Open Source Software (OSS)

1. Open Source Software(OSS) How Open Source Software can help our Industry jump to the cutting edge in 2010 By: Thomas Eric Harris

2. Development YOU!! What you don’t believe me! Well watch this short video about Open Source and its founders

4. Researchers

6. Commercialization

7. Richard Stallman launches the GNU Project and the Free software Foundation. • The Computer Science Research Group (CSRG) of the University of California at Berkeley was improving the Unix system Late 70’s-Early 80’s Knowledge

8. Richard Stallman and the California Berkeley staff continue to develop separate software in isolation. Other groups are also building OSS applications. These applications start the ball rolling to showing the world that OSS is an effective development strategy. Late 80’s Early 90’s Persuasion

9. Bill Jolitz develops 386BSD software platform, while Linus Torvalds is finishing the basics of the Linux operating system in Finland. Both of these systems are still in use today. Linux was the more common choice that has been used to develop many OSS titles. 1991-1992 Decision

10. The collapse of Netscape (a former OSS supporter) rushed many companies to understand OSS. Large computer companies are trying to promote and develop OSS. 1998 Implementation

11. The open source movement has not reached the confirmation stage of the Innovation-Decision Process. The movement is still progressing as new OSS titles are being developed. Mozilla’s Firefox and the course management tool Moodle have been confirmed as viable applications. 1999- Confirmation

12. Innovation April 1998 • Linus Torvalds, Larry Wall, Brian Behlendorf, Eric Allman, Guido van Rossum, Michael Tiemann, Richard Stallman, Jamie Zawinski, and Eric Raymond come together at the Open Source Summit. • They discuss the definition of “Free software” and the open source movement is started. • These individuals take Open source in many different directions.

13. Early Adopters: Early 2000’s • Many different companies begin to develop open source ideals. • These companies release portions of their source code while keeping vital portions under wraps. • The Open Source Initiative is developed with the early founders. Many OSS titles have been developed.

14. More Titles for Early Adopters • At the beginning of 2010 many different OSS titles have been developed in many different applications. Mozilla’s Firefox Web browser, the Linux operating system, and Mozillas Firefox web browser are some of the most famous of these early adopter programs

15. At the beginning of 2010 many different OSS titles have been developed in many different applications. Early 2000’s: Many different companies begin to publish a portion of their code 1998 Open Source Summit discusses the benefits of Open development

16. Innovators of Open source Movement • The Open source Initiative (OSI) is the primary organization responsible for innovation in the Open Source Movement. • Other innovators will turn in their changes and modifications to the OSI which will post them in updates to the programs.

17. Early Adopters • Small businesses with a technical interest will be the earliest adopters of OSS. • They have the technical knowledge to feel comfortable using an application without tech support. • They will also be flexible enough to adopt early with limited trialibility. • IT departments at public K12 districts and smaller universities will also be early adopters of OSS. • Small business as well as small school districts will be interested in the no cost alternatives that OSS offers.

18. How to catch early adopters in Education • The OSS movement will sell itself as school districts look at the high cost of software licenses to keep computers running. • By accenting the stability of OSS applications and their limited risk to viral computer attacks school districts will come to OSS on their own.

19. Those darn Laggards • The more experienced educators will be the laggards in adopting OSS applications. • We will move laggards along by stopping support of traditional applications after a training period.

20. How to EASE the transition • Develop a community of teachers out of the early adopters. • A community ethic will allow the late adopters and laggards to see the benefits by increasing the compatibility and observability of the systems. The lead group will allow the late group to be more successful in their trial of the applications.

21. Decentralized approach to adoption • OSS has been decentraly diffused from its beginning • The driving concept behind Open source software requires this diffusion method • The reinvention of OSS titles to be specifically tailored to the user is OSS greatest asset.

22. Change agents in OSS • The change agents for OSS in Effingham County will not have to work hard to show a need for change. • The current economy is strangling school systems and specifically technology departments into becoming more creative with the use of their limited funding. • Paying thousands for site licenses of programs will be seen as frivolous when low or no cost alternatives are presented.

23. Change Agent: Relationships • These individuals will be current employees in the schools. • As such they will have their own relationships with their cohorts already established. • This person should be well liked at their location and be looked to as a guide for technical applications.

24. Change Agent: Problems?We don’t have any, do we? • This individual should actively seek out problems and work to actively mediate those issues before frustration is experienced by end users.

25. Create an Intent to change • The chosen change agents should create positive experiences that develop a desire to use the new applications. • The change agent should look for ways that OSS applications can be used by individuals that are not easily noticed.

26. Move from intent to action • Change agents should create positive OSS experiences that exhibit best teaching practices. • By doing this followers will feel comfortable knowing that they can be successful at reaching out to their students in a novel way.

27. Prevent the Back Slide • By providing positive feedback on the projects that end users develop with OSS the change agent will prevent discontinuance of the innovation. • The change agent should always look for positives especially if the end user believes the effort has resulted in failure.

28. Work yourself out of a job • The OSS change agent should create positive experiences and work tirelessly to develop communication between end users. • By working in this regard and developing communication and collaboration the change agent will be training their own replacements.

29. Critical Mass for OSS • Critical mass has not been reached for OSS inside of the education sector. • I think that an incentive policy would help educators to make a switch over to OSS applications. Early adopters will see a benefit when they get a small supplement to their pay or a decrease in extra job duties. • The additional cost would be offset by the decrease in licensing fees, this would motivate users to “learn” the software as early adopters.

30. Everybody needs a Champion • The open source movement can change the make up of the 21st century classroom. • By eliminating the costly proprietary software that is incorporated into technology educators and managers can fill other needs in our schools. • The accountant is the champion of the open source movement.

31. Conclusion • WHY OSS?? • Money, Plain and simple!! • The Savannah Morning News reports that the governor has allotted $6.96 billion in state funds for education. This is a $436.6 million dollar decrease in funds available for system use.

32. How does OSS fit, or fix, the Bill! • By eliminating the cost associated with site licenses for proprietary software the district could generate considerable savings that could be repurposed to more meaningful instructional goals. • OSS software could help create a learning community with in the district as new applications are installed and educators look to each other for guidance.

33. OSS is the Open door to the Future • We all need to make sure that we have the people and mindset in place to walk through the door when it comes to our schools • Open Source is more then just the software and applications. The concepts of the movement apply to every facet of education. The communal nature of the Open Source Movement needs to permeate education at the most basic levels.