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Re: [LUG] Kids failing on coursework because of proprietary file formats

 

On 17/06/10 12:33, Julian Hall wrote:
> On 17/06/2010 11:50, Rob Beard wrote:
>> Hi folks,
>>
>> I thought this might be interesting.  Basically it's a discussion
>> going on in the comments section of The Register about the new Office
>> 2010 (and how you can't buy a cheaper version upgrade from a previous
>> version of MS Office)...
>>
>> http://forums.channelregister.co.uk/forum/1/2010/06/16/office_2010_no_upgrade/
>>
>>
>> Scroll down to the post titled "Think of the children" by Dave_H.
>>
>> This really got me, his poor kids who are at secondary school are
>> being given fail marks because they can't open proprietary document
>> formats (i.e. Office 2007).
>>
>> I think this is something that should be brought up.  These teachers
>> are basically helping vendor lock in by using proprietary software
>> which the kids then may well have to buy (for instance MS Publisher)
>> which funds the Microsoft monopoly.
>>
>> Surely if the schools switched to OpenOffice, they could distribute
>> copies of OpenOffice for Windows, Linux and Mac so anyone with a
>> computer at home could make use of the documents.
>>
>> My elder step kids are in secondary school now and one of them is
>> talking about moving back to Devon to live with us.  If we get this
>> sort of vendor lock in from their new school I'm going to kick up a
>> stink about it.
>>
>> I wonder if it's worth mentioning to Adrian Sanders and Anne-Marie
>> Morris (or anyone outside of Teignbridge/Torbay, mention it to your
>> local MP).
>>
>> Rob
>>
> Just forwarded your mail and sent the below to my MP in S Wales :)
> 
> ----
> Hi Alun,
> 
> When I was doing my degree the lecturers told us *not* to submit
> assignments in docx (the Office 2007 format) because they couldn't open
> it.  I think it is reprehensible that teachers in schools are apparently
> doing the reverse and failing children for their own errors.  I would be
> interested to know how widespread this practise is.
> 
> Kind regards,
> 
> Julian
> 


Another plan forward this to Ofsted,  its their job to ensure standards
are maintained,  if teachers are failing students then this needs to be
investigated and dealt with.

Paul

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