Best Open Source Resources for Schools

From Tech & Learning: When Free Isn't Free: The realities of running open source in school

1) openSUSE: Licensing-free way for schools to provide authentication services, file and print services, database and Web server systems as well as application delivery services.

2) Dan's Guardian Internet filtering and proxy services: This projects replaces the customary subscription model filtering system with and "add on" module to the popular SQUID Internet proxy and cache system deployed with every major Linux distribution and frequently installed on commercial Web sites.

3) Elgg: social interaction site like Facebook, but for the purpose of schoolwork collaboration.

4) openBiblio: A library automation system that is flexible enough to handle DVDs, online, or e-book subscriptions and credentials, and a list of other tangible and intangeble learning assests.

5) Joomla: an easy-to-manage replacement for the traditionally farmed out, usually static, one -directional, Web page most schools project. It presents a very easy to understand word processor interface known as a WYSIWYG editor (What You See Is What You Get) that make it very easy for a teacher to learn to modify their Web presence with a few minutes a week, or day, to keep the public informed as to assignments and events.

6) Moodle: This project replaces products like "Blackboard" and makes it possible for small private and public schools to offer an online classroom. It works like many of the modern social networking sites yet is very organized and manageable like a real classroom.

7) openSIS: an open source student information system that costs $1 or $2 per student.

The following items came from Linux in U.S. Schools :

8) "ClaSS" provides the teacher with everything they need to manage attendance, grades and student performance.

9) iTALC is a viable alternative to closed source software Master Solution Vision (a.k.a. Altiris Vision) that allows the teacher to present, teach and to a degree, control what the students are doing during class. ( see another classroom management software: Netop School)

10) student management software Open Admin for Schools

11) more applications providing computer learning for the sciences

12) Online school grading & report card system: gradesheet.