The two packages run ontop of windows allowing you to access both windows programs and linux software at the same time.

Strategies:
What is the letter, and the intent of the law?
The no-connection policy is common amoung lazy support staff all over. They are usually worked to maximum output by the powers that be anyway. Accordingly it is prudent not to expose themselves to the support nightmares of non-standard systems on the network.

So, option:
Make a second, internal network in your classroom. It would have its own switch and cables. Connect that thru a VPN tunnel to your home DSL connection. The school end of the solution can run on a Win9x box using OpenSSH and a second NIC. It is very similar to what an anonymizer does for people in china trying to surf out to the free world. Yes I just made a comparison there.

So the school is safe because your kids CANNOT touch the school’s network either. Only tell IT people you trust to start (or not). In any event you can actually say that your class network IS NOT on the schools network. Matter of fact they cannot ping, ARP or otherwise prove that there are any other machines on the network except the one box made from their approved image. They might complain it is using a lot of bandwidth for only one machine though Check your IT policy boilerplate…

Next: Fight for an exemption, or at least for a VLAN that doesn’t touch the school network. If they have Cisco gear then 95% YES they have the ability.

Psychology: Ask them to do you a favor that they can actually do. Doesn’t matter if you need it or not. Open the dialog with them as the “good guy”. Normally you would owe-them-one. But the next thing you know they come looking for you, just to see if you need anything else. Tech guys are very close to complaint dept clerks; ergo they will seek out the least painful relationships to spend spare time on. I am a tech guy and we are sooo easy.

Longer term:
Anonymously buy the tech department THREE different linux, or linux friendly magazine subscriptions. Edu discount is your friend. I have used this before and three is the magic number. At that quantity you find them in their laptop bags going home to be read. And then they brag about their shiny new DreamLinux desktop.

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Bottom line is you did a good thing for the students. If it is working for you then don’t give in when you are so close to a full implementation.

Let us know if you need pointers setting up the VPN.

It is important to teach kids to not be dependent on any one computer company. The best way to do that is to keep them switching between operating systems and programs. In so doing they subconciously pick up the underlying patterns that are present across certain types of programs and become fluid users of any new program placed in front of them. Otherwise you end up with people who freak out when they have to use another word processor besides Word because the little icon for print isn’t in exactly the same place with the same little picture. Such people are not proficient computer users, they are proficient consumers (prisoners) of a specific brand. Their worst nightmare in technology terms would be that a specific company goes out of business because they would instantly be rendered helpless on all computers.

As educators supposedly commisioned with preparing our students with a wide base for future success it’s our job to ensure that our students don’t grow up into those prisoners.

As long as your computers are imaged properly, you’re within the letter of the law.

So, yeah, do what works. I would also notify your campus principal and let him know that you would like to pilot a new set of programs with your students. Do that in writing and if s/he agrees, double-coverage.

Dishonest? Underhanded? Depends on how you define that. You’re exposing students in your lab to multiple OS, which is certainly within your rights to do as their teacher.

Let me know what you decide and why!