[Microbit-Python] Say hola to microperi [WIP]

[Andy Crook]

Sadly our IT is run at county level who assess every suggestion and get
back to us. I guess by expensive they mean technician time to dedicate to
creating the custom image with all the necessary restrictions in place,
then deploying it with an install of virtualbox. A couple of years ago I
was told we can't have Blender installed as it would require python. Go
figure.

I asked for Mu to be installed on all pc's months ago. They were quick to
put it on the list of jobs to be done. It's not done yet. I get the scary
feeling that microbit will fall flat on its face here as we won't be able
to use them in any capacity.

 I was thinking for next year I should tell all CS students to get a
raspberry pi and an HDMI to VGA lead to connect to our monitors, so at
least they can use the device properly. However, *that's* not allowed as
they wouldn't be our gear, so not PAT tested etc. Rock and a hard place.

However, this is getting a bit doom 'n' gloom. I hope things eventually
sort out but for me progress seems glacial.

On 16 May 2016 at 10:15, Nicholas H.Tollervey <ntoll at ntoll.org> wrote:

> Andy,
>
> Your email is a perfect example of the sort of conversations I've been
> having with teachers.
>
> VirtualBox (https://www.virtualbox.org/) is a free VM from Oracle. If
> you're being told virtualization is too expensive then I'd push back
> hard. It doesn't need to be.
>
> That this sort of thing is annoying both developers, teachers and
> students is, in the long run, a good thing (tm) since people will try to
> fix it (where "fix" is likely to be both a technical and
> "organisational" solution).
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> N.
>
> On 16/05/16 10:06, Andy Crook wrote:
> > School IT is a massive problem. I teach computer science and the
> > controlled assessments require linux usage this time. We don't have any
> > linux boxes, won't get any, can't install any VM (it's too 'expensive'!)
> > and aren't allowing kids to bring in anything of their own.
> >
> > On windows, they aren't able to use a terminal or run executables. So
> > I'm just saying, if anything makes things easier to depoly and use
> > without any rights so much the better.
> >
> > On 16 May 2016 at 09:31, Nicholas H.Tollervey <ntoll at ntoll.org
> > <mailto:ntoll at ntoll.org>> wrote:
> >
> >     On 16/05/16 09:18, David Whale wrote:
> >     > I think it's not really how schools organise their IT that is the
> >     > problem. It's us developers who assume that *everyone else* is
> happy
> >     > with spending hours downloading all sorts of things and building
> >     > packages from source.
> >     >
> >     > I actually take sides with Laura Dixon on this one.
> >     >
> >     > Why should I have to download a program in order to install some
> other
> >     > program?
> >     >
> >     > I don't think we're there yet as an industry. If we want to engage
> with
> >     > schools and teachers, we have to have some better best-practices
> that we
> >     > can all follow to make it easier and more accessible for them.
> >     >
> >     > Another one to add to the 'lunchtime beer and chat' agenda ;-)
> >     >
> >     > David
> >     >
> >
> >     Oh I'm totally with Laura and you on this. But let's be honest here,
> >     school IT is *also* a huge problem. I've spent hours talking to
> teachers
> >     who vent about not being able to install things because of
> bureaucratic
> >     reasons. Note - this is not the same problem as venting because
> >     installation is complicated, the IT infrastructure issue is because
> of
> >     ineffective leadership and bureaucracy.
> >
> >     Both should be tackled, but I agree with you 100% that making things
> >     easy to install is important and, importantly, it's something we
> >     developers can help with a lot easier than, say, fixing shonky
> school IT
> >     infrastructure.
> >
> >     Best wishes,
> >
> >     N.
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> >
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>
>
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