Ed Tech Crew

I am currently a sophomore in college and I am taking a class on technology in education and we have been discussing this topic of open software and looking at some examples of it, seeing both the pros and cons of it. After listening to your podcast about open software by Tony Richards and Darrel Branson, I now have an even better idea of just what exactly open software is and how it can be used globally. More specifically, I like how you pointed out how open software is a cost free software, which is a large reason why it appeals to so many. In my class, we touched on this point as well, but we looked at how software costs may be a reason why educators are both for and against the program. For example, teachers who have paid for the upgrade on their current software are going to be less likely to jump on this band-wagon that is for open software because they want to get their moneys worth, where as other educators are entirely for open software because now they can use the money they would have had to spend on something else. I also liked how you mentioned the variations of open software. In my class we haven’t really looked at this all the much so it was interesting to hear about. You mentioned the dance mat from the ladies in New Zealand where the students actually have to dance and are getting their physical workout. I was just wondering what the purpose of this was or if it was to elicit physical workout?