Overview...

Components of a K12LTSP system

How it all fits together

Benefits of using Linux in schools

Software included with K12LTSP

E-Mail with Evolution and Thunderbird

Internet with Mozilla Firefox

Office Suite with OpenOffice.org

Image editing with the GIMP

CD-Burning with K3b

Preview of educational software

Conceptual

Linux – at the heart of it all

Open Source – Making it all possible

The Shuttleworth Foundation's mandate

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Components of a K12 Network

Server:

The server is the most important part. It contains the

operating system to be served to the thin clients

- Network:

This is the cabling and switch that connects all the thin client

computers with each other

- Thin Clients:

This is old, refurbished computers, re-configured to start-up

from the network

- Operating System:

K12 LTSP is a customised version of Linux, preconfigured with

LTSP and educational software

K12LTSP in South African Schools

K12 LTSP: How it all fits together

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Server

Powerful CPU.

100MBRAM per thin client

Gigabit Network Card

Contains K12LTSP Operating System

Switch

Low-cost

thin client computer

Low-cost

thin client computer

Low-cost

thin client computer

Low-cost

thin client computer

Low-cost

thin client computer

Low-cost

thin client computer

Workstation 1

Workstation 2

Workstation 3

Workstation 4

Workstation 5

Workstation 6

Cables

Benefits of the K12 LTSP System:

Easy to set up

Ability to start small, and expand later

Central Administration

Linux allows schools to run internal Intranet and email systems

Thin clients can be replaced cheaply, a great benefit in high-crime areas. Data won't be lost since it's stored on the server.

Lots of free software available. Software may be customised to schools' needs. K12 is pre-loaded with educational software.

Community support: Linux community support is available via mailing lists, LUG websites, regular meetings and talks.

SLUG (Schools Linux Users' Group), arranges regular meetings for schools and community members at the Linux Computer Bank

System is fastly gaining acceptance all over the world, K12 is being improved every day.

Freely available off the Internet

Familiar interface means that basic skills still apply

K12LTSP in South African Schools

E-Mail with Evolution:

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Benefits of Evolution and Thunderbird on K12LTSP:

Virusses can't affect your system

Evolution has many features, such as calender

functions and time-management

Thunderbird is light-weight, ideal

for low-end server

Compatible with UUCP, the protocol

used by WCSN to provide e-mail

to schools

Excellent alternatives to Taxis,

Peggasus Mail (Perdepos)

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Mozilla Firefox K12LTSP:

Open Source Browser that complies to standards

Tabbed browsing

Themeable

Pop-up blocking

Secure

Fast

K12LTSP in South African Schools

OpenOffice.org

Orginisation working on creating high quality, free office suite similar to Microsoft Office

OpenOffice have been translated into Afrikaans and other African languages by the translate.org.za team

OpenOffice is compatible with Microsoft Office, which means that you can easily share your documents with friends

OpenOffice can export directly to PDF (Portable Document Files), which means that you can lock your files and distribute it easily

OpenOffice is cross-platform. It runs on Linux, Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, MacOS, and other platforms as well.

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Burning CD's is easy with K3b

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Educational Software included in K12 LTSP

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Educational Software included in K12 LTSP

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Linux – At the heart of it all

Linux is the heart of the operating system, it powers all the programs that have been displayed today

On Microsoft platforms, Windows supplies the operating system

Linux is open source, it is developed and still being developed by millions of people around the world, giving up their time to write code to share with everyone

Linux was developed by Linux Torvalds, a

Finish student seeking a better alternative

Recognised by many companies as a solid

operating system, including HP, Sun, IBM,

Motorola, and many others.

K12LTSP in South African Schools

Open Source – Making it all possible

Open source is a philosophy

Software should allow freedom, not restrict users

Software code must be available, users may change and redistribute the software

Software may not discriminate against anyone. No one is excluded

Open Source software has fewer security issues since bugs are found earlier. No hidden secrets are contained in Open Source code.

Huge companies are switching to open source platforms at an exciting rate. This creates a huge demand for people with Linux and open source skills, which is good for learners in the tuXlab program

K12LTSP in South African Schools

K12 Linux in schools project:

http://www.k12ltsp.org

Schools Linux User Group (South Africa):

http://www.slug.org.za

Find out more about open source software:

http://www.opensource.org

Shuttleworth Foundation Open Source Community Portal:

http://www.tsf.org.za/oscp

OpenOffice.org in South Africa:

http://www.openoffice.org.za

Open Source translation project:

http://www.translate.org.za

Time to make some notes...

2004-03-08T09:50:41