tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862306380449079530.post8009866637138904139..comments2008-01-28T12:47:34.753ZDougnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4862306380449079530.post-63997715654592269442008-01-28T12:42:00.000Z2008-01-28T12:42:00.000ZI started reading this and my thoughts went back to the early days of the SEMERC’s and Blue File software. <BR/><BR/>In the 1980’s, the early days of educational software, teachers, parents and others, started writing software, in many cases because the existing software was not available or suitable. Working together with the SEMERC’s the software was collected together at the SEMERC centres in Manchester, Redbridge, Bristol and Newcastle. It was placed in Blue files (hence the name) and made freely available to teachers and parents. The software evolved as educators tried out new ideas and saw new possibilities, feeding back ideas to be incorporated into the existing programs or the form the basis of new programs.<BR/><BR/>Indeed we were creating a vast pool of educational resources, open and free for all to use.<BR/>The comment:<BR/>"They are also planting the seeds of a new pedagogy where educators and learners create, shape and evolve knowledge together, deepening their skills and understanding as they go."<BR/>Seems a little late, its all been done before.<BR/><BR/>Well what happened to the Blue File? It became unsustainable, individuals willingly wrote code initially, but were unwilling to test the software extensively; if it worked for them it was good enough. Technical support was virtually non-existent and OS changes lead to issues, compatibility became a real problem as more software was used. The move from Acorn to PC/Mac killed off Blue File as nobody wanted to migrate the software to other platforms for free.<BR/><BR/>We realised there was a market of educational software and a few teachers, set up their own companies, selling software at reasonable prices, but fully supported, with ongoing development plans, companies like Crick and Widgit, producing innovative software, listening to educators.<BR/><BR/>Lets hope the new rush to Open Source does not kill the software producers, before we realise, we still need them.Paul Nuttallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917489113044412577noreply@blogger.com