Re: [Fsfe-uk] Big picture

[ian]

On Wed, 2003-09-03 at 14:18, Ramanan Selvaratnam wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> I came across this document trying to understand where we are going.
> 
> All a bit scary when predictions for 2010 are made and nothing specific 
> seems to be mentioned of the strategies adopted on software (which 
> should be a major factor in most intermediate skills).

Look at the Government discussion document on E-learning strategy if you
think that's bad ;-)

We need everyone to fill in the E-learning consultation strategy and say
that 

a) Its an aspirational set of wishes, not a strategy
b) The outcomes they aspire to will be unaffordable and unsustainable on
current software paradigms. The reason everyone has a TV is that you can
buy a decent one well under £100, far less than just the operating
system in a PC and the price of Windows is increasing not decreasing. 
c) A strategy that does not include free software explicitly is missing
an opportunity to further government inclusion policy, policy on best
value and environment targets.
d) When there is an obvious route to bridge the digital divide, and
schools are increasingly beginning to take this up themselves despite
all the fear, uncertainty, doubt and discouragement. Its therefore
inevitable that free software is going to play a significant part in
future. Government can be part of nurturing this improvement or it can
slow it down. whatever the case, the government needs to be far more
active in funding and supporting pilots to see practical advantages.
Commissioning reports on TCO is fiddling while Rome burns.

Its also a Word document (or pdf but then you would have to print it and
fill it in by hand) - we need everyone to E-mail them a response and
point out that the government using a proprietary document format for
collecting this type of information with cost implications for those
involved is contrary to their own code of practise as below. It drives a
coach and horses through their own inclusion policy. They could have had
a web based form which citizens could then complete at any public
library or provide it in OpenOffice.org format for those who can't
afford hundreds of pounds for MS Office.

This is what their own code of practice says

"Documents should be made widely available, with the fullest use of
electronic means (though not to the exclusion of others), and
effectively drawn to the attention of all interested groups and
individuals."

address@hidden

You can get the Word document from 

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/elearningstrategy/strategy.stm

I can send you a copy of a draft with the "answers" if you E-mail me,
but best if all don't look identical!

-- 
ian <address@hidden>