Steve Oualline -
Speaking Topic: OSSIE: Linux in Early Education

Steve is a professional programmer with over forty years experience. He taught Computer Science at UCSD, TCJC and other institutions. He is the author of many books on Linux, Vim, and programming including "Wicked Cool Perl", "How Not to Program in C++", and "Practical C++ Programming".

Abstract

This presentation will show you how Linux's simple, yet rich, learning environment makes it ideal for early childhood development. You'll learn about several popular Open Source programs created for children. Steve will discuss how he introduced his daughter to computers with Linux and Open Source education programs including Gcompris, TuxPaint, and ChildsPlay. The strengths and weaknesses of these programs, as well as comparisons to commercial educational programs will be covered. Steve's daughter will demonstrate selected capabilities of these programs.