About the Instructor
Paul McKimmy has been Director of Technology and Distance Programs with the UH-Manoa College of Education since 2002. He is a tenured faculty member in Educational Technology, and has taught a variety of courses for the department including:
- ETEC 697 – Free and Open-source Software in Education (a face-to-face pilot for this course)
- ETEC 661 – Distance Education Technology
- ETEC 650 – Management of Instructional Technology Services
- ETEC 649 – Design of Online Courseware
- ETEC 442 – Computers in Education
- ETEC 501 – Skills for Distance Students
Paul is originally from Michigan, where he finished his Ed.D in Educational Leadership in 1996. From 1998 to 2002 he worked at Texas A&M University in Career Services and as Director of Workforce Development. Before that, he held a variety of university positions including Assistant Director of Career Services, Student Services Coordinator, Internships Coordinator, and Living Centers Director. Before discovering Free and Open-Source Software and the philosophy and communities it represents, he was certified as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and as an Apple Certified Technical Coordinator.
Professor’s Perspective: Why this Class?
I am not a programmer, and you don’t need to be one either. Free and Open Source Software is about communities and projects, not vendors and products. I have been a F/OSS enthusiast since about 2006. In 2008, I began using Ubuntu as my primary operating system, and OpenOffice.org (now LibreOffice) to replace MS Office. Since then, I have been advocating for F/OSS solutions in education. Having introduced F/OSS to family and friends, I recognize that there are barriers to adoption. It’s hard to change your computing habits, especially when you use something like MS Word, OSX or Windows every day. We like technology that is familiar, proven, and comfortable. When the costs don’t impact our own budgets directly there’s little motivation for change. However, I am convinced that the benefits of F/OSS adoption for educators are many – and even if educators choose proprietary solutions, they should make technology decisions from an informed, knowledgeable position and not based on marketing hyperbole. This class is intended to put you in such a position.
Welcome to Free and Open-Source Software in Education!