Open Source Software (OSS): Realistic Implementation of OSS in School Education

Purpose: Freedom to think for the generation of new ideas and act to conceptualize them, are the concepts which are revolutionizing today’s world. The software world is also not left untouched. Open Source Software (OSS) has brought the idea of sharing of ideas for the betterment of Computer Science to the forefront. With the passage of time, open source software has not only gained prominence in the server software segment, but is also penetrating the desktop segment. Open source softwares are attracting attention all over the world; especially governments of developing nations are working on the promotion and spread of OSS. The advantages of localization, freedom to modify the software, and easy availability are factors that are attracting people towards OSS. The impact of OSS is felt in many arenas. Education is one of them; in India itself, Kerala and Goa have pioneered the use of OSS in school education. Design/Methodology/Approach: In this research paper, the authors focus on OSS in education and its realistic implementation in school education. The authors conducted an empirical study on school students to study the effect of OSS on their learning curve. Findings: The authors propose a curriculum for the school that is based on OSS. Research Implications: The apt usage of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has the potential to improve the quality of education. However, educational institutions face many constraints, like financial, equipped staff, resources, etc. The high cost of software along with the hardware poses major challenge. OSS with its unique features proves to be of great help by lowering the cost factor of the software. OSS not only provides financial benefits, but also there are many other advantages of OSS which prove to be a boon for the education sector. Value: This research paper will aide policy-makers and decision-makers, to understand the potential use of OSS in education—how and where it can be used, why it should be used, and what issues are involved in its implementation. In particular, officials in ministries of education, school and university administrators and academic staff should find this research useful.