F2F Spcial Topic

Open Source is a topic which has intrigued me for quite some time for a number of reasons: flexibility, it is relatively low cost compared to copyrighted software, and its ability to be modified quickly when upgrades or patches are needed or because technology has, yet again, changed rapidly.
When investigating possible topics for this assignment I discussed open source with a colleague who is the technology teacher at my school. He was not enthusiastic about the topic because in his words it was very technical and I did not have the computer background to do it justice. He was right! But I found the potential applications of open source in my district fascinating and decided to investigate it more so as to become an advocate for it in my district. Thus my presentation was a bit weak in the technical side of open source, but I hope that was balanced by the knowledge I imparted on the uses of open source and its many advantages.
The Open Source movement gained momentum in the 1990’s as laws were being introduced to protect intellectual property. It was believed by its proponents as having numerous advantages over copyrighted software, most especially that its source code or language was freely available to be changed by anyone willing or able to do so. This appeals to the current trends of collaborative efforts in both the work place and learning environments.
The most satisfying aspect of this assignment was introducing my classmates to the plethora of websites and downloadable elements which are available for the most part online and free or of minimal price to cover reproduction costs. By providing links for them to open source materials they can readily use, I hope I have increased their awareness of open source resources which will help them at work, in school, and on vacation.