Petter Reinholdtsen: Debian Edu interview: George Bredberg

The Debian Edu / +Skolelinux project have users all over the globe, but until +recently we have not known about any users in Norway's neighbour +country Sweden. This changed when George Bredberg showed up in March +this year on the mailing list, asking interesting questions about how +to adjust and scale the just released +Debian Edu +Wheezy setup to his liking. He granted me an interview, and I am +happy to share his answers with you here.

+ +

Who are you, and how do you spend your days?

+ +

I'm a 44 year old country guy that have been working 12 years at +the same school as 50% IT-manager and 50% Teacher. My educational +background is fil.kand in history and religious beliefs, an exam as a +"folkhighschool" teacher, that is, for teaching grownups. In +Norwegian I believe it's called "Vuxenupplaring". I also have a master +in "Technology and social change". So I'm not really a tech guy, I +just like to study how humans and technology interact and that is my +perspective when working with IT.

+ +

How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project?

+ +I have followed the Skolelinux project for quite some time by +now. Earlier I tested out the K12-LTSP project, which we used for some +time, but I really like the idea of having a distribution aimed to be +a complete solution for schools with necessary tools integrated. When +K12-LTSP abandoned that idea some years ago, I started to look more +seriously into Skolelinux instead. + +

What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

+ +The big point of Skolelinux to me is that it is a complete +distribution, ready to install. It has LDAP-support, MS Windows +integration tools and so forth already configured, saving an +administrator a lot of time and headache. We were using another Linux +based thin-client system called Thinlinc, that has served us very +well. But that Skolelinux is based on VNC and LTSP, to me, is better +when it comes to the kind of multimedia used in schools. That is +showing videos from Youtube or educational TV. It is also easier to +mix thin clients with workstations, since the user settings will be the +same. In our VNC-based solution you had to "beat around the bush" by +setting up a second, hidden, home-directory for user settings for the +workstations, because they will be different from the ones used on the +thin clients. Skolelinux support for diskless workstations are very +convenient since a school today often need to use a class room +projector showing videos in full screen. That is easily done with a +small integrated media computer running as a diskless workstation. You +have only two installs to update and configure. One for the thin +clients and one for the workstations. Also saving a lot of time. Our +old system was also based on Redhat and CentOS. They are both very +nice distributions, but they are sometimes painfully slow when it +comes to updating multimedia support and multimedia programs (even +such as Gimp), leaving us with a bit "oldish" applications. Debian is +quicker to update. + +

What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

+ +

Debian is a bit too quick when it comes to updating. As an example +we use old HP terminals as thinclients, and two times already this +year (2012) the updates you get from the repositories has stopped +sound from working with them. It's a kernel/ALSA issue. So you have +to be more careful properly testing the updates before you run them in +a production environment. This has never happened with CentOS.

+ +

I also would like to be able to set my own domain-settings at +install time. In Skolelinux they are kind of hard coded into the +distribution, when it comes to LDAP and at least samba integration. +That is more a cosmetic/translation issue, and not a real problem. +Running MS Windows applications within the Skolelinux environment needs +to be better supported. That is, running them seamlessly via RDP, and +support for single-sign on. That will make the transition to free +software easier, because you can keep the applications you really +need. No support will make it impossible if you work in a school where +some applications can't be open source. As for us we really need to +run Adobe InDesign in our journalist classes. We run a journalist +education, and is one of the very few non university ones that is ok:d +by Svenska journalistfÃ¶rbundet (Swedish journalist association). Our +education gives the pupils the right of membership there, once they +are done. This is important if you want to get a job.

+ +

Adobe InDesign is the program most commonly used in newspapers and +magazines. We used Quark Express before, but they seem to loose there +market to Adobe. The only "equivalent" to InDesign in the opensource +world is Scribus, and its not advanced enough. At least not according +to the teacher. I think it would be possible to use it, because they +are not supposed to learn a program, they are supposed to learn how to +edit and compile a newspaper. But politically at our school we are not +there yet. And Scribus lacks a lot of things you find i InDesign.

+ +

We used even a windows program for sound editing when it comes to +the radio-journalist part. The year to come we are going to try +Audacity. That software has the same kind of limitations compared to +Adobe Audition, but that teacher is a bit more open minded. We have +tried Ardour also, but that instead is more like a music studio +program, not intended for the kind of editing taking place in a radio +studio. Its way to complex and the GUI is to scattered when you only +want to cut, make pass-overs, add extra channels and normalise. Those +things you can do in Audacity, but its not as easy as in Audition. You +have to do more things manually with envelopes, and that is a bit old +fashion and timewasting. Its also harder to cut and move sound from +one channel to another, which is a thing that you do frequently +because you often find yourself needing to rearrange parts of the +sound file.

+ +

So, I am not sure we will succeed in replacing even Audition, but we +will try. The problem is the students have certain expectations when +they start an education towards a profession. So the programs has to +look and feel professional. Good thing with radio, there are many +programs out there, that radio studios use, so its not as standardised +as Newspaper editing. That means, it does not really matter what +program they learn, because once they start working they still have to +learn the program the studio uses, so instead focus has to be to learn +the editing part without to much focus on a specific software.

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

Myself I'm running Linux Mint, or Ubuntu these days. I use almost +only open source software, and preferably Linux based. When it comes +to most used applications its OpenOffice, and Firefox (of course ;) +)

+ +

Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?

+ +

To get schools to use free software there has to be good open +source software that are windows based, to ease the transition. But +it's also very important that the multimedia support is working +flawlessly. The problems with Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and whatever +will create problems when it comes to both teachers and +students. Economy are also important for schools, so using thin +clients, as long as they have good multimedia support, is a very good +idea. It's also important that the open source software works even for +the administration. It's hard to convince the teachers to stick with +open source, if the principal has to run Windows. It also creates a +problem if some classes has to use Windows for there tasks, since that +will create a difference in "status" between classes, so a good +support for running windows applications via the thin client (Linux) +desktop is essential. At least at our school, where we have mixed +level of educations, from high-school to journalist-school.

+ + + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju. + + +

Why do schools waste money on IT?

8th July 2012

@@ -987,104 +1144,6 @@ opp.

Skolelinux-intervju: Markus Gamenius

30th June 2012

Tidligere leder av -foreningen som -organiserer Skolelinux-dugnaden, Markus Gamenius , har i vÃ¥r vÃ¦rt -i media og -debattert -skattepolitikk, og det fikk meg til Ã¥ hÃ¸re om han kunne lokkes til -Ã¥ fortelle om hans inntrykk nÃ¥, etter at han ble lokket bort fra -Linux- og Skolelinux-verden -for Ã¥ overta familiebedriften. Her har vi hans betraktninger i dag, -noen mÃ¥neder etter at -Skolelinux -Squeeze-utgaven ble gitt ut.

- -

Hvem er du, og hva driver du med til daglig?

- -

Jeg heter Markus Gamenius og er 40 Ã¥r. Utdannet biolog med ymse -fag pÃ¥ siden. Har jobbet som lÃ¦rer der jeg var driftsansvarlig pÃ¥ -Ulsrud VGS i Oslo. Senere eide og jobbet jeg flere Ã¥r i Linuxlabs AS, -som jeg solgte til Redpill Linpro AS (den gangen Linpro AS). I dag -jobber jeg med ulike investeringer, hovedsaklig i eiendom, men ogsÃ¥ i -en del ulike IT-relaterte bedrifter.

- -

Hvordan kom du i kontakt med Skolelinux-prosjektet?

- -

Fruen og jeg dro pÃ¥ en lengre seiltur i 2000, der jeg mÃ¥tte ha "noe -Ã¥ gjÃ¸re" under hjemturen over Atlanteren. Jeg kjÃ¸pte et par bÃ¸ker om -Linux i en bokhandel i New York og ble veldig fascinert. Etter -hjemkomsten begynte jeg Ã¥ jobbe pÃ¥ Ulsrud VGS, som naturfagslÃ¦rer, men -som IT-interessert ble jeg fort en del av den nye IT-satsningen som -skulle lÃ¸fte Ulsrud og gi skolen en bedre rykte. Vi hadde ganske -mange maskiner, som gikk pÃ¥ Win98 og to servere som ble oppgradert til -Win2000. Systemene var ustabil og dÃ¥rlige. PÃ¥ leting etter noe -bedre, uten Ã¥ knekke ryggen Ã¸konomisk, kom jeg over "Linux i Skolen" -og Skolelinux. Jeg tok kontakt med miljÃ¸et og en gjeng mÃ¸tte opp pÃ¥ -skolen, der vi gjorde en liten testinstallasjon. Etter et par Ã¥r var -ryggraden pÃ¥ skolen Linux (Skolelinux) og vi hadde flere hundre -maskiner, bÃ¥de tynne klienter (gamle og nye), bÃ¦rbare (Debian) og noen -stasjonÃ¦re (Win2000). PÃ¥ et tidspunkt var Ulsrud den rÃ¥este IT-skolen -og det irriterte skolesjefen i Oslo, da de satset hardt pÃ¥ -Windows.

- -

Hva er fordelene med Skolelinux slik du ser det?

- -

Det som gjorde at vi fikk inn Skolelinux var ene og alene -Ã¸konomiske. Det faktum at vi slapp Ã¥ kjÃ¸pe masse nye lisenser og at -vi kunne bruke gammel hardware. Alt i alt gjorde dette at vi sparte -mye, men i stede for Ã¥ bruke mindre pÃ¥ IT brukte vi det vi sparte pÃ¥ Ã¥ -skaffe mer hardware og pÃ¥ den mÃ¥ten gi det beste tilbudet i landet til -vÃ¥re elever. For oss som driftet var det himmel Ã¥ ha et system som -gikk Ã¥ administrere sentralt og effektivt. Det var heller ikke sÃ¥ -dumt at vi kunne "lÃ¥se" maskinene mer effektivt enn vi kunne med -Microsoft Windows, slik at vi slapp mye feil og problemer som ble -forÃ¥rsaket av "kreative" elever.

- -

Hva er ulempene med Skolelinux slik du ser det?

- -

Det vi slet med var mangelen av en del programmer lÃ¦rerne ville ha. -Husker ikke alle, men det var et knippe med pedagogiske programmer de -ikke fikk. I dag tror jeg det problemet er langt mindre da det meste -av disse kjÃ¸res gjennom nettleseren.

- -

Hvilken fri programvare bruker du til daglig?

- -

Jeg bruker mye Apple i dag og er ikke sÃ¥ stolt av det, men jeg har -bÃ¥de OpenOffice, Firefox og en del andre programmer pÃ¥ den bÃ¦rbare. -Firefox brukes mest av disse. PÃ¥ Apple-serveren hjemme bruker jeg -HandBrake mye, og jeg har installert OpenWRT pÃ¥ flere av -basestasjonene bÃ¥de hjemme og pÃ¥ jobben. I tillegg til det har jeg i -flere Ã¥r finansiert et prosjekt som heter -Found IT. Dette er et prosjekt der -vi lager et rammeverk for sÃ¸k, der alt vi bruker fri programvare. Det -er Alex Brasetvik som er daglig leder i Found IT.

- -

Hvilken strategi tror du er den rette Ã¥ bruke for Ã¥ fÃ¥ -skoler til Ã¥ ta i bruk fri programvare?

- -

NÃ¥r det gjelder IT og skole er fortsatt Ã¸konomi veldig viktig. SÃ¥ -man mÃ¥ oppfylle minimumskravene (ikke vÃ¦re best, men bra nok) og selge -seg inn pÃ¥ hvor mye man sparer. Det betyr selvsagt at man sparer pÃ¥ -lisenser, men ogsÃ¥ pÃ¥ driftsinnsats. Men nÃ¥ nÃ¥r jeg ikke er en aktiv -del av miljÃ¸et lenger hÃ¸rer jeg nesten ingen ting om fri programvare. -Jeg stiller meg da spÃ¸rsmÃ¥let om det har blitt stille rundt miljÃ¸et, -eller om jeg kun sÃ¥ det tydeligere fÃ¸r nÃ¥r jeg var aktiv? Uansett er -det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥.

- - - Tags: debian edu, intervju, norsk. - - -

@@ -1108,7 +1167,7 @@ det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥.

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July (9)

July (10)

@@ -1229,13 +1288,13 @@ det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥.

@@ -1243,7 +1302,7 @@ det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥.

diff --git a/blog/index.rss b/blog/index.rss index 7ce137ccad..c974d8ec17 100644 --- a/blog/index.rss +++ b/blog/index.rss @@ -6,6 +6,157 @@ http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/ + + Debian Edu interview: George Bredberg + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + Mon, 9 Jul 2012 00:30:00 +0200 + The <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu / +Skolelinux</a> project have users all over the globe, but until +recently we have not known about any users in Norway's neighbour +country Sweden. This changed when George Bredberg showed up in March +this year on the mailing list, asking interesting questions about how +to adjust and scale the just released +<a href="http://www.debian.org/News/2012/20120311.html">Debian Edu +Wheezy</a> setup to his liking. He granted me an interview, and I am +happy to share his answers with you here. + +Who are you, and how do you spend your days? + +I'm a 44 year old country guy that have been working 12 years at +the same school as 50% IT-manager and 50% Teacher. My educational +background is fil.kand in history and religious beliefs, an exam as a +"folkhighschool" teacher, that is, for teaching grownups. In +Norwegian I believe it's called "Vuxenupplaring". I also have a master +in "Technology and social change". So I'm not really a tech guy, I +just like to study how humans and technology interact and that is my +perspective when working with IT. + +How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project? + +I have followed the Skolelinux project for quite some time by +now. Earlier I tested out the K12-LTSP project, which we used for some +time, but I really like the idea of having a distribution aimed to be +a complete solution for schools with necessary tools integrated. When +K12-LTSP abandoned that idea some years ago, I started to look more +seriously into Skolelinux instead. + +What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +The big point of Skolelinux to me is that it is a complete +distribution, ready to install. It has LDAP-support, MS Windows +integration tools and so forth already configured, saving an +administrator a lot of time and headache. We were using another Linux +based thin-client system called Thinlinc, that has served us very +well. But that Skolelinux is based on VNC and LTSP, to me, is better +when it comes to the kind of multimedia used in schools. That is +showing videos from Youtube or educational TV. It is also easier to +mix thin clients with workstations, since the user settings will be the +same. In our VNC-based solution you had to "beat around the bush" by +setting up a second, hidden, home-directory for user settings for the +workstations, because they will be different from the ones used on the +thin clients. Skolelinux support for diskless workstations are very +convenient since a school today often need to use a class room +projector showing videos in full screen. That is easily done with a +small integrated media computer running as a diskless workstation. You +have only two installs to update and configure. One for the thin +clients and one for the workstations. Also saving a lot of time. Our +old system was also based on Redhat and CentOS. They are both very +nice distributions, but they are sometimes painfully slow when it +comes to updating multimedia support and multimedia programs (even +such as Gimp), leaving us with a bit "oldish" applications. Debian is +quicker to update. + +What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +Debian is a bit too quick when it comes to updating. As an example +we use old HP terminals as thinclients, and two times already this +year (2012) the updates you get from the repositories has stopped +sound from working with them. It's a kernel/ALSA issue. So you have +to be more careful properly testing the updates before you run them in +a production environment. This has never happened with CentOS. + +I also would like to be able to set my own domain-settings at +install time. In Skolelinux they are kind of hard coded into the +distribution, when it comes to LDAP and at least samba integration. +That is more a cosmetic/translation issue, and not a real problem. +Running MS Windows applications within the Skolelinux environment needs +to be better supported. That is, running them seamlessly via RDP, and +support for single-sign on. That will make the transition to free +software easier, because you can keep the applications you really +need. No support will make it impossible if you work in a school where +some applications can't be open source. As for us we really need to +run Adobe InDesign in our journalist classes. We run a journalist +education, and is one of the very few non university ones that is ok:d +by Svenska journalistfÃ¶rbundet (Swedish journalist association). Our +education gives the pupils the right of membership there, once they +are done. This is important if you want to get a job. + +Adobe InDesign is the program most commonly used in newspapers and +magazines. We used Quark Express before, but they seem to loose there +market to Adobe. The only "equivalent" to InDesign in the opensource +world is Scribus, and its not advanced enough. At least not according +to the teacher. I think it would be possible to use it, because they +are not supposed to learn a program, they are supposed to learn how to +edit and compile a newspaper. But politically at our school we are not +there yet. And Scribus lacks a lot of things you find i InDesign. + +We used even a windows program for sound editing when it comes to +the radio-journalist part. The year to come we are going to try +Audacity. That software has the same kind of limitations compared to +Adobe Audition, but that teacher is a bit more open minded. We have +tried Ardour also, but that instead is more like a music studio +program, not intended for the kind of editing taking place in a radio +studio. Its way to complex and the GUI is to scattered when you only +want to cut, make pass-overs, add extra channels and normalise. Those +things you can do in Audacity, but its not as easy as in Audition. You +have to do more things manually with envelopes, and that is a bit old +fashion and timewasting. Its also harder to cut and move sound from +one channel to another, which is a thing that you do frequently +because you often find yourself needing to rearrange parts of the +sound file. + +So, I am not sure we will succeed in replacing even Audition, but we +will try. The problem is the students have certain expectations when +they start an education towards a profession. So the programs has to +look and feel professional. Good thing with radio, there are many +programs out there, that radio studios use, so its not as standardised +as Newspaper editing. That means, it does not really matter what +program they learn, because once they start working they still have to +learn the program the studio uses, so instead focus has to be to learn +the editing part without to much focus on a specific software. + +Which free software do you use daily? + +Myself I'm running Linux Mint, or Ubuntu these days. I use almost +only open source software, and preferably Linux based. When it comes +to most used applications its OpenOffice, and Firefox (of course ;) +) + +Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software? + +To get schools to use free software there has to be good open +source software that are windows based, to ease the transition. But +it's also very important that the multimedia support is working +flawlessly. The problems with Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and whatever +will create problems when it comes to both teachers and +students. Economy are also important for schools, so using thin +clients, as long as they have good multimedia support, is a very good +idea. It's also important that the open source software works even for +the administration. It's hard to convince the teachers to stick with +open source, if the principal has to run Windows. It also creates a +problem if some classes has to use Windows for there tasks, since that +will create a difference in "status" between classes, so a good +support for running windows applications via the thin client (Linux) +desktop is essential. At least at our school, where we have mixed +level of educations, from high-school to journalist-school. + + + Why do schools waste money on IT? http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Why_do_schools_waste_money_on_IT_.html @@ -920,97 +1071,5 @@ opp. - - Skolelinux-intervju: Markus Gamenius - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Skolelinux_intervju__Markus_Gamenius.html - http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Skolelinux_intervju__Markus_Gamenius.html - Sat, 30 Jun 2012 12:50:00 +0200 - Tidligere leder av -<a href="http://www.friprogramvareiskolen.no">foreningen som -organiserer Skolelinux-dugnaden</a>, Markus Gamenius , har i vÃ¥r vÃ¦rt -i media og -<a href="http://www.dn.no/privatokonomi/article2345489.ece">debattert -skattepolitikk</a>, og det fikk meg til Ã¥ hÃ¸re om han kunne lokkes til -Ã¥ fortelle om hans inntrykk nÃ¥, etter at han ble lokket bort fra -Linux- og <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Skolelinux</a>-verden -for Ã¥ overta familiebedriften. Her har vi hans betraktninger i dag, -noen mÃ¥neder etter at -<a href="http://www.debian.org/News/2012/20120311.html">Skolelinux -Squeeze</a>-utgaven ble gitt ut. - -Hvem er du, og hva driver du med til daglig? - -Jeg heter Markus Gamenius og er 40 Ã¥r. Utdannet biolog med ymse -fag pÃ¥ siden. Har jobbet som lÃ¦rer der jeg var driftsansvarlig pÃ¥ -Ulsrud VGS i Oslo. Senere eide og jobbet jeg flere Ã¥r i Linuxlabs AS, -som jeg solgte til Redpill Linpro AS (den gangen Linpro AS). I dag -jobber jeg med ulike investeringer, hovedsaklig i eiendom, men ogsÃ¥ i -en del ulike IT-relaterte bedrifter. - -Hvordan kom du i kontakt med Skolelinux-prosjektet? - -Fruen og jeg dro pÃ¥ en lengre seiltur i 2000, der jeg mÃ¥tte ha "noe -Ã¥ gjÃ¸re" under hjemturen over Atlanteren. Jeg kjÃ¸pte et par bÃ¸ker om -Linux i en bokhandel i New York og ble veldig fascinert. Etter -hjemkomsten begynte jeg Ã¥ jobbe pÃ¥ Ulsrud VGS, som naturfagslÃ¦rer, men -som IT-interessert ble jeg fort en del av den nye IT-satsningen som -skulle lÃ¸fte Ulsrud og gi skolen en bedre rykte. Vi hadde ganske -mange maskiner, som gikk pÃ¥ Win98 og to servere som ble oppgradert til -Win2000. Systemene var ustabil og dÃ¥rlige. PÃ¥ leting etter noe -bedre, uten Ã¥ knekke ryggen Ã¸konomisk, kom jeg over "Linux i Skolen" -og Skolelinux. Jeg tok kontakt med miljÃ¸et og en gjeng mÃ¸tte opp pÃ¥ -skolen, der vi gjorde en liten testinstallasjon. Etter et par Ã¥r var -ryggraden pÃ¥ skolen Linux (Skolelinux) og vi hadde flere hundre -maskiner, bÃ¥de tynne klienter (gamle og nye), bÃ¦rbare (Debian) og noen -stasjonÃ¦re (Win2000). PÃ¥ et tidspunkt var Ulsrud den rÃ¥este IT-skolen -og det irriterte skolesjefen i Oslo, da de satset hardt pÃ¥ -Windows. - -Hva er fordelene med Skolelinux slik du ser det? - -Det som gjorde at vi fikk inn Skolelinux var ene og alene -Ã¸konomiske. Det faktum at vi slapp Ã¥ kjÃ¸pe masse nye lisenser og at -vi kunne bruke gammel hardware. Alt i alt gjorde dette at vi sparte -mye, men i stede for Ã¥ bruke mindre pÃ¥ IT brukte vi det vi sparte pÃ¥ Ã¥ -skaffe mer hardware og pÃ¥ den mÃ¥ten gi det beste tilbudet i landet til -vÃ¥re elever. For oss som driftet var det himmel Ã¥ ha et system som -gikk Ã¥ administrere sentralt og effektivt. Det var heller ikke sÃ¥ -dumt at vi kunne "lÃ¥se" maskinene mer effektivt enn vi kunne med -Microsoft Windows, slik at vi slapp mye feil og problemer som ble -forÃ¥rsaket av "kreative" elever. - -Hva er ulempene med Skolelinux slik du ser det? - -Det vi slet med var mangelen av en del programmer lÃ¦rerne ville ha. -Husker ikke alle, men det var et knippe med pedagogiske programmer de -ikke fikk. I dag tror jeg det problemet er langt mindre da det meste -av disse kjÃ¸res gjennom nettleseren. - -Hvilken fri programvare bruker du til daglig? - -Jeg bruker mye Apple i dag og er ikke sÃ¥ stolt av det, men jeg har -bÃ¥de OpenOffice, Firefox og en del andre programmer pÃ¥ den bÃ¦rbare. -Firefox brukes mest av disse. PÃ¥ Apple-serveren hjemme bruker jeg -HandBrake mye, og jeg har installert OpenWRT pÃ¥ flere av -basestasjonene bÃ¥de hjemme og pÃ¥ jobben. I tillegg til det har jeg i -flere Ã¥r finansiert et prosjekt som heter -<a href="http://www.found.no/">Found IT</a>. Dette er et prosjekt der -vi lager et rammeverk for sÃ¸k, der alt vi bruker fri programvare. Det -er Alex Brasetvik som er daglig leder i Found IT. - -Hvilken strategi tror du er den rette Ã¥ bruke for Ã¥ fÃ¥ -skoler til Ã¥ ta i bruk fri programvare? - -NÃ¥r det gjelder IT og skole er fortsatt Ã¸konomi veldig viktig. SÃ¥ -man mÃ¥ oppfylle minimumskravene (ikke vÃ¦re best, men bra nok) og selge -seg inn pÃ¥ hvor mye man sparer. Det betyr selvsagt at man sparer pÃ¥ -lisenser, men ogsÃ¥ pÃ¥ driftsinnsats. Men nÃ¥ nÃ¥r jeg ikke er en aktiv -del av miljÃ¸et lenger hÃ¸rer jeg nesten ingen ting om fri programvare. -Jeg stiller meg da spÃ¸rsmÃ¥let om det har blitt stille rundt miljÃ¸et, -eller om jeg kun sÃ¥ det tydeligere fÃ¸r nÃ¥r jeg var aktiv? Uansett er -det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥. - - - diff --git a/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html b/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html index f2cb74710d..985ebf450c 100644 --- a/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html +++ b/blog/jXplorer__a_very_nice_LDAP_GUI.html @@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

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@@ -187,13 +187,13 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ and remove the failing query. Nothing big, but very annoying.

diff --git a/blog/sitemap.xml b/blog/sitemap.xml index dcd16140d2..c6cabf561e 100644 --- a/blog/sitemap.xml +++ b/blog/sitemap.xml @@ -245,6 +245,11 @@ 0.50 weekly + + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + 0.50 + weekly + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__J_rgen_Leibner.html 0.50 diff --git a/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html b/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html index 148896f0ce..db444fa3e4 100644 --- a/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html +++ b/blog/systemd__an_interesting_alternative_to_upstart.html @@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ with parallel booting enabled by default.

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@@ -205,13 +205,13 @@ with parallel booting enabled by default.

@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ with parallel booting enabled by default.

diff --git a/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html b/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html index b73613b089..7959fd3d02 100644 --- a/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/3d-printer/index.html @@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ very cool 3D scanner.

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@@ -739,13 +739,13 @@ very cool 3D scanner.

@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ very cool 3D scanner.

diff --git a/blog/tags/amiga/index.html b/blog/tags/amiga/index.html index 857eee7602..86451c30d5 100644 --- a/blog/tags/amiga/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/amiga/index.html @@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

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@@ -193,13 +193,13 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

diff --git a/blog/tags/aros/index.html b/blog/tags/aros/index.html index 2619e38e98..5764dccc90 100644 --- a/blog/tags/aros/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/aros/index.html @@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

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@@ -193,13 +193,13 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ pakke. Kanskje Aros kunne vÃ¦rt interessant for et NUUG-foredrag?

diff --git a/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html b/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html index 23c7be5837..caee42530b 100644 --- a/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/bitcoin/index.html @@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ equally valid for gold, which was used as a currency for many years.

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@@ -322,13 +322,13 @@ equally valid for gold, which was used as a currency for many years.

@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ equally valid for gold, which was used as a currency for many years.

diff --git a/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html b/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html index 6cabde577f..eb7501a65a 100644 --- a/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/bootsystem/index.html @@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ from when sysvinit was introduced into Debian, a long time ago.

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@@ -900,13 +900,13 @@ from when sysvinit was introduced into Debian, a long time ago.

@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ from when sysvinit was introduced into Debian, a long time ago.

diff --git a/blog/tags/bsa/index.html b/blog/tags/bsa/index.html index 2580277cfb..a6227f5777 100644 --- a/blog/tags/bsa/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/bsa/index.html @@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

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@@ -281,13 +281,13 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

diff --git a/blog/tags/debian edu/debian edu.rss b/blog/tags/debian edu/debian edu.rss index 17b7961cf4..cb83e77b30 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian edu/debian edu.rss +++ b/blog/tags/debian edu/debian edu.rss @@ -8339,5 +8339,156 @@ purchases. + + Debian Edu interview: George Bredberg + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + Mon, 9 Jul 2012 00:30:00 +0200 + The <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu / +Skolelinux</a> project have users all over the globe, but until +recently we have not known about any users in Norway's neighbour +country Sweden. This changed when George Bredberg showed up in March +this year on the mailing list, asking interesting questions about how +to adjust and scale the just released +<a href="http://www.debian.org/News/2012/20120311.html">Debian Edu +Wheezy</a> setup to his liking. He granted me an interview, and I am +happy to share his answers with you here. + +Who are you, and how do you spend your days? + +I'm a 44 year old country guy that have been working 12 years at +the same school as 50% IT-manager and 50% Teacher. My educational +background is fil.kand in history and religious beliefs, an exam as a +"folkhighschool" teacher, that is, for teaching grownups. In +Norwegian I believe it's called "Vuxenupplaring". I also have a master +in "Technology and social change". So I'm not really a tech guy, I +just like to study how humans and technology interact and that is my +perspective when working with IT. + +How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project? + +I have followed the Skolelinux project for quite some time by +now. Earlier I tested out the K12-LTSP project, which we used for some +time, but I really like the idea of having a distribution aimed to be +a complete solution for schools with necessary tools integrated. When +K12-LTSP abandoned that idea some years ago, I started to look more +seriously into Skolelinux instead. + +What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +The big point of Skolelinux to me is that it is a complete +distribution, ready to install. It has LDAP-support, MS Windows +integration tools and so forth already configured, saving an +administrator a lot of time and headache. We were using another Linux +based thin-client system called Thinlinc, that has served us very +well. But that Skolelinux is based on VNC and LTSP, to me, is better +when it comes to the kind of multimedia used in schools. That is +showing videos from Youtube or educational TV. It is also easier to +mix thin clients with workstations, since the user settings will be the +same. In our VNC-based solution you had to "beat around the bush" by +setting up a second, hidden, home-directory for user settings for the +workstations, because they will be different from the ones used on the +thin clients. Skolelinux support for diskless workstations are very +convenient since a school today often need to use a class room +projector showing videos in full screen. That is easily done with a +small integrated media computer running as a diskless workstation. You +have only two installs to update and configure. One for the thin +clients and one for the workstations. Also saving a lot of time. Our +old system was also based on Redhat and CentOS. They are both very +nice distributions, but they are sometimes painfully slow when it +comes to updating multimedia support and multimedia programs (even +such as Gimp), leaving us with a bit "oldish" applications. Debian is +quicker to update. + +What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +Debian is a bit too quick when it comes to updating. As an example +we use old HP terminals as thinclients, and two times already this +year (2012) the updates you get from the repositories has stopped +sound from working with them. It's a kernel/ALSA issue. So you have +to be more careful properly testing the updates before you run them in +a production environment. This has never happened with CentOS. + +I also would like to be able to set my own domain-settings at +install time. In Skolelinux they are kind of hard coded into the +distribution, when it comes to LDAP and at least samba integration. +That is more a cosmetic/translation issue, and not a real problem. +Running MS Windows applications within the Skolelinux environment needs +to be better supported. That is, running them seamlessly via RDP, and +support for single-sign on. That will make the transition to free +software easier, because you can keep the applications you really +need. No support will make it impossible if you work in a school where +some applications can't be open source. As for us we really need to +run Adobe InDesign in our journalist classes. We run a journalist +education, and is one of the very few non university ones that is ok:d +by Svenska journalistfÃ¶rbundet (Swedish journalist association). Our +education gives the pupils the right of membership there, once they +are done. This is important if you want to get a job. + +Adobe InDesign is the program most commonly used in newspapers and +magazines. We used Quark Express before, but they seem to loose there +market to Adobe. The only "equivalent" to InDesign in the opensource +world is Scribus, and its not advanced enough. At least not according +to the teacher. I think it would be possible to use it, because they +are not supposed to learn a program, they are supposed to learn how to +edit and compile a newspaper. But politically at our school we are not +there yet. And Scribus lacks a lot of things you find i InDesign. + +We used even a windows program for sound editing when it comes to +the radio-journalist part. The year to come we are going to try +Audacity. That software has the same kind of limitations compared to +Adobe Audition, but that teacher is a bit more open minded. We have +tried Ardour also, but that instead is more like a music studio +program, not intended for the kind of editing taking place in a radio +studio. Its way to complex and the GUI is to scattered when you only +want to cut, make pass-overs, add extra channels and normalise. Those +things you can do in Audacity, but its not as easy as in Audition. You +have to do more things manually with envelopes, and that is a bit old +fashion and timewasting. Its also harder to cut and move sound from +one channel to another, which is a thing that you do frequently +because you often find yourself needing to rearrange parts of the +sound file. + +So, I am not sure we will succeed in replacing even Audition, but we +will try. The problem is the students have certain expectations when +they start an education towards a profession. So the programs has to +look and feel professional. Good thing with radio, there are many +programs out there, that radio studios use, so its not as standardised +as Newspaper editing. That means, it does not really matter what +program they learn, because once they start working they still have to +learn the program the studio uses, so instead focus has to be to learn +the editing part without to much focus on a specific software. + +Which free software do you use daily? + +Myself I'm running Linux Mint, or Ubuntu these days. I use almost +only open source software, and preferably Linux based. When it comes +to most used applications its OpenOffice, and Firefox (of course ;) +) + +Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software? + +To get schools to use free software there has to be good open +source software that are windows based, to ease the transition. But +it's also very important that the multimedia support is working +flawlessly. The problems with Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and whatever +will create problems when it comes to both teachers and +students. Economy are also important for schools, so using thin +clients, as long as they have good multimedia support, is a very good +idea. It's also important that the open source software works even for +the administration. It's hard to convince the teachers to stick with +open source, if the principal has to run Windows. It also creates a +problem if some classes has to use Windows for there tasks, since that +will create a difference in "status" between classes, so a good +support for running windows applications via the thin client (Linux) +desktop is essential. At least at our school, where we have mixed +level of educations, from high-school to journalist-school. + + + diff --git a/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html b/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html index 363d20b775..9e4eeff2fb 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/debian edu/index.html @@ -9649,6 +9649,169 @@ purchases.

+ Debian Edu interview: George Bredberg +

+ 9th July 2012 +

+ +

Who are you, and how do you spend your days?

+ +

How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project?

What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?

+ +

+ + + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju. + + +

@@ -9672,7 +9835,7 @@ purchases.

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@@ -9793,13 +9956,13 @@ purchases.

@@ -9807,7 +9970,7 @@ purchases.

diff --git a/blog/tags/debian/index.html b/blog/tags/debian/index.html index 7a7e542829..37ef7195ec 100644 --- a/blog/tags/debian/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/debian/index.html @@ -4359,7 +4359,7 @@ Computer Science Songbook.

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@@ -4480,13 +4480,13 @@ Computer Science Songbook.

@@ -4494,7 +4494,7 @@ Computer Science Songbook.

diff --git a/blog/tags/digistan/index.html b/blog/tags/digistan/index.html index fa1c0b9747..a75de33452 100644 --- a/blog/tags/digistan/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/digistan/index.html @@ -1180,7 +1180,7 @@ her.

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@@ -1301,13 +1301,13 @@ her.

@@ -1315,7 +1315,7 @@ her.

diff --git a/blog/tags/drivstoffpriser/index.html b/blog/tags/drivstoffpriser/index.html index 7f9f6fec57..5f6f35a40b 100644 --- a/blog/tags/drivstoffpriser/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/drivstoffpriser/index.html @@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ deler data med andre, og det gjÃ¸r ikke Bitfactory.

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@@ -622,13 +622,13 @@ deler data med andre, og det gjÃ¸r ikke Bitfactory.

@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ deler data med andre, og det gjÃ¸r ikke Bitfactory.

diff --git a/blog/tags/english/english.rss b/blog/tags/english/english.rss index 59e99c8eb7..d6990d6bd3 100644 --- a/blog/tags/english/english.rss +++ b/blog/tags/english/english.rss @@ -9139,5 +9139,156 @@ purchases. + + Debian Edu interview: George Bredberg + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + Mon, 9 Jul 2012 00:30:00 +0200 + The <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu / +Skolelinux</a> project have users all over the globe, but until +recently we have not known about any users in Norway's neighbour +country Sweden. This changed when George Bredberg showed up in March +this year on the mailing list, asking interesting questions about how +to adjust and scale the just released +<a href="http://www.debian.org/News/2012/20120311.html">Debian Edu +Wheezy</a> setup to his liking. He granted me an interview, and I am +happy to share his answers with you here. + +Who are you, and how do you spend your days? + +I'm a 44 year old country guy that have been working 12 years at +the same school as 50% IT-manager and 50% Teacher. My educational +background is fil.kand in history and religious beliefs, an exam as a +"folkhighschool" teacher, that is, for teaching grownups. In +Norwegian I believe it's called "Vuxenupplaring". I also have a master +in "Technology and social change". So I'm not really a tech guy, I +just like to study how humans and technology interact and that is my +perspective when working with IT. + +How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project? + +I have followed the Skolelinux project for quite some time by +now. Earlier I tested out the K12-LTSP project, which we used for some +time, but I really like the idea of having a distribution aimed to be +a complete solution for schools with necessary tools integrated. When +K12-LTSP abandoned that idea some years ago, I started to look more +seriously into Skolelinux instead. + +What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +The big point of Skolelinux to me is that it is a complete +distribution, ready to install. It has LDAP-support, MS Windows +integration tools and so forth already configured, saving an +administrator a lot of time and headache. We were using another Linux +based thin-client system called Thinlinc, that has served us very +well. But that Skolelinux is based on VNC and LTSP, to me, is better +when it comes to the kind of multimedia used in schools. That is +showing videos from Youtube or educational TV. It is also easier to +mix thin clients with workstations, since the user settings will be the +same. In our VNC-based solution you had to "beat around the bush" by +setting up a second, hidden, home-directory for user settings for the +workstations, because they will be different from the ones used on the +thin clients. Skolelinux support for diskless workstations are very +convenient since a school today often need to use a class room +projector showing videos in full screen. That is easily done with a +small integrated media computer running as a diskless workstation. You +have only two installs to update and configure. One for the thin +clients and one for the workstations. Also saving a lot of time. Our +old system was also based on Redhat and CentOS. They are both very +nice distributions, but they are sometimes painfully slow when it +comes to updating multimedia support and multimedia programs (even +such as Gimp), leaving us with a bit "oldish" applications. Debian is +quicker to update. + +What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +Debian is a bit too quick when it comes to updating. As an example +we use old HP terminals as thinclients, and two times already this +year (2012) the updates you get from the repositories has stopped +sound from working with them. It's a kernel/ALSA issue. So you have +to be more careful properly testing the updates before you run them in +a production environment. This has never happened with CentOS. + +I also would like to be able to set my own domain-settings at +install time. In Skolelinux they are kind of hard coded into the +distribution, when it comes to LDAP and at least samba integration. +That is more a cosmetic/translation issue, and not a real problem. +Running MS Windows applications within the Skolelinux environment needs +to be better supported. That is, running them seamlessly via RDP, and +support for single-sign on. That will make the transition to free +software easier, because you can keep the applications you really +need. No support will make it impossible if you work in a school where +some applications can't be open source. As for us we really need to +run Adobe InDesign in our journalist classes. We run a journalist +education, and is one of the very few non university ones that is ok:d +by Svenska journalistfÃ¶rbundet (Swedish journalist association). Our +education gives the pupils the right of membership there, once they +are done. This is important if you want to get a job. + +Adobe InDesign is the program most commonly used in newspapers and +magazines. We used Quark Express before, but they seem to loose there +market to Adobe. The only "equivalent" to InDesign in the opensource +world is Scribus, and its not advanced enough. At least not according +to the teacher. I think it would be possible to use it, because they +are not supposed to learn a program, they are supposed to learn how to +edit and compile a newspaper. But politically at our school we are not +there yet. And Scribus lacks a lot of things you find i InDesign. + +We used even a windows program for sound editing when it comes to +the radio-journalist part. The year to come we are going to try +Audacity. That software has the same kind of limitations compared to +Adobe Audition, but that teacher is a bit more open minded. We have +tried Ardour also, but that instead is more like a music studio +program, not intended for the kind of editing taking place in a radio +studio. Its way to complex and the GUI is to scattered when you only +want to cut, make pass-overs, add extra channels and normalise. Those +things you can do in Audacity, but its not as easy as in Audition. You +have to do more things manually with envelopes, and that is a bit old +fashion and timewasting. Its also harder to cut and move sound from +one channel to another, which is a thing that you do frequently +because you often find yourself needing to rearrange parts of the +sound file. + +So, I am not sure we will succeed in replacing even Audition, but we +will try. The problem is the students have certain expectations when +they start an education towards a profession. So the programs has to +look and feel professional. Good thing with radio, there are many +programs out there, that radio studios use, so its not as standardised +as Newspaper editing. That means, it does not really matter what +program they learn, because once they start working they still have to +learn the program the studio uses, so instead focus has to be to learn +the editing part without to much focus on a specific software. + +Which free software do you use daily? + +Myself I'm running Linux Mint, or Ubuntu these days. I use almost +only open source software, and preferably Linux based. When it comes +to most used applications its OpenOffice, and Firefox (of course ;) +) + +Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software? + +To get schools to use free software there has to be good open +source software that are windows based, to ease the transition. But +it's also very important that the multimedia support is working +flawlessly. The problems with Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and whatever +will create problems when it comes to both teachers and +students. Economy are also important for schools, so using thin +clients, as long as they have good multimedia support, is a very good +idea. It's also important that the open source software works even for +the administration. It's hard to convince the teachers to stick with +open source, if the principal has to run Windows. It also creates a +problem if some classes has to use Windows for there tasks, since that +will create a difference in "status" between classes, so a good +support for running windows applications via the thin client (Linux) +desktop is essential. At least at our school, where we have mixed +level of educations, from high-school to journalist-school. + + + diff --git a/blog/tags/english/index.html b/blog/tags/english/index.html index b3c91b8233..70a915ed36 100644 --- a/blog/tags/english/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/english/index.html @@ -10833,6 +10833,169 @@ purchases.

+ Debian Edu interview: George Bredberg +

+ 9th July 2012 +

+ +

Who are you, and how do you spend your days?

+ +

How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project?

What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?

+ +

+ + + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju. + + +

@@ -10856,7 +11019,7 @@ purchases.

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@@ -10977,13 +11140,13 @@ purchases.

@@ -10991,7 +11154,7 @@ purchases.

diff --git a/blog/tags/fiksgatami/index.html b/blog/tags/fiksgatami/index.html index f425938a56..e7cc380dba 100644 --- a/blog/tags/fiksgatami/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/fiksgatami/index.html @@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ differently. Anyone know? Please let us know at

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July (10)

@@ -1213,13 +1213,13 @@ differently. Anyone know? Please let us know at

@@ -1227,7 +1227,7 @@ differently. Anyone know? Please let us know at

diff --git a/blog/tags/fildeling/index.html b/blog/tags/fildeling/index.html index c25d73abd3..918a1757a1 100644 --- a/blog/tags/fildeling/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/fildeling/index.html @@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

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July (10)

@@ -766,13 +766,13 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ fÃ¸re til at flere tar i bruk fri programvare.

diff --git a/blog/tags/frikanalen/index.html b/blog/tags/frikanalen/index.html index 51dcf23ee5..1989517598 100644 --- a/blog/tags/frikanalen/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/frikanalen/index.html @@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ krypteringen av Frikanalen.

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July (10)

@@ -667,13 +667,13 @@ krypteringen av Frikanalen.

@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ krypteringen av Frikanalen.

diff --git a/blog/tags/intervju/index.html b/blog/tags/intervju/index.html index fc21f8eb29..106d4b039d 100644 --- a/blog/tags/intervju/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/intervju/index.html @@ -3246,6 +3246,169 @@ det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥.

+ Debian Edu interview: George Bredberg +

+ 9th July 2012 +

+ +

Who are you, and how do you spend your days?

+ +

How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project?

What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu?

+ +

Which free software do you use daily?

+ +

Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software?

+ +

+ + + Tags: debian edu, english, intervju. + + +

@@ -3269,7 +3432,7 @@ det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥.

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July (9)

July (10)

@@ -3390,13 +3553,13 @@ det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥.

@@ -3404,7 +3567,7 @@ det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥.

diff --git a/blog/tags/intervju/intervju.rss b/blog/tags/intervju/intervju.rss index 47a3af1846..3c239a41ee 100644 --- a/blog/tags/intervju/intervju.rss +++ b/blog/tags/intervju/intervju.rss @@ -2884,5 +2884,156 @@ det for stille rundt Skolelinux-prosjektet nÃ¥. + + Debian Edu interview: George Bredberg + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Debian_Edu_interview__George_Bredberg.html + Mon, 9 Jul 2012 00:30:00 +0200 + The <a href="http://www.skolelinux.org/">Debian Edu / +Skolelinux</a> project have users all over the globe, but until +recently we have not known about any users in Norway's neighbour +country Sweden. This changed when George Bredberg showed up in March +this year on the mailing list, asking interesting questions about how +to adjust and scale the just released +<a href="http://www.debian.org/News/2012/20120311.html">Debian Edu +Wheezy</a> setup to his liking. He granted me an interview, and I am +happy to share his answers with you here. + +Who are you, and how do you spend your days? + +I'm a 44 year old country guy that have been working 12 years at +the same school as 50% IT-manager and 50% Teacher. My educational +background is fil.kand in history and religious beliefs, an exam as a +"folkhighschool" teacher, that is, for teaching grownups. In +Norwegian I believe it's called "Vuxenupplaring". I also have a master +in "Technology and social change". So I'm not really a tech guy, I +just like to study how humans and technology interact and that is my +perspective when working with IT. + +How did you get in contact with the Skolelinux/Debian Edu +project? + +I have followed the Skolelinux project for quite some time by +now. Earlier I tested out the K12-LTSP project, which we used for some +time, but I really like the idea of having a distribution aimed to be +a complete solution for schools with necessary tools integrated. When +K12-LTSP abandoned that idea some years ago, I started to look more +seriously into Skolelinux instead. + +What do you see as the advantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +The big point of Skolelinux to me is that it is a complete +distribution, ready to install. It has LDAP-support, MS Windows +integration tools and so forth already configured, saving an +administrator a lot of time and headache. We were using another Linux +based thin-client system called Thinlinc, that has served us very +well. But that Skolelinux is based on VNC and LTSP, to me, is better +when it comes to the kind of multimedia used in schools. That is +showing videos from Youtube or educational TV. It is also easier to +mix thin clients with workstations, since the user settings will be the +same. In our VNC-based solution you had to "beat around the bush" by +setting up a second, hidden, home-directory for user settings for the +workstations, because they will be different from the ones used on the +thin clients. Skolelinux support for diskless workstations are very +convenient since a school today often need to use a class room +projector showing videos in full screen. That is easily done with a +small integrated media computer running as a diskless workstation. You +have only two installs to update and configure. One for the thin +clients and one for the workstations. Also saving a lot of time. Our +old system was also based on Redhat and CentOS. They are both very +nice distributions, but they are sometimes painfully slow when it +comes to updating multimedia support and multimedia programs (even +such as Gimp), leaving us with a bit "oldish" applications. Debian is +quicker to update. + +What do you see as the disadvantages of Skolelinux/Debian +Edu? + +Debian is a bit too quick when it comes to updating. As an example +we use old HP terminals as thinclients, and two times already this +year (2012) the updates you get from the repositories has stopped +sound from working with them. It's a kernel/ALSA issue. So you have +to be more careful properly testing the updates before you run them in +a production environment. This has never happened with CentOS. + +I also would like to be able to set my own domain-settings at +install time. In Skolelinux they are kind of hard coded into the +distribution, when it comes to LDAP and at least samba integration. +That is more a cosmetic/translation issue, and not a real problem. +Running MS Windows applications within the Skolelinux environment needs +to be better supported. That is, running them seamlessly via RDP, and +support for single-sign on. That will make the transition to free +software easier, because you can keep the applications you really +need. No support will make it impossible if you work in a school where +some applications can't be open source. As for us we really need to +run Adobe InDesign in our journalist classes. We run a journalist +education, and is one of the very few non university ones that is ok:d +by Svenska journalistfÃ¶rbundet (Swedish journalist association). Our +education gives the pupils the right of membership there, once they +are done. This is important if you want to get a job. + +Adobe InDesign is the program most commonly used in newspapers and +magazines. We used Quark Express before, but they seem to loose there +market to Adobe. The only "equivalent" to InDesign in the opensource +world is Scribus, and its not advanced enough. At least not according +to the teacher. I think it would be possible to use it, because they +are not supposed to learn a program, they are supposed to learn how to +edit and compile a newspaper. But politically at our school we are not +there yet. And Scribus lacks a lot of things you find i InDesign. + +We used even a windows program for sound editing when it comes to +the radio-journalist part. The year to come we are going to try +Audacity. That software has the same kind of limitations compared to +Adobe Audition, but that teacher is a bit more open minded. We have +tried Ardour also, but that instead is more like a music studio +program, not intended for the kind of editing taking place in a radio +studio. Its way to complex and the GUI is to scattered when you only +want to cut, make pass-overs, add extra channels and normalise. Those +things you can do in Audacity, but its not as easy as in Audition. You +have to do more things manually with envelopes, and that is a bit old +fashion and timewasting. Its also harder to cut and move sound from +one channel to another, which is a thing that you do frequently +because you often find yourself needing to rearrange parts of the +sound file. + +So, I am not sure we will succeed in replacing even Audition, but we +will try. The problem is the students have certain expectations when +they start an education towards a profession. So the programs has to +look and feel professional. Good thing with radio, there are many +programs out there, that radio studios use, so its not as standardised +as Newspaper editing. That means, it does not really matter what +program they learn, because once they start working they still have to +learn the program the studio uses, so instead focus has to be to learn +the editing part without to much focus on a specific software. + +Which free software do you use daily? + +Myself I'm running Linux Mint, or Ubuntu these days. I use almost +only open source software, and preferably Linux based. When it comes +to most used applications its OpenOffice, and Firefox (of course ;) +) + +Which strategy do you believe is the right one to use to +get schools to use free software? + +To get schools to use free software there has to be good open +source software that are windows based, to ease the transition. But +it's also very important that the multimedia support is working +flawlessly. The problems with Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and whatever +will create problems when it comes to both teachers and +students. Economy are also important for schools, so using thin +clients, as long as they have good multimedia support, is a very good +idea. It's also important that the open source software works even for +the administration. It's hard to convince the teachers to stick with +open source, if the principal has to run Windows. It also creates a +problem if some classes has to use Windows for there tasks, since that +will create a difference in "status" between classes, so a good +support for running windows applications via the thin client (Linux) +desktop is essential. At least at our school, where we have mixed +level of educations, from high-school to journalist-school. + + + diff --git a/blog/tags/kart/index.html b/blog/tags/kart/index.html index 3211622553..a3ea377c1a 100644 --- a/blog/tags/kart/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/kart/index.html @@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ til Ã¥ publisere sine kartdata pÃ¥ Internet uten bruksbegresninger.

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@@ -1195,13 +1195,13 @@ til Ã¥ publisere sine kartdata pÃ¥ Internet uten bruksbegresninger.

@@ -1209,7 +1209,7 @@ til Ã¥ publisere sine kartdata pÃ¥ Internet uten bruksbegresninger.

diff --git a/blog/tags/ldap/index.html b/blog/tags/ldap/index.html index 6993f386de..cd72f6f348 100644 --- a/blog/tags/ldap/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/ldap/index.html @@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ auxiliary object class.

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@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@ auxiliary object class.

diff --git a/blog/tags/lenker/index.html b/blog/tags/lenker/index.html index 208151c4b0..f358c49442 100644 --- a/blog/tags/lenker/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/lenker/index.html @@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ forslag for et rent og sikkert Internet.

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@@ -317,13 +317,13 @@ forslag for et rent og sikkert Internet.

@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ forslag for et rent og sikkert Internet.

diff --git a/blog/tags/ltsp/index.html b/blog/tags/ltsp/index.html index db5ca62594..b85722241f 100644 --- a/blog/tags/ltsp/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/ltsp/index.html @@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ of these cards.

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@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ of these cards.

diff --git a/blog/tags/multimedia/index.html b/blog/tags/multimedia/index.html index ef82e54571..9c58671b56 100644 --- a/blog/tags/multimedia/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/multimedia/index.html @@ -1774,7 +1774,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

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@@ -1909,7 +1909,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

diff --git a/blog/tags/norsk/index.html b/blog/tags/norsk/index.html index 76742d369c..a40009468d 100644 --- a/blog/tags/norsk/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/norsk/index.html @@ -12703,7 +12703,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

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@@ -12838,7 +12838,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

diff --git a/blog/tags/nuug/index.html b/blog/tags/nuug/index.html index 370df379a6..e6365b2cd8 100644 --- a/blog/tags/nuug/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/nuug/index.html @@ -8617,7 +8617,7 @@ at det er interesse for leveringen til OEP.

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@@ -8752,7 +8752,7 @@ at det er interesse for leveringen til OEP.

diff --git a/blog/tags/offentlig innsyn/index.html b/blog/tags/offentlig innsyn/index.html index 1facf6884b..e4c0071d4e 100644 --- a/blog/tags/offentlig innsyn/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/offentlig innsyn/index.html @@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ at det er interesse for leveringen til OEP.

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@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ at det er interesse for leveringen til OEP.

diff --git a/blog/tags/open311/index.html b/blog/tags/open311/index.html index 27d645e926..48054b79c6 100644 --- a/blog/tags/open311/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/open311/index.html @@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ to have a look. Please send feedback to the

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@@ -293,13 +293,13 @@ to have a look. Please send feedback to the

@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ to have a look. Please send feedback to the

diff --git a/blog/tags/opphavsrett/index.html b/blog/tags/opphavsrett/index.html index 441422b090..21a5fab648 100644 --- a/blog/tags/opphavsrett/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/opphavsrett/index.html @@ -2336,7 +2336,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

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@@ -2471,7 +2471,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

diff --git a/blog/tags/personvern/index.html b/blog/tags/personvern/index.html index 6a31f22940..d7d9a35b01 100644 --- a/blog/tags/personvern/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/personvern/index.html @@ -2887,7 +2887,7 @@ Norsk Journalistlag og Institutt for Journalistikk.

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@@ -3022,7 +3022,7 @@ Norsk Journalistlag og Institutt for Journalistikk.

diff --git a/blog/tags/raid/index.html b/blog/tags/raid/index.html index abfca0b3eb..9b8c60408d 100644 --- a/blog/tags/raid/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/raid/index.html @@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ disk(s) is failing when the RAID is running short on disks.

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@@ -234,13 +234,13 @@ disk(s) is failing when the RAID is running short on disks.

@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ disk(s) is failing when the RAID is running short on disks.

diff --git a/blog/tags/reprap/index.html b/blog/tags/reprap/index.html index 9975dcad1b..64a2e9b0f0 100644 --- a/blog/tags/reprap/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/reprap/index.html @@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ very cool 3D scanner.

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@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ very cool 3D scanner.

diff --git a/blog/tags/rfid/index.html b/blog/tags/rfid/index.html index c514b7834a..737be7c465 100644 --- a/blog/tags/rfid/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/rfid/index.html @@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ i 2007. Det er i dag mulig Ã¥ klone slike kort.

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@@ -283,13 +283,13 @@ i 2007. Det er i dag mulig Ã¥ klone slike kort.

@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ i 2007. Det er i dag mulig Ã¥ klone slike kort.

diff --git a/blog/tags/robot/index.html b/blog/tags/robot/index.html index 7be83252af..f253b1f9c6 100644 --- a/blog/tags/robot/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/robot/index.html @@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ please let me know.

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@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ please let me know.

diff --git a/blog/tags/rss/index.html b/blog/tags/rss/index.html index 98d99b66a2..749bca8359 100644 --- a/blog/tags/rss/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/rss/index.html @@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ forsÃ¸k.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/ruter/index.html b/blog/tags/ruter/index.html index 7f53ccec02..25f8cda938 100644 --- a/blog/tags/ruter/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/ruter/index.html @@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ Commons Navngivelse 3.0 Norge (CC BY 3.0).

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@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ Commons Navngivelse 3.0 Norge (CC BY 3.0).

diff --git a/blog/tags/scraperwiki/index.html b/blog/tags/scraperwiki/index.html index 664d3b31b8..4ccc896ee4 100644 --- a/blog/tags/scraperwiki/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/scraperwiki/index.html @@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ deler data med andre, og det gjÃ¸r ikke Bitfactory.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/sikkerhet/index.html b/blog/tags/sikkerhet/index.html index 211eee18be..f9be56afab 100644 --- a/blog/tags/sikkerhet/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/sikkerhet/index.html @@ -1495,7 +1495,7 @@ for their packages.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/sitesummary/index.html b/blog/tags/sitesummary/index.html index c969eb4295..88ca6edd30 100644 --- a/blog/tags/sitesummary/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/sitesummary/index.html @@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ original text, and have added it to the text now.

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@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ original text, and have added it to the text now.

diff --git a/blog/tags/skepsis/index.html b/blog/tags/skepsis/index.html index adf2fbb17c..21ca6b5977 100644 --- a/blog/tags/skepsis/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/skepsis/index.html @@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ Streisand-effekten

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diff --git a/blog/tags/standard/index.html b/blog/tags/standard/index.html index a8de5a8bf0..e7d4bbe304 100644 --- a/blog/tags/standard/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/standard/index.html @@ -3025,7 +3025,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

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diff --git a/blog/tags/stavekontroll/index.html b/blog/tags/stavekontroll/index.html index fb500063ba..60a3c2985e 100644 --- a/blog/tags/stavekontroll/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/stavekontroll/index.html @@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ stavekontrollen.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/stortinget/index.html b/blog/tags/stortinget/index.html index 3ed987e5f6..52bb7da911 100644 --- a/blog/tags/stortinget/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/stortinget/index.html @@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ til Ã¥ ta en sniktitt.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/surveillance/index.html b/blog/tags/surveillance/index.html index e0633cf2b9..55711b11e3 100644 --- a/blog/tags/surveillance/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/surveillance/index.html @@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ Orwell.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/valg/index.html b/blog/tags/valg/index.html index 6a2de08663..6ac29846cd 100644 --- a/blog/tags/valg/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/valg/index.html @@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ valgsystemet.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/video/index.html b/blog/tags/video/index.html index d0a95ec64b..e99fdd78b0 100644 --- a/blog/tags/video/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/video/index.html @@ -2597,7 +2597,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

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diff --git a/blog/tags/vitenskap/index.html b/blog/tags/vitenskap/index.html index 939c0f6637..3efe5e39b4 100644 --- a/blog/tags/vitenskap/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/vitenskap/index.html @@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ skyskrapere. Takke meg til en tur til mÃ¥nen.

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diff --git a/blog/tags/web/index.html b/blog/tags/web/index.html index 61f1802429..8455de314a 100644 --- a/blog/tags/web/index.html +++ b/blog/tags/web/index.html @@ -1905,7 +1905,7 @@ answers some questions about AVC/H.264 licensing. Anbefales!

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