is free. Have you ever heard of Red Hat (or have you heard of there excellent support). Not all proprietary software needs to be payed for. And plenty of Open Source software is plug and play like Firefox and many others. Setting up any cms (i.e. wordpress) will require knowledge of servers. Try building a webstite for scratch?
I appears that you are stupid.
And that is the nicest way of putting that.
And it appears you can’t read … putting it nicely.
This article refers to open source software in a South African school environment exclusively, and the reason it fails dismally at the majority of state schools.
Indeed no teacher should have to dabble with installing open source software on LAMP servers. Or figure out where/how to get support.
Then again I suppose the same applies to non-open source software too
Agreed.
Adrian
Interesting article, but your generalisations are severely misinformed and downright dangerous, as you yourself admitted as the comments progressed.
Each of your points was discussed in detail and shows how your points were made from generalisation, lack of information, ignorance, misinformation and lack of perspective.
South African state schools need require a lot of assistance and Open Source software provide many, many good options, including your pet peeve – Moodle – to enable that.
I urge you to turn around your dramatic negative approach to one that rather seeks to discuss if, and how, open source can be used in schools.
Come on. Show us you are bigger than that.
Hey Prad,
Thanks for your comments.
As I completely admitted, the article is a generalisation, but relates specifically to what I have experienced first-hand in South African schools.
Take the Shuttleworth Tux (open source) labs, for instance. I’m not aware of any that still exist. However, if you look at the Khanya labs (a government sponsored initiative using Microsoft and proprietary software) you see real upliftment at most (not all) of these schools.
I believe, from discussions with teachers, that the Tux labs failed due to the lack of software available. We all know that, historically, developers have focused more time and money on developing for Microsoft platforms, as this is where the market has been at for many years. Of course this is changing now.
As stated, open source software does indeed offer many excellent options for all types of industries, including education. We of course, use WordPress to power this site.
I’d just really, really love to see a teacher making very good use of an open source product that has statistically proven to increased learning and grades at that school.
If you’re out there, PLEASE contact me. We’d love to do research at your school.
Adrian, Adrian this article is of poor taste even for a matric pupil. Your rebuttal “Why PROPRIETY software sucks” is also not present and its more than a year later! Although Arthur Preston left some credability with “The Open Source Debate – Why Schools Need An Open Mind”.
Even with all your qualifications, your article is poorly researched and littered with arguments that frankly create the stinky mess in the fan. Proprietary software vendors are in many respects worse than Open Source Forums, and you have to pay for the support.
Moodle is a bad example as it has been pointed out, but in the same breath Micro$oft is also a bad example.
Just to point out my desktop support inferences have decreased from 90% to 10% moving away from Micro$oft to Ubuntu.
What does puzzle me is the fact that I don’t own any qualification except Matric, yes I still reference that old stuff, gives my age away as well, I’m a old timer in IT speak. I taught myself ITC and I am amused about the hogwash streaming out of Degreed people as yourself. By this article you have made it clear as mud you don’t have a clue of what a computer is and even less of a programme. The points you make here apply more to Propriety software then FOSS if you did your research. Moodle is also not research, but that you should know.
Final point, defending yourself in the comments has given me less respect for you in person and I have placed your company on my black list of companies not to recommend to my clients.
PS I do work in the Education and training sector
Vincent, refer to one of my earlier comments:
“… I think that open source has a lot to offer in terms of lightweight stability that many proprietary systems often struggle to achieve.
I agree, there is a lot of proprietary software out there that should be archived in the files of history forever!
I think, at the end of the day, schools should always FIRST identify and agree on goals and objectives for their computer centres, and then research what systems will help them achieve these. An informed decision is a good decision …”
I assume that, like many evangelists, you advocate ‘free’ resources to your clients as often as you possibly can. This is a shame, as there are still many excellent products out there that work, and work well, even although they are not free.
And while you’re working in the ed training sector and are self-taught, I can see from your response that you’re an open source evangelist. And that’s fine.
From the comments on this article in general, you get a very clear idea of what open source evangelists are like as people in terms of personality. I’ll leave that statement up to your own interpretation.
Conversely, I don’t think the people who’ve commented and have AGREED with my article are necessarily proprietary software evangelists. They just don’t necessarily agree that every piece of software on the earth should be free and open source.
We must face the facts, which are that some proprietary software is better than open source software, and vice versa. It’s a fact of life.
We will never all agree on the same thing, and this is good, because it encourages debate which further encourages good ideas.
I generally find your comment insulting as you make a personal attack on “degreed people” and the “hogwash streaming” out of them. I don’t think I need to remind you what amazing medical, scientific and humanitarian marvels “degreed people”, as you call them, have achieved.
Perhaps you suffer from a sense of self-worthlessness because you don’t have a degree. That is still no reason to attack people who may be more educated than you.
As to placing our company on your ‘black list’? I encourage you first to take a look at our products in detail. If you really cared about your clients, you’d help them make an informed decision based on the merits, features, accessibility and general usefulness of a product. From reading your comment, it’s clear you’d rather keep your clients away from someone who disagrees (in part) with your own personal beliefs. In other words, you’re not empowering your clients to make their own decision. Instead, you are simply making the decision for them because you disagree with someone else’s viewpoint. I wouldn’t recommend clients to you, either.