Here is my two sense on using OO vs Ms Office in schools.

Pros:
1. Being that it is free, means students can use it at home also.   If we
teach an ausome excel class and get the students hiped up on using it, but
they don't have it at home to use it for their next assignment, then
chances are what they learned will not get retained.
2. Most students don't have a legal version of MS office at home.  I am
constantly converting from any number of programs, or constantly telling
students to safe as rtf.    I have several more tech savvy students who
already using OO at home because it is the closest they can get to Office.
3. No need to shell out $$ to keep the latest version running on all the
computers.
4. If it is taught as spreadsheet and wordprossesor vs word and excel
students will not be so overwhelmed by a different program.

cons.
1. It is not likely what students will see post HS.
2. Not as many training resources available
3. Not as many frills as MS.


Bjorn Behrendt
Proctor School District
Tech Director
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Phs: (802) 459-3353 x2113
Pes: (802) 459-2225 x2018