>To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>
>Date: Fri, 27 May 2005 16:25:48 +0200
>From: [email protected]
>Subject: [Sna-enews] African SchoolNet Toolkit & Software Comparison Study
>
>
>1. African SchoolNet Toolkit
>The African SchoolNet Toolkit produced by SchoolNet Africa in partnership
>with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL)has just been released. Aimed at
>African schoolnet practitioners, policymakers, school managers and
>teachers, the toolkit documents experiences in school networking from a
>number of African countries and recommends frameworks, tools, lessons and
>good practices to inform and improve our day to day practice.
>
>The Toolkit will now serve as a basis for a training course for African
>schoolnet practitioners and policymakers which is currently being
>developed by SchoolNet Africa and COL, thereby making the toolkit a living
>document.
>
>The toolkit is available at http://www.schoolnetafrica.net/1500.0.html
>
>SNA thanks the Commonwealth of Learning for its partnership on this worthy
>publication.
>
>2. Software Comparison Study
>A study conducted by bridges.org in partnership with SchoolNet Africa,
>IDRC and the Open Society Initiative has just been published.
>
>The report is a comprehensive study of FOSS and proprietary software in
>public computer labs in Namibia, South Africa and Uganda. It reflects the
>practical realities found in 121 computer labs. It is the first study
>of its kind and scope. The report is licensed under a creative commons
>license and can be freely shared.
>
>The report is available at http://www.schoolnetafrica.net/1502.0.html
>
>SchoolNet Africa commends bridges.org, particularly Phillip Schmidt for
>the conclusion of the study and the contribution made by Dr Hillar Addo on
>SNA's behalf. We also thank IDRC and OSI for their support.
>SNA will be hosting a discussion among its schoolnet practitioners on the
>findings of the study.
Extracted from conclusion:
>In (Africa) context, the discussion of software choices necessarily moves
>from philosophical underpinnings to pragmatic concerns.
>
>...the momentum in Africa is currently in favour of FOSS, whose supporters
>are riding on a
>growing wave of enthusiasm based on successes in other developing
>countries. FOSS supporters in Africa have an opportunity to capitalise on
>this enthusiasm, but need to overcome serious hurdles to translate the
>hype surrounding FOSS into tangible benefits for larger parts of society.
Este archivo fue generado por hypermail 2.1.3 : Fri Jul 1 11:02:37 2005 AST