Exam written in OpenOffice (with a twist…)
Wheeww!!!
It’s really amazing getting around OpenOffice and doing stuff which most believe is hard to do with OO. Just this morning I managed to finish writing an examination in one of my Maths subject. Algebraic expressions and equations are very easy to deal with OO it’s just a matter of getting used to it and working around a very straightforward way of writing mathematical expressions. Try it… you’ll be amazed… and best of all it’s free (though most of us here in pinas aren’t afraid of using pirated software). Yes, I am stressing that it is FREE because I have observed that most of the students nowadays (if not all) are not so keen on licensing issues, ownership, piracy and the legal aspects of IT. They simply lose the essence and the values that are supposed to be inculcated in them as they become professionals. Where’s ethics? Is it just a subject that we are required to take in order to graduate?
Well, come to think of it if you try to strictly follow the rules… chances are most users (students) specially those coming from a not so affluent school may have problems acquiring those very expensive software. And on that note, FOSS maybe the answer… I am not saying that it is the only ANSWER (just to clarify). With FOSS I firmly believe users nowadays can make use of powerful and equally efficient software application which is absolutely free. So, come on guys hop in and try to explore other options… do not be locked in with what your teachers feed you (where most of them are avid users of pirated software applications and are using it to as a teaching tool… ironic isn’t it?, sad but true…).
At the moment I am looking for a paper about the reasons and/or motivations (other than those specified as minimum requirements) of an IT faculty to use a specific application for his class. Though, obviously, I believe most of these things are being guided by the curriculum for a particular course. But, the way I look at it there seems to be an issue of preference when it comes to choosing an application for an IT class. Well, I don’t wanna dwell more on these issues in detail as I want a more profound facts and evidence to clarify it.
ISSUES: Are they (faculty) being persuaded by the demand of the industry to use a specific application? What drives them to use such? Are they locked in to what the school administration are dictating? Do they strongly adhere with what their curriculum is saying? And many more… I am just throwing my hat to let you pitch in with some of your brilliant thoughts about this issue.
