OS and Education

I've always worked in a Windows based environment as a teacher. While I made the switch a few years ago to a Mac for use in my classroom, the machines that my students have always had access to have been Windows based.

Then the ten Asus eee pcs showed up in my classroom. 1/2 are Linux Xandros, the standard operating system that comes pre-installed on these machines. The other 1/2 have had Windows XP put on them by central office staff who want me to compare the two for stability, technical issues, etc. But what I'm finding is not a difference in these things, but instead, a difference in the philosophy of learning and teaching that they promote. The message these two systems sends to kids is different.

Windows machines are a default. Most everyone has one and most everyone knows there way around one. They are efficient, easy to use, and give people all of the tools they need to accomplish many digital tasks. But the eee pc stripped down interface leads straight to the web.

This picture shows the way around one of the tabs that make up an eee pc desktop. The web icon leads straight to firefox and the others are obvious. Built in direct connections to Skype, to Wikipedia, Google Docs and iGoogle send you to your accounts in these places. Of course Windows machines can do all of these things as well, but having these icons there as soon as you turn the computer on screams for collaboration. These computers have almost no harddrive space so most everything needs to be saved elsewhere, but having these icons to remind you to head to the web solves that problem. Insert your SD card into the built in slot and head to flickr for your stills and YouTube for your video files and these problems are looked after as well.

So this leads me to ask this question: does the OS you use in your classroom effect the philosophy of learning?

Macs come with tools built in that promote creativity: iMovie, iPhoto, GarageBand, etc. Having these tools built into your machine ensures that you will at least play with them and get a feel for some of the possibilities. If we are having trouble with things like camera drivers and creating mp3 files on the school's computers, I will let my students use my MacBook Pro. Drag and drop creation and intuitive use allow even people who have no Mac experience to figure things out pretty quickly. Macs are about being creative, about content production.

The Linux OS on the eee pcs is about collaboration. They promote heading online to accomplish and share the tasks that you need. The OS being Linux is free as are all of the other applications installed on the machine. From the pre- installed Open Office to the webcam, these machines are about community built knowledge and collaboration. What does this mean for our classrooms? What effect does a different OS have on the philosophy of teaching and learning in classrooms? Having this version of Linux is about collaboration. Having a Mac is about being creative and a multimedia content producer. What about Windows? What message of learning does this dominant OS send to our students? Will changing the OS change the things that happen in a classroom?

Tags: eeepc, classroom, philosophy, linux, learning

Comments

[Ken Pendergrass]

Clarence-

I really like your collaboration vs. creativity labels for linux and mac os. I wish the people who make decisions about computers and technology in my district could see the fundamental overview that you present here. I happen to teach in a mac school, so an emphasis on "creativity and multimedia" are unspoken but appreciated values at our school.

Unfortunately, it seems that the "linux" and "mac" way of thinking that you describe is missing from the people who make decision about technology in our district..."efficient, easy to use and tools to accomplish digital tasks" are the norms for decisions around technology. But efficiency is different than collaboration or creativity. What do our students really need?

By the way, I teach in Seattle...a floating bridge away from the home of Windows efficiency.

[Mr. Ahlness]

Clarence,
I love your way of looking at this, and I think you've maybe got hold of a part of why education around here (hi Ken) tends to be so closed, so into its own world, so unwilling/unable to network and reach out to others. Creative, yes. Collaborative, no.

It's built into the OS by the things the OS tends to put out front and feature.

Your Linux laptops being closer to a Windows PC than a Mac leads me to thinking, I bet Tom Friedman uses a PC and Dan Pink uses a Mac. Right?

[Chris Marchetti]

I was struck by the notion that it is simply what your computer has on it to begin with that forms more of what it will be used for. In my opinion, you are spot on! While I was reading your post it occurred to me that the commercials on TV about MAC vs PC are true. I wonder if Linux got into the mix what those commercials would look like? The other thing that I thought of was how district central office folks are often boxed in by their own regulations and cannot even think about having multiple platforms in schools at the same time. It would be a great paradigm shift if this could happen.

[dave]

Thanks Clarence for bringing some clarity to this discussion. We have this conversation all the time about platform and which is best. I think your post makes a good argument for the fact that our students will need to be exposed to multiple operating systems. We are not training them on an operating system. We are teaching them to think about computers as tools and sometimes, one tool is better than another.

As an example, think about carpentry tools. We learn how to use different saws to do different jobs. If we use the wrong saw for the job, it won't come out as good as it would if we used the right tool. In learning carpentry, it would make no sense to train all students how to use only a jigsaw and then presume that they will figure out the others simply from that experience.

These operating systems are all good, all different, and all necessary. Let's start teaching our students how to choose the right tool for the job!

[Mark]

We recently went through amalgamation with several other school divisions and the technology of of the divisions replaced everything. One division ran a Linux/Mac hybrid, two others were PC, and we ran a Linux thin client model. When we came together it became a fight about which ONE would be used. When I suggested that all three had strengths and a roll many of the other people in the room looked at me like I swore. I wish I could have formulated my opinion as succinctly.

Almost a year later (and millions of dollars) I think that we are starting to develop a collective attitude that decisions should be based on the right tool for the job, not which tool is easier to manage.

[Alex Brenner]

Clarence,

I found your blog to be very interesting. While I am still an undergrad studying to become an educator, there is growing emphasis on us to learn how to incorporate technology into our classroom. Your article showed the strengths and weaknesses of each. I personally use a PC, but my roommate is Mac through and through and we actually frequently argue over which is better (nobody ever wins). I personally feel that PC's are the best for schools to use mainly because students are more familiar with them than Macs and Linux. However, as you presented, each has its individual strength. I guess as educators, it is our duty to know how to use each type of computer so we can adapt to the school's preference?

Alex

[Alex Brenner]

Clarence,

I found your blog to be very interesting. While I am still an undergrad studying to become an educator, there is growing emphasis on us to learn how to incorporate technology into our classroom. Your article showed the strengths and weaknesses of each. I personally use a PC, but my roommate is Mac through and through and we actually frequently argue over which is better (nobody ever wins). I personally feel that PC's are the best for schools to use mainly because students are more familiar with them than Macs and Linux. However, as you presented, each has its individual strength. I guess as educators, it is our duty to know how to use each type of computer so we can adapt to the school's preference?

Alex

[remote access fan]

I think the important thing is to consider what the point of the computer in the classroom is. Of course, if the real goal is just to get students ready to work in an office than I imagine Windows would be most suitable. If it is about learning, than any OS should do.

[Tammy Sillers]

I've never thought about underlying philosophies inherent in different OS's...but it's interesting to consider. I just had my first exposure to MAC last week - and can totally see how they are geared to creativity.

I recently was working with some educators from Regina and was interested to find out that they have MACs in their elementary schools, but PC's in their high schools. I was curious about the shift, but they couldn't really articulate for me the reasoning behind it.

I think you're right - depending on the OS you have will certainly impact what happens in the classroom. I agree with Chris Marchetti totally. We should be able to offer all the options to our kids...and let them choose what it is that will best meet their needs.