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Educational Linux Distro Provides Tech-Bundle For Kids and Educators
First time accepted submitter Jason Hibbets writes "Ubermix is a version of Linux designed for kids and educators. In this interview with Jim Klein, founder of Ubermix, we discover a Linux distribution designed with kids, education, and educators in mind. This could change the way our the next generation learns about Linux and open source software like Celestia, Stellarium, Scratch, VirtualLab Microscope, iGNUit, and more."
It is especially good for younger kids but has alot of apps for older
kids as well. http://www.qimo4kids.com/
All the other ones I personally tried out seemed to have problems
with sound cards, booting, etc....
Why not use simple and descriptive language?
Because "Excel" is just as descriptive?
Look. Look at the troll and laugh.
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BMO
For a while there I was thinking it wasn't diverse enough.
Linux is an infinitely versatile tool, that's one of its greatest strengths. A distro is just s version of Linux tuned and configured for a specific purpose, often by people who have a good understanding of their business or social need. It's the fact that they have the freedom to make it work for their purpose instead of accepting someone else's compromises that creates so many distros. Needs are being met.
Proprietary vendors are desperate to spread FUD on this topic to stop people realising they could have a computer that does what they want, instead of what the vendors grudgingly allow them.
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
Are you dense?
Given the nick, I'd suggest "vaporous" as more appropriate.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
But on my first look I see Incomprehensible Icons and Icon names.
Why not use simple and descriptive language?
And on your second look you can see simple and descriptive language. In that exact same screenshot. For example,
Celestia (Gnome): explore the universe in this detailed space simulator.
Klavaro: Learn to type with this fun and easy typing tutor.
GeoGebra: Create interactive mathematical constructions and
Actually, it is based on Ubuntu, which begs the question - how is this any different, or not a part of Edubuntu?
Linux has become so mainstream than lost the novelty. Another distro, or a newer version? Is incremental, not earth shattering. Most of what could be said is already in the culture. Think how many attention and comments come after another virus, or zero day exploit, or IE vulnerability for windows? As is something normal, you don't get so many responses from people that uses it, but a lot of the usual deniers as have another opportunity
And as I don't play with educational distributions, can't tell if this one in particular makes a big difference compared with others (should be something as disruptive as i.e. Sugar to notice it), Just is... correct, in particular for all that you deny, is free (so can be freely distributed, or adapted for different needs),is safe, and have a simplified desktop environment oriented to the task that should be done, is not something that must be defended, because is just the obvious right choice.
This is a great concept, but it falls short because at least in my experience, most of the teachers (educators) I know are computer idiots to put it nicely. The amount of times I would have a question they couldn't answer was sad, even worse is that in grade school ( 1991 - 2000 ) the IT admin also couldn't answer most of them. If a distro exists to help students / educators learn Linux / Computers I think the educators should be the first to get on board and finally globally get those skills where they need to be and not in 1971.
Double-Entendres, lame jokes like the GIMP, pose problems of their own. The geek will tell you straight-faced that its merely an acronym for Gnome Image Processor --- and that may even be true, but no outside his own circle of friends ever quite believes him.
Not just that, one would then have to spell out that GNOME means, or used to mean, GNU Network Object Model Environment. What's GNU? GNU's Not Unix. Break everything out, and you have GNU's Not Unix Networked Object Model Environment Image Manipulation Program! Ain't GIMP simpler than all of that?
Edubuntu is more for 3-6 year olds. Kids get bored with the selection of the software pretty quickly when they get older. Ubermix seems to be actually geared for school age children, but my the time they're 10, they'll likely tire of some of the "educational" software and start using more of the "Apps" like skype, twitter, facebook, or whatever their replacements may be in the future.