Dear XXXX,

Around the world, schools and governments lacking the resources to pay expensive proprietary licensing fees have migrated to open source systems, and schools here in the United States are feeling the need to revise their budgets, as well. Atlanta's Brandon Elementary piloted a successful migration last year, allowing this struggling school to create a balanced approach to resource allocation, without having to sacrifice functional educational computing. Rather than simply throw new expensive computers at the problem--in Brandon's case, low science and math scores--Brandon's LTSP solution strategy repurposed and revitalized old computers and seeded a self-sustaining culture of educational technology compatible with their school's identity. My colleagues and I at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg teach writing with computers, and we recognize the importance of having students compose with computers from a very early age. I'm writing today to request a meeting time, convenient for you, when we could discuss a K-12 Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) technology initiative that would connect your school to open source technologies and communities.

Our idea is simple: to bring more computer resources to Pinellas County school children. My colleagues and I will provide technology--one server and a handful of client machines, arranged as a small network, running the Ubuntu or Edubuntu operating system. Host schools would then have autonomy to find the most efficacious use for the open source studio. This small studio would provide a space for Perkins to grow an opensource alternative to existing computing technologies for learning, for administrative use, or both. USFSP students, led by a research assistant that would also serve as IT support, would support and help actualize your goals.

What can we learn from putting Linux OS and open source software (OSS) in public schools, where teachers and students already teach and learn using Macintosh and Microsoft machines? We hope to learn about the technological, civic, pedagogical, and rhetorical dimensions that might adhere in the implementation of Linux-based networks and green computing alternatives at USF St. Petersburg and in Pinellas County public schools. Recent trends in British IB programs have shown that open source solutions reduce cost by 50% while at the same time increasing reliability, thereby freeing up more time and space for learning. We believe that participating schools in our project will be able to envision, find, and realize similar economic, administrative, and pedagogical benefits by means of a small "sand-box" laboratory.

Furthermore, beyond reducing costs and improve reliability, migrating to Linux marks connects educators to educational technology through the principle of free and open access to software that itself empowers students and teachers to go beyond using technology to creating technology. It is most beneficial when we can all be involoved in the process of creating the applications we use, affording us a greater understanding of the technologies we use in school. The LTSP model can start small, but it is completely scalable and sustainable. In the long run, administrators, teachers, and students can literally "program" their own scene of learning. Students can take copies of software home with them, too!

Here is a link to a copy of our grant, where you will find more details about us and our plans: http://4260.pbwiki.com/NIRG-Grant-Short-Version the password is "open!" and we are of course open to feedback or suggestions.

I look forward to meeting with you soon!

Sincerely,

Trey

"Proper evaluation of words and letters

In their phonetic and associated sense

Can bring the peoples of earth

Into the clear light of pure Cosmic Wisdom" -Sun Ra

Trey Conner, PhD

Assistant Professor

Languages, Literature, and Writing

College of Arts and Sciences, DAV 121

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

140 Seventh Avenue South

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

727 873-4783

http://courselinker.pbwiki.com/TreyBio