[gcompris-devel] GCompris, reliability, usability

[Bruno Coudoin]

Le lundi 09 mars 2009 à 10:24 +0000, Miguel Carromeu a écrit :
> Good morning all
> 
>  
> 
> I am finishing my masters investigation concerning the use of software
> in the classroom. I was thinking of using some of the software
> included in the GCompris pack. Well, when I first used the news in the
> press I was pretty annoyed, although I do understand you point and one
> should tell them that they were talking about open source software and
> not a million dollar software from Microsoft.

There is no reason to treat Free Software differently than a proprietary
software in this case. It is normal that children receive a fully
translated GCompris, it is unfortunate it was not the case.

As a side note, you can see how much Free Software progressed over the
years. Our creations are no more considered has a hobbyist toy unable to
compete on a large scale.


> Well, after my first disappointment I think I might help on giving the
> software bundle some credit. Having said that, I would like to know if
> any of the software included in the bundle has already been submitted
> to verification and validation trough valid research materials. If so,
> what exactly?

Yes, GCompris has been reviewed and reviewed all over the years. We
started this project in 2000 and it is used in many classrooms all over
the world. But as our development model is incremental, you won't see a
research paper covering the whole GCompris. Instead, we have adapted our
activities, one by one based on feedback we got from teachers.
Sometimes, teachers even sent us code modification directly. 

Another important point, we do not try to mimic the educational process
of a specific country. We just provide activities that teachers can use
to enhance or complete a training, it is never a training by itself.

I personally believe that the teacher stays at the heart of the teaching
process. Our software is just another way to help them in their task.
Books does not replace teachers, there is no reason why software should.

-- 
Bruno Coudoin
http://gcompris.net  Free educational software for kids
http://toulibre.org  Logiciel Libre à Toulouse
http://april.org     Promouvoir et défendre le Logiciel Libre