Use of Free and Open-Source Software Apps Provide Many Benefits for College Students (original) (raw)

Abstract

Free and Open-Source software apps along with free Linux-based distributions of operating systems have developed at a blistering pace over the past decade. Today more than ever before, it is possible for students to download and use free software to complete a plethora of complex tasks related to educational pursuits. This paper considers the impact of allowing students to explore the use of more than a dozen cross-platform, free, and open-source software apps to complete STEM-related tasks in a University preservice education course. The core cross-platform apps install in Windows 10, macOS, and various Linux distributed operating systems. In addition, they are supported to work in Chrome OS via the Crostini project.

DOI

10.5703/1288284317298

Nowak, Jeffrey A., "Use of Free and Open-Source Software Apps Provide Many Benefits for College Students" (2021). Indiana STEM Education Conference. 8.
https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/instemed/2021/briefs/8

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Use of Free and Open-Source Software Apps Provide Many Benefits for College Students

Free and Open-Source software apps along with free Linux-based distributions of operating systems have developed at a blistering pace over the past decade. Today more than ever before, it is possible for students to download and use free software to complete a plethora of complex tasks related to educational pursuits. This paper considers the impact of allowing students to explore the use of more than a dozen cross-platform, free, and open-source software apps to complete STEM-related tasks in a University preservice education course. The core cross-platform apps install in Windows 10, macOS, and various Linux distributed operating systems. In addition, they are supported to work in Chrome OS via the Crostini project.