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/