[Tfug] Why not do usability research?

Thu Nov 6 11:37:39 MST 2003

Hi Sam,

Thanks for the info.  Actually, I am aware of both of these
projects and have talked with Harry about my research ideas.  The
problem isn't finding people who have implemented Open Source
projects, the problem is finding qualitative or quantitative
research on the effectiveness of OSS/FS and its impact on student
learning.

I have also found SchoolForge (http://schoolforge.net/what.php)
and several other useful websites, but I welcome any other ideas
or sources.

Thanks,
Ellen

---
Ellen K. Martin
emartin at infoteam.com
www.infoteam.com
520.977.6572

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sam Hart" <hart at physics.arizona.edu>
To: "Ellen K. Martin" <emartin at infoteam.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 9:11 AM
Subject: Re: [Tfug] Why not do usability research?

> Uh, perhaps you've heard of a couple of local to Tucson Open
Source
> educational projects:
>
>  * OSEF (http://www.osef.org/)
> OSEF has an elementary school here in Tucson that has been
> powered by Linux and Open Source software for several years
> now. Of course, TUSD (being the absolute pills that they are)
> have been fighting all the way.
>
>  * Tux4Kids (http://www.tux4kids.org/)
> Tux4Kids is a little group I started up where we produce
> cross-platform, Open Source, educational software.
>
> Anyway, if you'd like more information (and I'm sure others
will probably
> be informing you of this as well, so I'm probably not the
first) you could
> talk to me and I could direct you in the right direction.
>
> * On 03-11-05, Ellen K. Martin wrote:
>
> > The timing of this topic is very interesting.  I had just
hung up
> > the phone after a conversation with one of my business
associates
> > where we were discussing the idea of putting together a
research
> > project when the digest arrived.  I am currently working on
an
> > educational research degree and am doing a literature review
for
> > my current class.  I have been trying to find existing
research
> > on the topic:  "How does the use of Open Source alternatives
to
> > commercial software in computer labs and classrooms in K-12
> > schools impact student learning and achievement?"  So far I
have
> > been not been able to find any direct research on this.  If
> > anyone knows of any, I'd be interested in knowing about it.
> >
> > My business associate and I are looking at the possibility of
> > finding grant money to conduct a full-blown research project
> > using LTSP.  I'll keep you informed of what we find and of
our
> > progress.
> >
> > Ellen
> >
> > -----
> > Ellen K. Martin
> > emartin at infoteam.com
> > www.infoteam.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ammon Lauritzen" <ammon at simud.org>
> > To: "Tucson Free Unix Group" <tfug at tfug.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 7:03 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Tfug] Why not do usability research?
> >
> >
> > > Joshua Bernstein said:
> > > > Why waste the time?
> > >
> > > Erm, for the sake of knowledge? In the 'name of science'?
In
> > order to
> > > actually produce some sort of document worth publishing?
For
> > the
> > > betterment of the lives of computer neophytes everywhere?
In
> > order to beat
> > > down MS FUD?
> > >
> > > Does the reason -really- matter? It's a good idea.
> > >
> > > > But I mean really... Isn't our time spent better
elsewhere? I
> > know there
> > > > are more people on this list then I that have jobs and
> > school...
> > >
> > > And, obviously, if a person signed on to do this when they
did
> > not have
> > > the time, they have problems with time management. I, for
one,
> > have a
> > > decent amount of free time right now, and if the commitment
is
> > limited to
> > > three hours a week after initial setup, I'm game for
> > participation.
> > >
> > > As regards likely hardware, I think lower end machines are
also
> > > appropriate for reasons of the origin of this discussion.
We
> > were talking,
> > > after all, about refurbished charity-type machines in the
first
> > place, eh?
> > >
> > > Also, with respect to distro... well, I'm a very devout fan
of
> > Debian, but
> > > you are probably right, an RPM-based distribution would
likely
> > be best.
> > > With SuSE and RH out of the way, I think Mandrake makes
itself
> > a very
> > > likely candidate. It is one of the few distros you'll see
for
> > sale at
> > > normal stores in town. I know I've seen Mandrake boxes in
Best
> > Buy and
> > > Borders, and am pretty sure I have seen it in Walmart
before.
> > >
> > > The custom user goodies were quite good back when I
purchased
> > and used it
> > > (8.0), and if I recall, the distro leans more toward KDE
than
> > Gnome. I
> > > came away from the experience (running Mandrake for about 9
> > months) of the
> > > opinion that it was great for desktop use and terrible for
> > server use. In
> > > fact, I think I am still on their user support mailing
list...
> > hmm...
> > >
> > > --
> > > Ammon Lauritzen
> > > ammon at simud.org
> > >
> > > Systems Analyst
> > > Arizona Student Media
> > > Office: (520) 626-2952
> > > Cell: (520) 861-4680
> > >
> > > Webmaster
> > > (kamp|uatv).arizona.edu
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > tfug mailing list
> > > tfug at tfug.org
> > > http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug
> > >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > tfug mailing list
> > tfug at tfug.org
> > http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug
> >
>
> --
> Sam Hart
> University/Work addr. <hart at physics.arizona.edu>
> Personal addr. <criswell at geekcomix.com>
> Alternative <criswell at tux4kids.net>
> end
>
>