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I'm still on the fence to whether or not the ability for big companies to give away free software is a net good or not. On one hand, schools theoretically have

by tabeth 9y ago

I'm still on the fence to whether or not the ability for big companies to give away free software is a net good or not. On one hand, schools theoretically have more money now to spend on mission critical things. On the other hand, the theoretically best possible product will in all likelihood will not be free. Such a product could give exponential gains in productivity to teachers, easily offsetting whatever cost is incurred.

criddell 9y ago
> exponential gains in productivity to teachers What are you thinking of? What are the big advances in education that have been made in the past few decades? I have kids in high school right now and I can say they are learning things earlier than I ever did. They have a lot more pressure on them as well. I'm not certain that's a good thing though. As far as technology goes, I don't see much change other than acceptance of it. My kids are encouraged to use their cell phones productively (calendar, communication, camera, etc...). But the process of education itself seems about the same as it always has been. Gains certainly haven't been exponential.
dhimes 9y ago
Maybe we should pay for schools and watch athletes for free rather than the other way around.
johnsmith21006 9y ago
Classroom is NOT free for schools.
- peder541 9y ago
  Do you have a source for this? Their support documentation says otherwise. "Classroom is a free web service for schools, non-profits, and anyone with a personal Google Account." https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6020279 https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6020279 "Classroom is free for all users." https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6025224 https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6025224
  - sofaofthedamned 9y ago
    Classroom is free, I think the device management MDM software costs $30 per device for a perpetual license: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1388674-managing-chromebooks https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1388674-managing-chro...

by tabeth 9y ago

criddell 9y ago

> exponential gains in productivity to teachers What are you thinking of? What are the big advances in education that have been made in the past few decades? I have kids in high school right now and I can say they are learning things earlier than I ever did. They have a lot more pressure on them as well. I'm not certain that's a good thing though. As far as technology goes, I don't see much change other than acceptance of it. My kids are encouraged to use their cell phones productively (calendar, communication, camera, etc...). But the process of education itself seems about the same as it always has been. Gains certainly haven't been exponential.

dhimes 9y ago

Maybe we should pay for schools and watch athletes for free rather than the other way around.

johnsmith21006 9y ago

Classroom is NOT free for schools.

peder541 9y ago
Do you have a source for this? Their support documentation says otherwise. "Classroom is a free web service for schools, non-profits, and anyone with a personal Google Account." https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6020279 https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6020279 "Classroom is free for all users." https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6025224 https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6025224
- sofaofthedamned 9y ago
  Classroom is free, I think the device management MDM software costs $30 per device for a perpetual license: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1388674-managing-chromebooks https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1388674-managing-chro...