Empowering Education with Debian: Fostering Open-Source Learning in Academia
Speaker: Ranjana Gujrati
Track: Debian in Arts & Education
Type: Short talk (20 minutes)
Room: Grand amphi
Time: Jul 14 (Mon): 14:30
Duration: 0:20
This talk explores the transformative role of Debian in the education sector, focusing on how its free, stable, and community-driven ecosystem empowers schools, colleges, and research institutions. Drawing from real-world experiences of using Debian in academic settings- from classrooms to research labs-I will showcase how Debian promotes digital literacy, supports low-cost computing, and encourages students and educators to engage with open-source principles.
The session will highlight successful use cases, such as integrating Debian into computer labs, using it for teaching programming and system administration, and running workshops that demystify open-source software for non-technical users. to promote digital freedom, cost-effective computing, and hands-on learning.
The talk will also address common challenges in adoption, such as lack of technical expertise or institutional resistance, and provide strategies to overcome them. By the end of the session, the audience will be equipped with actionable ideas to advocate for and implement Debian in their educational environments.
This talk is aimed at educators, open-source enthusiasts, policymakers, and Debian contributors who are interested in the intersection of free software and education. It aims to inspire educators, contributors, and policy influencers to consider Debian as a sustainable, ethical, and effective solution for education systems worldwide.