[Sig] Defeat the Windows Monopoly, Teach Your Kids Linux (fwd)

Thu, 21 Feb 2002 10:48:33 -0500 (EST)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 01:42:54 -0500 (EST)
From: Linux_Desktop_Apps@itw.itworld.com
To: linc@thelinuxlink.net
Subject: Defeat the Windows Monopoly, Teach Your Kids Linux

LINUX DESKTOP APPLICATIONS --- February 21, 2002
Published by ITworld.com -- changing the way you view IT
http://www.itworld.com/newsletters
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HIGHLIGHTS

* An educational game is making headway in the fight against Windows by 
  teaching children about Linux using numbers and shapes.  

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Defeat the Windows Monopoly, Teach Your Kids Linux
By Eric Foster-Johnson

Fight the monopoly domination of operating systems and applications. 
Teach your kids Linux. You, too, can fight the power.

It remains such a stereotype that kids learn to program VCRs while 
their parents still have trouble setting the VCR clock, let alone 
learning to program the machines. Kids learn quickly, and the so-called 
high technology doesn't seem to stump kids at all. I know my four-year-
old can recognize the cancel button on dialog windows and she cannot 
even read yet.

Kids don't seem to have much problems with Windows, launching programs, 
and moving the mouse. So, take advantage of the great learning ability 
of kids and teach them Linux. As they grow, they will be familiar with 
Linux and hopefully won't want to use Windows as they grow.

To help teach kids how to use Linux, you might want to start with a 
desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE and then add in some age-
appropriate games. You can find links to a number of Linux games at 
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a12 and http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a13

One program stands out for teaching kids on computers, GCompris. 
GCompris provides a learning game for children that includes a number 
of simple games intended more for the younger set than those who enjoy 
Quake or Civilization. The games teach children numbers, shapes, and 
telling time, although some of the games concentrate on algebra for 
older kids.

Games are built on top of boards, which use the GTK Canvas widget. 
GCompris comes with a number of boards, described at 
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a3 GCompris is named 
after the French phrase j'ai compris, which means "I have understood". 
The game supports a number of languages. 

Download GCompris from SourceForge at 
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a0 A full 
manual is available at http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a6

Hey, what better way to defeat the Windows monopoly than to train your 
kids how to use Linux?

About the author(s)
-------------------
Eric Foster-Johnson has written 14 books on Linux, Unix, programming 
and open source tools. Eric can be reached at erc@pconline.com or at
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a10
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Linux in education report #23
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a9

LinuxForKids
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a11

GCompris
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a7

Debian Jr. Project
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a2

Young Scientist Linux Users
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a1
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ITWORLD.COM NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Index of Linux Desktop Applications
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a8

OpenOffice.org Suite Delivers
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a4

Ogg What?
http://itw.itworld.com/GoNow/a14724a53011a75981675a5
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