K–12 Open Technologies
By Kathy Ishizuka -- School Library Journal, 8/1/2006
While some trailblazers within the ed-tech community have already spearheaded open-source initiatives in schools, still others are left scratching their heads at the mention of this buzzword technology. That’s why the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) has launched a new Web site, K–12 Open Technologies.
Sponsored by IBM and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the site was developed to raise awareness among K–12 decision makers about the use of open technologies—everything from operating systems and applications to interoperability standards that allow software systems to exchange data. These tools are publicly available with fewer licensing restrictions than traditional proprietary sources. This means that educators can download server and desktop programs, databases, lesson plans, and more at low or no cost.
Jim Klein, IT director at the Saugus (CA) Union School District, says, open technologies not only provide a cost-effective option, but also “better align education with the culture of open collaboration that is so pervasive in modern society.”
Initially, the site will focus on the basic issues around open source, such as the “five questions to ask before adopting open technologies.”
