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University Information Technology Services News Room

IU advocates open-source benefits at national K-12 conference

Conference explores benefits, cost savings of virtual learning environments

INDIANAPOLIS -- As the nation's K-12 schools integrate technology into their classrooms, many face tough decisions in allocating these resources because of limited technology budgets. For a growing number of Indiana schools, free open-source software presents one solution.

Indiana University, a leader in and national advocate for open source, will co-sponsor and address the national K-12 Open Minds Conference, taking place October 9-11 at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites, 8787 Keystone Crossing. Key sessions will also be broadcast to universities and schools nationally via a pilot program through high definition videoconferencing technology, courtesy of IHETS (Indiana Higher Education Telecommunications System). For connectivity and support information please visit: http://www.ihets.org/progserv/networking/i2/openMindsConference.html.

Unlike commercial software, open-source software can promote access to information and enable developers at schools to maximize existing technology infrastructures while at the same time build new functionality without the steep price tag and vendor license agreements.

Using proprietary software for some one million students would cost schools $1 million to just turn on the computers, reports author and futurist David D. Thornburg (see article). Thornburg will offer the keynote address Wednesday morning on Oct. 10.

IU speakers will address the benefits of electronic portfolios and course management systems that are part of the community source environment known as Sakai. IU was one of the early founders of the community source movement, so called because a community of schools is behind the development and growth of the software (See http://www.sakaiproject.org/).

At 10 a.m., Anastasia Morrone, associate dean for learning technologies, IU Office of the Vice President for Information Technology, and John Gosney, faculty liaison for learning technologies, University Information Technology Services, will discuss the opportunities electronic portfolios provide for life-long learning in a session titled "Electronic Portfolios for Students."

At 2 p.m., David Goodrum, director of the Teaching and Learning Technologies Center, will discuss options for schools interested in course management systems, including Sakai, in his talk, "Engaging an Open Source Course Management System: Potential and Challenges."

"Implementing and advocating for an open-source environment at Indiana University and at other higher education institutions has fostered new and improved ways to enhance the teaching and learning experience through effective and engaging tools for student-to-faculty and peer-to-peer contact, such as wikis, blogs, and other emerging 'Web 2.0' applications, including virtual worlds and podcasting," Morrone said. "The open-source environment enables educators to keep up with technology trends that enhance learning, while saving institutions thousands of dollars every year."

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