some thoughts and an idea

[Lucy Ringland]

Greetings,
This group has been discussing mostly school-based linux initiatives, 
but there is an active non-formal (think Scouts or 4-H, or church 
groups, etc. here) community out there that is just as excited at the 
possibilities of linux in their work - just as underfunded, in many ways 
even less supported. Can there be cross-discussion about both sides of this?

May I throw out the idea of:
LIFE / LINE
(LIFE = Linux in Formal Education / LINE = Linux in Non-formal Education)
This could be the "summit" we have been talking about.
Or an umbrella group that provides research, support, training - 
whatever - for educators and kids interested in open-source/linux - all 
flavors and colors. Gather interested parties together and look at the 
current puzzle pieces, and how the fit, what's missing, who's playing, 
and get a sense of what the picture looks like now and what we want it 
to look like in the future.

Also, there seem to be several big chunks to the question "what do we 
need to do to get linux/open source into education?" There is the 
software side - how to make it better, faster, lighter, easier for kids, 
teachers, parents, administrators (both system admins and school admins 
:-) ). There is the support side - how can we provide good tools for 
people wanting to put linux into their school/after-school programs - 
mentors, documentation, case studies, etc. There are surely other sides 
I haven't thought about.

And, how can we tie linux into teacher training at the 
college/university level, so teachers come into school settings already 
familiar with open-source? Wouldn't matter what distribution, just 
matters that they are exposed to alternatives that allow for community 
interaction.

Sorry these aren't fully developed thoughts, yet. Feel free to beat on them.
Lucy