Why Educators Should Try Linux (Week 6: Blog of Choice)

Back in January, I wrote about why I switched to Linux. Now, I want to share with you a list of reasons, why I believe educators especially should try Linux. I'm not going to try to convince you to abandon Windows or Mac; I actually think it's good to be proficient in more than one operating system. Speaking of operating systems, I need to clarify what Linux is. Linux is not an operating system. It is a kernel (think of it as the core of an operating system); there are many operating systems that use the Linux kernel. These are often called distributions or distros. For the purpose of this post, I will use the term Linux to refer to the whole body of Linux distributions, and will specify when I am talking about the kernel itself.


Why Educators should try Linux (Distros)


In no particular order here is a list of reasons to try Linux if you are an educator:

• Linux is open-source. It's built on the ideals of collaboration and connectivism. Developers make new distributions based on the distributions of others. For instance, I am using Linux Mint right now. This distro was based on another distro called Ubuntu, which is based on Debian. These distros are not made by the same company or organization. There is some collaboration between these groups, but the idea is that anyone can take the code of one distro and use it as a base for another. Talk about sharing knowledge and ideas. Imagine someone asking Bill Gates, "Hey, could I just take a look at the source-code for Windows 7. I want to make a better version." If you support collaboration and connectivism as an educator then you should embrace the spirit of Linux.

• It's free. Schools are always looking for ways to do more and save money. Linux operating systems are completely free and many distros give you access to thousands of free programs (more about this later). You never have to pay to upgrade to latest version. You can download an operating system, burn a CD, and put it on your computers without ever having to worry about licenses. 
• Distros like Debian, Ubuntu, and Linux Mint offer the Software Manager. This is akin to Apple's App Store but everything is free and we're talking about full-featured computer applications. The Software Manager makes it easy to find new programs. This is especially good to new users who may not be familiar with the software offerings of Linux. The software is sorted into categories, including one for educational software.
• Learning a new operating system is a great way to enhance your y(or your students') information technology literacy because it forces you to escape from memorized procedures you never really understood. You have to think about how to do something. The basic tasks for which most people use a computers are pretty easy to figure out with most Linux distros, but there are fundamental differences in the way things are done in Linux. I have been using a Macs for eight years and even though I only started using Linux a few months ago, I have already discovered several new tricks through learning Linux that I can use on my Mac too.
• There is no risk in trying. You don't have to buy a new computer or install Linux over your existing operating system. In fact, you can try many disoutros without installing anything. Many distros will run from a "Live CD". It's just like running any other software from a CD except in most cases you must boot from the CD. When running from the CD, it will be slower than if you installed the OS but you will be able to check it out at least.
• Many distros come with the ability to partition your hard drive using a graphical user interface. In other words, if you choose to install Linux, you can still keep Windows or Mac on your machine. I do this on my Macbook, which I'm using right now. When I turn on the computer, I choose whether I want to boot Mac Snow Leopard  or Linux Mint 10. You can also run Linux in a virtual machine like Virtual Box as long as your hardware is sufficient.
• There are several great "light-weight" distros for lower-spec computers. I have used a few different ones including Lubuntu, Peppermint OS, and Mint LXDE. These distros are great for older computers, you know the ones at your school that everyone says are too slow. Slap a light-weight Linux distro on there and you'll be amazed at what those machines can still do. These distros can be especially useful to schools that cannot afford to buy newer equipment. I converted a couple of our school computers to Peppermint, and now other teachers are asking, "can you do that to mine too?" These light-weight distros use less of your computer's resources, saving you RAM and processor speed to run the applications you need to use. You sacrifice a little eye-candy, but these are new operating systems, so they still look nicer than Windows XP.
• If you are a Mac user then chances are you have run into the issue of not being able to run some particular program on you computer because it was only available for Windows. This problem actually keeps people from leaving Windows, but it's a self-fulfilling prophecy; software companies are only willing to produce versions of software for operating systems with the largest number of users. The same problem is true for Linux. There is no reason proprietary software cannot be made available for Linux in fact there is some proprietary software for Linux distros. There will be more when there are more users. Educators are in an especially good position to cause change in this area or to prevent it for that matter, because their software choices stick. Educators should prepare their students to use a variety of operating systems and should actively encourage companies to make their software available for Linux.
• Students interested in software engineering should definitely be exposed to Linux. Not only is the Linux community strong, open, and very supportive, but student-developers can work with the code for other developer's programs. Programs like this would also spur more open-source development which could further benefit schools by contributing to the growing abundance of applications available for free.
• Linux is fun. There are a lot of cool features in Ubuntu and Linux Mint. I am used to the visual features that Mac offers and when I first started using Linux, I figured I would never get anything comparable. As it turns out, there are more visual features available. Some are useful and really cool looking like the rotating cube, while others are just fun like wobbly windows.
• When you need support using Windows or Mac, what do you do? Do you call a hotline? Do you PAY for support? When I'm using Linux and I need technical support, I usually start with a forum (most developer have a forum on their website). Other users will often help, and often I have even received help from the creators of the software. Talk about building your personal learning network.
• What else are you going to do with all those vacations teachers get? Check out Linux. Embrace the open source movement.

Check out the distros below:

For computers with at least 1 GB of RAM and an ok proceossor check out Ubuntu or Linux Mint 10. 

For computers with low specs (less than 756MB RAM): check out Peppermint Ice and Linux Mint 10 LXDE.

If you are using an old Mac like an iBook or an iMac. Try MintPPC or Lubuntu. Be prepared: this is not as easy as installing on more common architectures; the old Macs used PowerPC processors which are not commonly supported anymore. It's a bit easier to install Lubuntu (instructions for Mac install here), but in either case, you will need to follow the instructions carefully. You might also want to check out Debian.

Have Fun!