Benefit of Using Free Open Source Software in Education

29/6/ 2015

Mr. Ogochukwu Nweke making presentation at the forum

The ICT in Education forum was organized for teachers of Kanda Cluster of Schools in Accra on the topic “Benefit of Using Free Open Source Software in Education”.

The facilitator, Mr. Ogochukwu Nweke, a lecture at the Regent University College of Science and Technology. He urged teachers to embrace Technology use in education to achieve much more in their carreer.

Starting his presentation, Ogochukwu urged teachers to take the forum seriously as they will learn much from it.

He said teachers will noticed that students nowadays are more ICT oriented because things have changed. He added that if a teacher gives a whole book to a student to read as an assignment, the student will not do it, but if that same book is put into a kind of movie, they will remember every bit of it.

It is not that the student is not good with books, or not brilliant, but it is simply because of the tool that is used in teaching the students. The tool will make the difference. Ogochukwu noted that the current generation is different and that is why they are called digital natives. Children have the ability to operate digital devices without reading manuals.

Free Open Source software was first used in the late 1980's. The essence of Free Open Source software is the liberty to modify, alter or use to suit your community expectations not in free as in free coke.

Free Open Source software was used in the early 1990's where it presents codes that gives you access to the software itself.
"It is important to have software and application to teach students to help them grow" Ogochukwu

Some Teachers at the forum

Free Open Source software are user-friendly and very useful in social media. There is a challenge everywhere in Africa with the use of the internet. But he said that should not prevent teachers from using ICT as a tool. He added that it is amazing how mobile phones can be turn into a modem by activating the hotspot and using it to browse the internet. The challenge of connectivity cuts across to most universities in Ghana, as most universities do not even have an ICT lab.

The moment we use Free and Open Source software, it will help us to also connect with the world as you want to use it, no restriction what so ever. Teacher can employ the use of social media for effective class works and even teaches through skype without physically being present in classroom.

Free Open Source software is straight to point, with very brief literature compared to other available software.

"Free and Open Source software is all about freedom to choose" Ogochukwu

In some developed countries, every child have access to computer but in Ghana the situation is different. Teachers must champion ICT use in the classroom and be able to build capacity of students.

One thing about ICT is not only about the power it presents to us but also the benefits and ability to deal with any limitation.

Source: GINKS