Well, no timeline has been announced on the revised tender yet, might be worth calling someone upstairs to see if there's still a chance to put forward a case, maybe even getting Martin involved...<br><br>vik<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 10:38 AM, Stephen Digby <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:digby.stephen.p@edumail.vic.gov.au">digby.stephen.p@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-AU">
<div>
<p>Re: <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24586362-2862,00.html" target="_blank"><span>Government to rework online plan</span></a><br>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(111, 111, 111);">Herald Sun, Australia -</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"> Nov 1, 2008</span><span style="color: black;"><br>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">Under the $60.5 million "<b>ultranet</b>" initiative,
parents would be able to check marks, assignments and attendance details via
computer. <b>...</b></span><span style="color: black;"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Governments around the world hate the concept of open source
software even when it has emerged from the creative minds of their own
citizens. Rather than provide a potentially massive contribution to a
shared resource for the global educational community, they want to spend
millions of citizen dollars on reinventing the wheel.
"moodle" does most things required by the
"Ultranet". It was developed in Perth and is now used
worldwide. It is the most popular system in UK schools and widely used in
Australia. Even many tertiary institutions are using it around the
world. Why not add extra features to this flexible free Australian tool ?</p>
<p>Advisors seem to whisper in politicians eager ears:
"You will have total control from purpose-built commercial software. If
we contribute to open source solutions, anyone will be able to benefit –
even poor countries ! We will design the Ultranet so well that everyone on
earth will want to buy it. We will make a profit !". The Australian
State Education Department of Victoria has an abysmal record of software
development and management over decades including the universally hated
"CASES" system which all schools are forced to use but whose
features most schools avoid using wherever possible. The attempt to
contract out an "UltraNet" is only the last debacle. The failed
tender process provides another chance to support Australian innovation and
contribute to a shared international resource. Let's take it !</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">====================================================<br>
Stephen Digby, Learning Technology Manager<br>
mailto: </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="mailto:digby.stephen.p@edumail.vic.gov.au" target="_blank"><span>digby.stephen.p@edumail.vic.gov.au</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <br>
Cheltenham Secondary College </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au" target="_blank"><span>www.cheltsec.vic.edu.au</span></a><br>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ph: 613
955 55 955 Fx: 9555 8617 Mb: 0431-701-028<br>
====================================================</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br>
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Salvor Hardin in
"Foundation by "Issac Asimov</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>
</div>
<p></p><p><b>Important - </b>This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.</p>
_______________________________________________
<br>
<a href="http://www.edulists.com.au" target="_blank"> http://www.edulists.com.au </a> - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe <br>
Moodle Mailing List kindly supported by <br>
<a href="http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au" target="_blank"> http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au </a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
<br>
<a href="http://www.vitta.org.au" target="_blank"> http://www.vitta.org.au </a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc</div>
</blockquote></div><br>