This week we learned about open source software and explored different software tools and how they relate and can be applied to our career fields. Open source software refers to computer software that is available in source code which allows users to study, change, improve, and often distribute the software. This type of software is developed in a collaborative and open manner. The move for this type of free software started in 1983; open source software allows individuals to modify the software and share it with others. Through resources like Open Office.org, an open source version of Microsoft Office and other sites like SourceForge.net, which allows users to view and explore numerous open source software programs, open source software is easily accessible and free to all users.
Open Source Software is a resource that can definitely be applied and used in my future career as an educator. By going on SourceForge.net, I found numerous open source software programs ready to download, designed for the field of education. Some of these software resources include Paidei Education Platform, Turn-In, and easy p2p. Paidei Education Platform is a great tool for an educator that provides forums, exams, gradebook, and chat for students, teachers and administrators. Turn-In is a resource is a document submission system that allows students to submit homework to specific classes or sections. Easy p2p is a student to student file transfer and chat network. Just from these three resources, it easy to see some of the benefits that open source software can provide to teachers. It can help with communication, for teachers and students, online submissions, grading, exam creation, etc. and it is free!
http://mairin.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/a-k12-educators-guide-to-open-source-software/
I attached this site because I thought it was relevant to my field and introduced me to even more resources that a K-12 Educator can use in his or her classroom. From this site and the PDF document attached, I was able to explore learning materials, community resources and other open source applications. Resources like Open Clip Art, which provides public domain of art that can be used by teachers, and Scratch, a tool that allows students to create interactive stories, games music and art, are just a few examples of resources educators can use. Exploring the tools provided from this site showed me how vast the availability of open source software really is, and how there are so many resources that can be used by all different types of people in all kinds of careers.
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