Usage of open source software for schools: A case study in Hong Kong

Define	The education software is rarely and expensive in Hong Kong. The free online application is not stable. Thus, we try to find out the possibility of using open source software in Hong Kong Secondary School.
Plan	Literature review: Mobbs, R; Hawkridge, D.(2010). Utilizing open source tools for online teaching and learning. British Journal of Educational Technology. 41(3).58-65. Chan, Man-hoi.(2004). Utilizing open source software in schools of Hong Kong. Master thesis. The University of Hong Kong. http://hub.hku.hk/handle/10722/31384 DiBone, C., Ockman, S.,& Stone, M.(1999) Open Sources. Sebastopol:O’Reilly.
Execute research procedures	quantitative and qualitative analysis methods, including satisfaction surveys, qualitative content analysis of online discussions, and unstructured interviews

Drupal - CMS in education

Tsoi Hang Sang Ron
2006053839

Toondoo

Website:

http://www.toondoo.com/

Introduction

Toondoo is a cartoon-making website. Users need not to be experts in drawing, Toondoo provides thousands of cartoons and users can Drag and Drop to create cartoon strips. Moreover, Users can combine two and more cartoon strips into an eBook! Fascinating!

//Tutorial Youtube by barrynabdahl






Re-purpose into education


We all like to listen story, read comic. We can grab the chance and making some comic strips in History lessons. Instead of remembering boring historical facts, Student must love to read the eBook of Toondoo.

Beside, students can make they only Toondoo historical eBook as Toondoo is very user-friendly. As Constructivism suggests,  "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." Toondoo is a great platform for student to make their own historical  story and share their eBook to other classmate. It is more interesting than using traditional textbook.


//An example of students project. Toondoo is easy for student.



Ron Tsoi Hang Sang
2006053839

Eclass

Background
I'm currently working at a Secondary School. The headmaster doesn't pay a lot of attention in adopting ICT in education. However, The school have purchased an e-learning platform called "Eclass". I'll introduce the function of Eclass and how the user's attitude about Eclass.

Introduction
Eclass is developed by Dr. Charles Cheung in 1998. It is an integrated web-based learning platform including: course management tool, student management tool, assessment management tool, etc. Eclass system is widely adopted by secondary school nowadays.

Usage of Eclass in my working place

The Teachers use eclass as a supplementary teaching resource as they seldom use eclass system during the class. Students are required to login to the system and do some online exercise (as their homework).  Language subject teachers will put some articles and multi-choice questions regularly on the Eclass. The system will log student's participation and result. At the end of the year, the marks will be add up and count as daily mark.

Although Eclass provides plenty of functions such as sending intra-mail, forum, calender , the  teachers seldom use them.

Feedback


1. Inconvenience.
As Eclass is a web-based application, it is not as convenient as standalone software. One of the supporting staff has shared her experience: She was asked to input students' conduct grade into the system and generate the examination result sheets. After two hours working, she pressed the submit button but the browser didn't RESPONSE! The data was all missed and she was furious. She swore she wouldn't use Eclass again and use Microsoft Excel instead.

2. New to try
Many teachers didn’t want to try to use Eclass. Teachers bring their own USB memory sticks. They won’t upload the in-class teaching material on eclass because they didn’t trust the Eclass. Eclass depends on internet connection. If there is no internet connection, they cannot access their recourses. Teachers did not want to take risks so they did not use Eclass.

Tsoi Hang Sang
2006053839