F. Questier, S. Froeliger, Acceptance model for Free Open Source Software in (Flemish) schools, 37th Annual Conference of the Association for Teacher Education in Europe, Turkey, August 2012

1. Acceptance model for
Free Open Source Software
in (Flemish) schools
Prof. dr. Frederik Questier
Sébastien Froeliger
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
28th of August 2012

2. This presentation can be found at
http://questier.com
http://www.slideshare.net/Frederik_Questier

3. Our social responsibility:
how open is the future? 3

4. "The most fundamental
way of helping other
people,
is to teach people
how to do things better
or how to better their
lives.
For people
who use computers,
this means sharing
the recipes
you use on your
computer,
in other words
the programs you run."
4

5. 1980's: Stallman defined
“Free Software”
➢ The freedom to
➢ use
➢ study
➢ distribute
➢ improve
the program
5

6. 1998: “Open Source” sounds
better as “Free Software”?

7. The software Freedoms
require access to the source code
Source code: if encrypt(password) == encryptedpassword, then login=1, end
Compiled code: 001001011101010011001100001111011000110001110001101
→ “Open Source Software”
Free Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS)
7

8. The free software world
characteristics
➢ FLOSS exists for all tasks
➢ Huge
➢ e.g. 324K projects, 3.4M contributors @ sourceforge.net
➢ e.g. IBM > 1 billion $ per year
➢ Several business models
➢ Well organised
➢ User friendly ← written by users for users
➢ Cross-platform ← recompile source code
➢ High development pace ← reuse of best modules
➢ High quality ← peer review, reuse = survival of the fittest
➢ High security ← peer review, Unix origin, modular, encryption

9. Why FLOSS?
➢ reduce (license) costs
➢ reduce digital divide
➢ eliminate software piracy
➢ easier license management
➢ easy to localize and customize
➢ better quality (peer review, intrinsic-motivated developers)
➢ increase security (security by design vs security by obscurity)
➢ increase interoperability (open standards)
➢ reduce dependencies from monopolies & foreign software companies

12. Wh
at
FL is
OSS inf
lue
by use nci
sc h ng
oo
l s
taf
f?

13. Methodology
➢ Interviews
➢ Model conceptualization
➢ Pilot survey
➢ Web based survey
➢ Model validation

14. Basis for conceptual model
➢ Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology
➢ Theory of Reasoned Action
➢ Technology Acceptance Model
➢ Motivational Model
➢ Theory of Planned Behaviour
➢ Combined TAM & TPB
➢ Model of PC Utilization
➢ Innovation Diffusion Theory
➢ Social Cognitive Theory
➢ Innovation diffusion Model

15. UTAUT model

16. Our conceptual model

17. Validated acceptance model for
Free Software in (Flemish) schools

18. Do you think it is desirable
to use FLOSS in education?

19. Which software
do you use at school?

20. Which software
do you use at school?

21. What is your motivation
to use Free Software?

22. What is holding back the adoption
of FLOSS in your school?

23. Conclusions
➢ FLOSS is being used, but not as a routine
➢ Lack of knowledge
➢ Misconceptions
➢ Perceived barriers
23

24. Recommendations
➢ for schools
➢ Develop FLOSS vision, plan, expertise
➢ Teach students how to share
➢ for government and managing structures
➢ Give central role to ICT-coordinators
➢ Create an expertise network
➢ Improve FLOSS information
24

25. DARE
TO SHARE
Copyleft Frederik Questier, Vrije Universiteit Brussel 25

26. Qu
es t
Th ion
a nk s?
you
!

27. Credits
➢ L’associazione studentesca S.P.R.I.Te. http://www.geektees.com/funny-
shirts/software-is-like-sex-its-better-when-its-free-t-shirt/
➢ Cartoon Open Source Fish by openssoft
➢ Question mark CC-by by Stefan Baudy
➢ OPEN, CC-by-nc-sa by Tom Magliery
➢ Open arrow, CC-by-nd by ChuckCoker
➢ Share matches CC-by-nc-nd by Josh Harper