Linux in Education (or Anywhere for That Matter)

Ahhh...my first blog entry. Starting something new is always exciting to me. I am at this point in my life a full time college student working on my Masters. It is something new and a change for me. Unlike many people out there, I embrace change. Change is good. One place that is having significant problems with change is the world of academia. They have been indoctrinated to the Micro**ft philosophy. Don't get me wrong, Linux classes are offered at the college and university level, but only with minimal coverage of the bare basics of Linux and UNIX (this has been my experience). Even with students and industry calling for more instruction of Linux, UNIX, and open source products, academia is still afraid of the change. The use of Linux in industry has grown significantly over the past several years, and academia has failed to keep up. If you are a student and you are not being exposed to Linux in the classroom, I suggest you expose yourself. When you leave academia and hit the streets of the real world, Linux is out there, and you must know how to integrate Linux with other technologies within the network infrastructure you will be working in. Knowledge of Linux is, in my opinion, as essential a skill as using a Word processor.

Even K-12 stays away from Linux and open source. K-12 Education is fighting a never ending battle against the high prices of technology, but there are options to help bring down the total cost of ownership for computing systems that could save school systems hundreds if not thousands of dollars annually. One option, the one I feel is most obvious, is to get away from the Micro**ft world, move to Linux on the desktop, and also use Linux as a server solution. Convincing everyone that this is a viable option can be difficult. You have many technology administrators, network administrators, and teachers that just plain and simply do not want to attempt to make the change due to the fact they fear that more work may be involved, or that the learning curve for Linux is too high. This simply is not true.

One other big problem with academia using Linux is that companies like Dell, who is the largest provider of systems to academia, insist on installing Win**ws products on those machines or at least make it seem more cost effective to use Micro**ft products versus open source. We need to push these big companies into offering more cost effective solutions using Linux and open source. As long as these systems come pre-installed with something other than Linux, we are fighting a very difficult battle.

So how do we as Linux users help to push this change? We educate the masses. Let people know that Linux is a viable, stable, and just as easy to use option as Win**ws. If you are a parent, introduce Linux to your kids. Let them know that there are other options besides what is beat into their heads at school. Microsoft learned long ago that if they start children using their products then these children will continue to use their products until they are adults. Why do you think Micro**ft wants into all of the living rooms around the world. This exposure means more sales. Micro**ft is then a family brand. It is up to you to make Linux a family brand and Mepis is the distribution to use.

Also, if you are in academia, push for more Linux in the classroom. Industry needs more people with Linux experience, but the demand far out weighs the supply at this point. Thus, industry uses Win**ws because they know they can find experienced employees. The more trained Linux professionals we have, the more Linux will be used in industry. If Linux is used more in industry, the "trickle-down" effect may occur giving academia no choice but to increase use of Linux in the classroom. Thus, K-12 may also be more likely to embrace the change.

Finally, if you order a computer from anyone, especially a company like Dell, insist that the system come with Linux or no OS at all. Let them know why you insist on Linux. Tell them how you feel. Tell them you want stability and security without having to pay them for support. Dell is no dummy. They know that if the system comes with Linux, they are not going to make any money on support, the sale of software, etc. They want you to use Win**ws, but you can refuse.

The change is no easy task, but we must start somewhere. We all as individuals play a somewhat ephemeral role in the grand scheme of big business against the little guy, but if each of us offer help in some way as a united front, the change may come. For example, I am on a Wind**ws machine typing this up. This machine has Win**ws installed because it is used for academic activities that require the use of Win**ws. I could use some type of virtual machine, but I have not taken the time to do that on this machine. The point I am making is that due to academia, I have three machines in my home that have Wind**ws. I complain to my instructors every chance I get about having to use Win**ws to program/develop using VS2003 or VS2005 and C++. Why not use Linux for C and C++? I am one of many that has complained. Use your voice. Let everyone one know that Linux is out there. Hand them a copy of Mepis tell them to try it. Hand it to teachers, students, friends, and neighbors. Let everyone know Win**ws is not the only option.

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