My problem with the Microsoft deal….
…. is not that its microsoft or apple, is not that its Office 2007 or 2010. No, my problem is choice and certainty.
While the ministry has been quoted in interface magazine as saying ”The agreement covers almost 200,000 computers and provides schools with certainty for the next three years,” said Howard Baldwin, Acting Manager, e-Learning. I personally feel it doesn’t.
Teachers will face the change to Vista or Windows 7, They will face the change to Office 2007 or Office 2010.
These changes will not be comfortable. The change to vista will require schools to increase specifications in their computer systems and the change of OS & productivity suite will require re-training for many staff. This is not certainty.
But more importantly there is a lack of choice. Are schools able to opt out of this deal, retain the funding and use alternative products? Are they able to implement open office and rechannel the MS deals funding back into ICT? Are they able to use Edubuntu as an OS and repurpose the funding to provide laptop pods, smartboards, digital cameras, flip videos or a host of other tools?
Some will argue that “We should stay with the market leader!” well perhaps we should look at the future of cloud computing and stick with the likes of Google documents, Zoho Documents, Adobe’s Buzzword and presentation tool. See The NMC Horizon Project
Some will also say that open office is not up with the times, is old fashioned and lacks new features. But if you look below at the screenshot recently posted on life hacker you may change your opinion. And for those who say well it can do everything – Please tell me what Open Office can’t do that MS Office or iWorks can?
Source: Lifehacker
I have issues here with a lack of choice. The certainty spoken of is fictional, are we going to see changes in the next 3 years from Apple and Microsoft in their OSes and Productivity tools? Of course – so teachers will have to retrain and adapt this is certain
So the question is – Can schools have the choice to select their own software that best suites their needs and use the funding allocation to best support the integration of ICT into their classrooms and teaching & learning practice.
Source: 
5 Comments Already
August 23, 2009 at 9:09 am Permalink
I seriously doubt it Andrew, but I’m with you on this. It’s a very disappointing decision. Just think what we could do with all that money…
August 23, 2009 at 10:32 am Permalink
Hi Darren
This is a narrow focus with the emphasis on a small and limited range of tools. Namely a word processor, data processing tool & a presentation tool. It fails to address media editing and manipulation in any but the most basic modes. It ignores graphic editing, web design and development, graphic organisers and so much more. Instead it focuses on a 20th century educational approach of writing reports and developing linier slide based presentations.
21st C thinking, collaboration, communication, sharing etc…. what are they?
August 24, 2009 at 8:54 pm Permalink
You make some excellent points Andrew. I agree that many schools will be short changed by this deal, in that they are effectively locked into using these products, when they would perhaps be better served taking a different option.
I think in some utopian world, each school would have the choice to opt into a programme like this, or take another route to reach the ‘same’ goal. At my school, we are very happy with our apples and the software that is provided to us. However, I do feel that each school should be able to go down whatever road they wish and not be penalised financially for their choices. Windows schools and Mac schools only receive the benefits from their own deals, so who is losing out? Who having more money spent on them? I’m sure they figures are out there, maybe I’ll have a dig, now that you have sparked my interest.
August 25, 2009 at 8:10 pm Permalink
Good thoughts Andrew. As a Ministry employee trying to do the best for schools I have noticed that (often) when the Ministry makes a selection for schools the response is “Give us the money and let us decide how to use it” and when the Ministry does not make a selction we hear “You know best so select and tell us”.
Maybe a posting on criteria to decide when restricted choice might work better and when to leave it open? With so many able commentators I am sure it would prove useful to me.
Paul Seiler
August 26, 2009 at 9:11 am Permalink
Hi Paul
Thanks for the reply. I appreciate that you do feel like your are “piggy in the middle” with this.
However, the ministry does apply a one size fits all model when it comes around to funding software. The model is essentially if you are an apple school you get X and if your are a PC school you get Y.
I also realise it is a sliding scale with the schools able to add more PC’s/Apples and the ministry expected to pick up the cost as the number of machines changes through out the term/year/contract duration.
I would prefer to see a scale of options available with responcibilty loaded onto the schools. Essentially it is this.
Each eligible school has a series of choices or levels
Level 1. Standard complete package which is MinEdu provides OS, and software.
level 2. No iWorks/Office package. Schools agree to purchase/install a suitable productivity tool & are provided with funding to the value of the productivity package to be invested in ICT – this is an accountable process
level 3. Only OS package – Schools agree to purchase/install a suitable productivity tool, networking, Antivirus, etc are provided with funding to the value of the productivity/networking/AV package to be invested in ICT – this is an accountable process
level 4. Self supported – Schools are provided with equivilent funding but not access to any of the tools/technologies. Again this is accountable.
I suspect that many schools if presented with this would opt for the complete package and that otehr would also opt for the 2 level which is No productivity tools, choosing to use a recognised Open Source tools like Open Office and reinvest in other technologies to enhance learning.
I believe schools should/MUST have a choice. The package delivered by the ministry is not comprehensive enough for stduents in the 21st Century. It is not enough to just deliver a word processor, data processing tools and presentation tool and some elements of the infrastructure.
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