gmane.politics.activism.badvista.advocate

Fred Okuma | 27 Jan 13:54

Re: UK Becta recommending ODF/avoiding OOXML and Vista "not recommended"

A little bit off-topic now, but Becta gave one 
good reason in their report to recommend 'open 
software' in educational environment.

My summary:
- Some say students should be familiar with 
'industry standard' software (meaning Microsoft 
Office).
- Not true. Students are now highly computer 
literate. They can use many types of applications.
- Multi-vendor skill sets should enhance 
employability in the 21st century, not limit it.

Excerpt from the report follows. Becta recommends 
'freely available software' instead of so-called 
'industry standard software' in it ( 
http://publications.becta.org.uk/download.cfm?resID=35275 
):

---- quote ----
Addressing issues of mind set
6.12
Some schools and colleges take the view that they 
need to use a specific proprietary software 
product because that product is widely used in 
industry and commerce, and, the argument goes, 
students need to be familiar with what is in the 
real world ¹.
...(snip)...

(Continue reading)

headers

gpinterfirst | 27 Jan 15:16

Re: UK Becta recommending ODF/avoiding OOXML and Vista "not recommended"

I agree. Multi application knowledge is a must in the 21st century.
Unfortunately Bill Gates and his cronies force many of us to use their puny
overpriced programs through market fixings and arm twisting. In my case I
used Corel WordPerfect Office (which I think better than office), even
before it was Corel. Now that I am in real estate I literally being forced
to use MS products because the industry use it only MS programs.  

Gabe,

Ah, yes politics. Poli- coming from the latin word meaning many, and tics-
coming from the latin word meaning small blood sucking insects.

-----Original Message-----
From: advocate-bounces <at> badvista.org [mailto:advocate-bounces <at> badvista.org]
On Behalf Of Fred Okuma
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 7:58 AM
To: BadVista.org Advocacy
Subject: Re: [BadVista Advocate] UK Becta recommending ODF/avoiding OOXML
and Vista "not recommended"

A little bit off-topic now, but Becta gave one 
good reason in their report to recommend 'open 
software' in educational environment.

My summary:
- Some say students should be familiar with 
'industry standard' software (meaning Microsoft 
Office).
- Not true. Students are now highly computer 
literate. They can use many types of applications.

(Continue reading)