Hello all,
Although the Edu-Team has been active again, there was no consistent answer to the question what exactly we are aiming for and how we plan to get there. So, we started working on our mission statement and came up with a first draft.
You are warmly invited to provide us with any kind of input for improvements!
-------------------- FSFE Edu-Team Mission Statement:
With the increasing usage of Information technology, software knowledgeability [1] has become a key skill in modern society. At almost all levels [2], pupils and students are taught how to use computers and deal with software.
We believe [3] Free Software is the best choice as it encourages schooling of understanding over product schooling, upholds the scientific principles and doesn't neglect the social components of education like sharing, helping and learning from each other [4].
The aim of the education activity of FSFE is furthering Free Software in all education related activities and institutions. In accordance with FSFE's self conception [0], we want to bring Free Software in education on the political agenda across all European country borders and inform administrations, teachers, students/pupils and their parents about the benefits Free Software provides. We also want to foster communication and cooperation among these groups as well as with the developers and advocates of Free Software and their organisations to help them succeed. We aim for a legal framework that will not discriminate the use of Free Software and offer our expertise and advise to all parties involved.
[0] http://fsfe.org/about/principles.en.html --------------------
The footnotes point to some controversies during the drafting process.
Any comment or question is welcome! There is also an editable etherpad version where you can integrate your suggestions right away and anonymous [5].
Thank you for your time and help!
Greetings,
Guido
[1] knowledgeability sounds weird to some people. Is there any better way to express this?
[2] It's been suggested to replace "levels" with "educational institutions"
[3] delete "We believe"?
[4] does this explain the WHY good enough? Any other suggestions?
Hi Guido, Already a very nice job!! Here under are some comments.
On 01/02/2011 23:15, Guido Arnold wrote:
Hello all,
Although the Edu-Team has been active again, there was no consistent answer to the question what exactly we are aiming for and how we plan to get there. So, we started working on our mission statement and came up with a first draft.
You are warmly invited to provide us with any kind of input for improvements!
FSFE Edu-Team Mission Statement:
With the increasing usage of Information technology, software knowledgeability [1] has become a key skill in modern society. At almost all levels [2], pupils and students are taught how to use computers and deal with software.
We believe [3] Free Software is the best choice
the best choice for whom, for what?
as it encourages schooling of understanding over product schooling, upholds the scientific principles and doesn't neglect the social components of education like sharing, helping and learning from each other [4].
The aim of the education activity of FSFE is furthering
[native speaker needed] "the furthering"? "to further"?
Free Software in all education related activities and institutions. In accordance with FSFE's self conception [0], we want to bring Free Software in education on the political agenda across all European country borders and inform administrations, teachers, students/pupils and their parents about the benefits Free Software provides. We also want to foster communication and cooperation among these groups as well as with the developers and advocates of Free Software and their organisations to help them succeed. We aim for a legal framework that will not discriminate the use of Free Software and offer our expertise and advise to all parties involved.
[0] http://fsfe.org/about/principles.en.html
The footnotes point to some controversies during the drafting process.
Any comment or question is welcome! There is also an editable etherpad version where you can integrate your suggestions right away and anonymous [5].
Thank you for your time and help!
Greetings,
Guido
[1] knowledgeability sounds weird to some people. Is there any better way to express this?
Simple "knowledge"? "Education"? "know-how"? "Expertise"?
[2] It's been suggested to replace "levels" with "educational institutions"
Other proposal: "Throughout the many years in school [at all levels], …"
[3] delete "We believe"?
[4] does this explain the WHY good enough? Any other suggestions?
On Tuesday 01 February 2011 22:15:09 Guido Arnold wrote:
Any comment or question is welcome! There is also an editable etherpad version where you can integrate your suggestions right away and anonymous [5].
My edit, taking into accounts Guido's recommendations (tracked on etherpad, with comments):
With the increasing usage of Information technology, software competency has become a key skill in modern society. In the overwhelming majority of sectors and industries [see #2], students of all ages require strong IT skills to become employable, productive, and competitive.
Free Software applications provide the best tools for educators as they foster transferrable skills and concepts based upon international standards, rather than familiarity with individual products from particular vendors. Free Software in education upholds scientific principles of participation, collaboration and peer review, and in doing so develops additional learning skills by sharing knowledge and achievements amogst students.
The goal of FSFE's Education Team is to bring the benefits of Free Software to all education related activities and institutions. In accordance with FSFE's Self Conception [0], we shall bring the use of Free Software in education to political agendas across European borders, and inform administrations, teachers, students and their carers about the benefits Free Software provides.
We shall foster communication and cooperation among these groups, and establish and extend dialogue between them and Free Software developers and advocates. We shall establish a legal framework that shall prohibit discriminate against Free Software and it's users, and make available FSFE's extensive expertise to all parties involved.
[0] http://fsfe.org/about/principles.en.html
Hello Sam,
Thanks for your version! I'm glad to see a native English speaker working on it :)
Also thanks to Nico for his comments. I think all remarks are covered and changed with this version, or did I miss something?
On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 12:34:40PM +0000, Sam Tuke wrote:
My edit, taking into accounts Guido's recommendations (tracked on etherpad, with comments):
With the increasing usage of Information technology, software competency has become a key skill in modern society. In the overwhelming majority of sectors and industries [see #2], students of all ages require strong IT skills to become employable, productive, and competitive.
In etherpad, you noted: "knowledgeability sounds weird" : I agree. A foreign concept like this shouldn't be in the first sentence, IMO.
Does your "foreign concept" refer to the word "knowledgeability" or do you suggest to change whole sentence or move it somewhere else?
advocates. We shall establish a legal framework that shall prohibit discriminate against Free Software and it's users, and make available FSFE's
The only change I made after Sam's edit was to replace "discriminate" with "discrimination".
The draft can still be edited here until end of February: http://edu.etherpad.fsfe.org/5
Greetings,
Guido
On Friday 11 February 2011 15:20:34 Guido Arnold wrote:
In etherpad, you noted: "knowledgeability sounds weird" : I agree. A foreign concept like this shouldn't be in the first sentence, IMO.
Does your "foreign concept" refer to the word "knowledgeability" or do you suggest to change whole sentence or move it somewhere else?
Just the word knowledgeability, and by foreign I just meant that it may not be a word / idea that's familiar to some people.
The only change I made after Sam's edit was to replace "discriminate" with "discrimination".
Well spotted :)
Sam.