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Preston / Reservoir Adult Community Education |
PRACE |
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interview with Marty Cielens
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open source - bigger than Texas !"Open Source" is big news at the moment. Once known as "free software" (as in 'free speech' rather than 'free beer'), it is now the driving model behind the development of operating systems and an extraordinary abundance of software. Essentially the idea is that anyone who uses the software is entitled (even expected) to access the original code - the "source code" - and that any user may contribute changes to improve the software. Eric Raymond has famously claimed that this development model - similar to an open, crowded bazaar rather than a cloistered, private cathedral - is far superior to the traditional development model favoured by proprietary companies ("Cathedral & Bazaar" - refce below). All around the world people are getting involved in using programs and applications from the highly collaborative communities that produce Open Source softwares. Educational organisations are creating CD's for their members. Governments are talking about using open source platforms instead of proprietary commercial software - or at least considering the options. Web designers everywhere are being influenced by the hugely popular "GNU/ Linux/ Apache" web server platform combination, and by free 'open source' programming languages such as PHP and Python. It's been in the news - so who in Australia is getting involved in this potentially subversive community? Are there any individuals in the local education system who are using it? I was lucky enough to track down Marty Cielens, who has worked extensively in the South Australian TAFE system - particularly the Communications department in Adelaide Institute of TAFE. He has worked extensively in online and professional development, and in 1996 became distracted by his growing fascination for the development and implementation of online learning resources to complement the distance programs he was managing. He's now helping to review program management in S.A. We caught up via that centuries-old technology known as "tele-phone". |
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interview with Marty Cielens
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How to contact us at Preston/Reservoir Adult Community Education (PRACE) |
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Physical: Merrilands Community Centre, cnr Asquith & Sturdee Streets, Reservoir, 3073. Postal: PO Box 510 |
Phone:
9462 6077 |
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prace.vic.edu.au