Maintaining IT systems and purchasing hardware can leave a serious dent in a school’s budget. One reason for the exorbitant cost of IT is the closed source code of most commercial computer software, forcing users to pay steep licensing costs.

Updating software programmed with closed source code is often cumbersome. Moreover, much of the latest software requires up-to-date, high-speed hardware just to function properly.

“The need for IT technology in schools is growing all the time, but the resources aren’t,” notes Elias Aarnio from the Finnish Centre for Open Source Solutions (COSS).

There are an estimated 100,000-120,000 computer workstations in Finnish schools across the country. COSS and its partners have estimated that, by switching their systems from closed to open source code software, schools could save up to 70 per cent on all IT purchasing and maintenance costs.

The “Open School” model has been developed as one solution to schools’ climbing costs. In addition to COSS, technology giant IBM and smaller firms Mediamaisteri and Opinsys are behind the model.

Open School is an online study and learning environment. Its source code is accessible by everyone, which means that anyone interested in developing the programme is free to do so. Open School can also be installed anywhere at all, free of charge, and with little effort.

The interactive, networked nature of the software brings with it a host of new possibilities.

“Open School can be used on almost any device with an internet browser. That means it’s also independent of location – it can be used at home, for example. The system may be especially useful in cases where travel to school is lengthy or difficult, such as when extreme weather conditions don’t allow it,” explains Johan Sandell, manager of IBM Finland.

Open School works just as well on old computers, brand new laptops, and stripped down “thin client” computers reliant on a more efficient server. Many schools have already achieved savings by choosing to use older computers, or by swapping their computers for stripped down models.

Maija Paikkala – STT
Matthew Parry – HT