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One should teach children using the best tools for the job; cost should not be an issue here in the consideration. What is the quality of educational software i

One should teach children using the best tools for the job; cost should not be an issue here in the consideration. What is the quality of educational software in the Linux world compared to Windows? What about compared to OS X? What about usability? Accessibility? A rather vapid statement about "cost" isn't going to cut it as an argument as to why Linux should be used. Even amongst Free operating systems, why Linux? What are the advantages compared to FreeBSD, or OpenBSD, FreeDOS, or ReactOS? In an article like this, you need more than a few vague statements to back it up ideology, you need evidence and proof that Linux is the best route.

deleted 13y ago
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rythie 13y ago
Which one is the best tool, when you want to teach how a computer actually works? or you want to teach them programming?
- Sanddancer 13y ago
  How a computer actually works, probably something microkernel-based, like Minix. Stripped down, show just what needs to be shown for the lesson at hand, and much easier to get inside and play with the gears. Programming? I'd say the OS doesn't really matter. Simple, easy to see initial result environments like MIT's Scratch, or Logo run on pretty much everything.
  - rythie 13y ago
    Scratch is ok at first, but really they need to come out of schoool knowing something more than that (python/ruby/java etc.)
    - Sanddancer 13y ago
      Well, this is for a learning environment for children, so I'd argue getting a language with a good hook is important. Additionally, both environments also offer a more interesting language under the hood to poke at -- for scratch, smalltalk/actionscript, and for logo, the lisp-style language under the hood -- to teach the more advanced concepts. Give interesting, easy results, but then use that to build on how to bring in more and more in-depth concepts.
- rbanffy 13y ago
  > Which one is the best tool, when you want to teach how a computer actually works? To start? Probably a programmable calculator.
skriticos2 13y ago
I agree. It would be much more useful to focus on things like the differences between package management systems in various OS's and maybe point out the strengths. For Linux this would be easy scripting and generic problem solving while in Windows you have a much more "solution" based ecosystem. Don't misunderstand me, I don't advocate hardcore CS for everyone, but some basic scripting would not hurt the average student.

deleted 13y ago

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rythie 13y ago

Which one is the best tool, when you want to teach how a computer actually works? or you want to teach them programming?

Sanddancer 13y ago
How a computer actually works, probably something microkernel-based, like Minix. Stripped down, show just what needs to be shown for the lesson at hand, and much easier to get inside and play with the gears. Programming? I'd say the OS doesn't really matter. Simple, easy to see initial result environments like MIT's Scratch, or Logo run on pretty much everything.
- rythie 13y ago
  Scratch is ok at first, but really they need to come out of schoool knowing something more than that (python/ruby/java etc.)
  - Sanddancer 13y ago
    Well, this is for a learning environment for children, so I'd argue getting a language with a good hook is important. Additionally, both environments also offer a more interesting language under the hood to poke at -- for scratch, smalltalk/actionscript, and for logo, the lisp-style language under the hood -- to teach the more advanced concepts. Give interesting, easy results, but then use that to build on how to bring in more and more in-depth concepts.
rbanffy 13y ago
> Which one is the best tool, when you want to teach how a computer actually works? To start? Probably a programmable calculator.

skriticos2 13y ago

I agree. It would be much more useful to focus on things like the differences between package management systems in various OS's and maybe point out the strengths. For Linux this would be easy scripting and generic problem solving while in Windows you have a much more "solution" based ecosystem. Don't misunderstand me, I don't advocate hardcore CS for everyone, but some basic scripting would not hurt the average student.