CRD 704\Class Discussions

From WolfWikis

During our discussion in CRD 704 on Open Source Software (9/18/07), we discussed why some teachers might not adopt OSS applications in their classes even if their home institutions do not mandate a particular proprietary application. We brainstormed the following lists of reasons why teachers might choose not to adopt OSS apps:

Why don't teachers use Open Source Software?

--Lack of institutional support
--Must be self-motivated to learn how to use software
--No models to follow
--Don't want to be the first one
--No tech support when the software doesn't work as it should
--Students won't be familiar with the learning environment
--Students have to learn how to use the environment for one semester only
--Teacher must play role of help desk support
--Lack of awareness of what's available
--Teachers often believe that the programs are harder to learn how to use
--Belief that you have to know how to program in order to use OSS
--Software might not be as reliable--where's the accountability?
--*What Shaun said*
--Concerns about compatibility
--An institutional/political fight that the teacher might not want to enter into
--If professors had to pay for their own software, OSS would probably be much more popular