Education Case Study: Learners advantaged by mixed (Linux and Microsoft) environment
Cape Town
Athlone
South Africa
Grade Range:
High School
Website
Submitted by:
Reza Bardien
Email: mwashs1
mweb.co.zaHow things got started...
Alexander Sinton High School has implemented an ICT programme at the school about 10 years ago, using propriety software. More recently, we were sponsored with a Microsoft/Citrix Thin Client network of 22 terminals and this proved to be insufficient for our learner population of about 1200. We serve a disadvantaged community, which makes it difficult to expand our ICT resources at Sinton. In an attempt to establish a low cost, high quality ICT solution at our school, we explored a Linux Thin Client solution and the Sinton LinuxLab was conceptualised!
Why Free Software?
Linux is a recent phenomenon in South African schools and we wanted to explore the viability of a Linux Thin Client Network in a school environment, using refurbished 486 computers operating as thin clients. 486 computers have almost no market value and if this could address the needs within education, it offered an alternative to many other disadvantaged schools. We hoped that the Linux thin client solution would break the costly replenishment cycle that Fat Client schools face, at least every 5-7 years. We had an established Microsoft Thin Client network of 22 terminals that our learners have used for about 2 year. We were very keen to observe their ability to migrate between the Microsoft and Linux thin client environments. We formed strategic partnerships with The Shuttleworth Foundation (http://www.tsf.org.za/) as well as linuxlab.org.za/ and together this pilot project was successfully implemented.
The plan...
The Sinton LinuxLab network had two main objectives: Firstly, To explore the viability of using 486 computers refurbished by learners in a low cost, high quality thin client school network. Secondly, to evaluate the ability for learners to migrate comfortably between our Microsoft/Citrix Thin Client network of 22 terminals and a Sinton LinuxLab Thin Client network. Evan Summers from LinuxLab together with Reza Bardien submitted a proposal to The Shuttleworth Foundation for funding to establish the pilot project. Our application was successful and the project was granted ZAR 60 000. This included funding for the furniture in the computer lab, network cabling (installed by our learners), a PIII server with 1 Gig RAM and 2X 40 Gig. drives. We managed to secure about 50, 486 computers from Freecom and these were checked, repaired and installed by the learners at Alexander Sinton High School. We purchased new mouse and keyboards for the LinuxLab network as well as dedicated powercables. All the thinclients booted from a bootable stiffy disk while we explored network card boot ROM's. The greatest challenge was that the 486 computers were close to their 'dumping age' and therefore we were plagued with periodic stiffy drive and power supply failures. Fortunately, we had additional PC's, which we used to cannibalize to maintain those on the network. The RJ-45 jacks would also slip out of the network cards when the systems were moved, disconnecting the thin clients from the server. I anticipated other similar projects would find access to Linux Technical Support a challenge. The Sinton LinuxLab had access to technical support from both TSF as well as Linuxlab.org.za, which was extremely useful. The Western Cape Schools' Network (www.wcsn.wcape.school.za) is exploring building Linux support capacity within their Technical Call Centre / HelpDesk and this will address a huge need that schools in South Africa are experiencing. Although these challenges proved frustrating, we managed to establish the 486 thin client linux network successfully. Learners, without any training, were observed to migrate comfortably between both the Microsoft and Linux (Mandrake 1.0). They managed to explore, create and complete projects using both networks. Using OpenOffice 1.0, learners were able to create documents on either network without any difficulty.
Evaluation...
The Sinton LinuxLab was successfully implemented, using the refurbished thin client 486 computers. This was a low cost, high quality solution that allowed learners at Alexander Sinton High School to each work on their own computer when visiting the computer lab. Prior to the establishment of the Sinton LinuxLab, a class of 45 learners resulted in 2-3 learners sharing a computer. I would recommend though that PI or PII's be used as entry level thin clients so that there are fewer hardware maintenance issues. This also allows for faster network traffic, using 10/100 network cards. I was truly amazed to see our learners migrate fearlessly between the Microsoft and the Linux environment and use both networks functionally.
The Future...
Because the 486 computers have almost no market value, it is possible to explore a decentralised ICT model. This allowed us to distribute these 'low value' systems to low security areas like the staff room, media centre as well the Geography room. 486 computers are also readily available and if learners and educators do not mind spending some time maintaining these systems, it offers a low cost solution for immediate implementation.
