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Re: [LUG] linux distro experiences for pre-school

 

I am business manager for Duchy Preschool in Bradninch.

I use Linux (Ubuntu 12.04) for all the business operations.

We do have a Linux box for the children to use and we have Gcompris etc
installed. However, the children mainly access cbeebies website. One
problem that has been identified by our EYP is that most approved EY
software available runs from CD-ROM only (usually Win or Mac). Also
Gcompris doesn't have "British English" audio, and the spelling stuff 
is all upper case, which doesn't comply with the curriculum requirements
to teach recognition of lower case letters first.

We do have USB EY keyboards though.

I would be happy to involve our EYP in trying to specify exactly what
would be useful in terms of the EYFS statutory framework. We are a
beacon setting for Devon and often get placements, and mentor
practitioners in other settings.

For interest I am also chair of the Devon Sub-Committee of the
Pre-school Learning Alliance (PSLA), and Chair of the Western Divisional
Council of the PSLA which covers roughly a triangle from Stafford to
Newbury to Penzance. I'll talk to them about the ICT aspect of the
statutory framework - there may be some mileage for promoting Linux,
especially with the financial constraints in Early Years.

Let me know what I can do to help further.

Phil

On 24/03/13 13:44, Paul Sutton wrote:
> One of the current projects for the Exeter lug is to help set up a
> network for a pre-school, details here
>
> http://exeter.lug.org.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=ltsp_for_the_ark
>
> one of the suggestions was to use Mint as the OS on the dekstop,  Rick
> has suggested we use a child friendly interface,   Despite efforts Dan S
> and Myself have not found much that can plug in to Mint,  we find
> alternative distros however.
>
> There are a few distros out there that are built with this in mind   
>
> http://www.brighthub.com/computing/linux/articles/43224.aspx
>
>
> has a few,  I was just wondering if anyone could advise from ACTUAL
> experiences of working in a pre school and with Linux,  either directly
> or supporting / knowing someone who working in a preschool and is
> therefore familiar with how the software would tie in with  EYFS, ECM 
> and other aspects of the early years curriculum / framework / strategies.
>
> We need to lock down the system and allow access ONLY to user programns
> we want the children to have access too,  while at the same time,   if
> an adult logs in they should have fuller acces so they can say configure
> the system or add / remove software or do other admin tasks.
>
> thanks
>
> Paul
>
>
>


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