Interesting article. Are there any circles on G+ where teachers can ask for help?


Interesting article. Are there any circles on G+ where teachers can ask for help? 

via Lisa Miller 

Originally shared by Linux News Here

HOW ONE TEACHER BUILT A COMPUTER LAB FOR FREE   #Linux  

Most of the computers’ problems could be fixed by wiping the disks and reinstalling the operating system—but buying new software for every donated computer would be prohibitively expensive. So Robert began to research more affordable options. An acquaintance at the Alameda County Computer Recyclers suggested he use a free operating system, such as #GNU-Linux. Having never ventured into the world of #open-source software, Robert scoured the internet for help. He came upon a local #Linux user’s group, a friendly group of people dedicated to helping people get started with free software.

With the help of his local LUG, he got #Linux up and running on his 18 donated machines. Suddenly, they were fast. They were clean. They worked well in the classroom. Robert was invigorated, as were his students. His principal saw how excited they all were, and decided to give Robert four hours of teaching leave per week to give him time to find more computers for a full lab for ASCEND. And so Robert became a “teacher on special assignment,” as he puts it.

Finding computers was less difficult than he originally anticipated. Most families and businesses have an old computer (or ten) sitting in storage. Robert began to call businesses and ask for donations of equipment they’d otherwise be sending for recycling. People were generally very receptive. Most people would rather their used computers do good than rot in a landfill or get shredded; they just don’t usually know how to get computers to where they are needed. “Underfunded schools are starving in the midst of plenty,” Robert explains. “Discarded computers are our nation’s most wasted educational resource.”

http://ifixit.org/3001/how-one-teacher-built-a-computer-lab-for-free/

Comments

  1. We are using Linux on all machines at our school. We want to install Google Chrome in all the machines. That is where we get stuck. After downloading Google Chrome the computer keeps showing the loading sign and never installs it. We want all the Chrome Webstore educational apps for the children. Any ideas on what to check and how to install?

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  2. When you installed Linux, was it Ubuntu or Fedora?

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  3. Did you install the 64 bit for Debian/Ubuntu?

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  4. I think it is 32 bit. How do I check and confirm that?

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  5. You may need to wipe it out and reinstall.  Here are some instructions I found.  I used to have an Ubuntu machine. http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/fedora-ubuntu-debian-suse-linux-install-googlechromebrowser/

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  6. Can you start from scratch?  Usually easy to wipe out the Unix boxes and start over.  Much easier than a windows machine.

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  7. Ok I will try it on one machine. Do you think it is better to install the other variation Fedora?

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  8. since Unix is open source, each variation has it's own unique set of programs.  I would stick with the type of the OS.

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  9. OK Thanks. I will try to reinstall and then install Google Chrome and see how it goes.

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  10. Let me know.  It's so great to be able to help others.  One of my 'weaknesses', I say, but at the same time strengths.

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  11. There are a lot of free resources out there.  If you need help finding some other resources let me know.  I have a web design / seo business and help small businesses find more cost effective ways to work through their day.   You could set up OpenOffice on the machines so they have a comparable product to Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Plus Google Documents is a great resource too.

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  12. Kathy Schneider if you share these resources on your blog or Google+ let me know. Would love to reshare.

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  13. LOL, I see you work at Google.  What do you do?

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  14. For sure.  I rarely have time to blog anymore. I'm schooling full time and working some.  I'm also looking for more stable work sources so I'm spread pretty thin right now.

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  15. I'm on the AdWords team but also work on stuff that isn't related to my day job :-)

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  16. That's why a business for me can be a weakness. :)  I love to help and find that I help people more.  I get more fulfillment from helping others.

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  17. Ahhh, Adwords, I have a client that uses it and I have to get in there and learn more about it.  Time....

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