Programming

[techie08]

Hi

 

Is anyone else at their school doing GCSE Computing, in particular programming? The ICT dept here wants to start to teach programing with visual basic and python.

 

Our network uses software restrictions so Visual basic doesn't really work with students. How does everyone else deal with teachers wanting to run this type of software? Obviously there is also the issue of security. One teacher said that ubuntu can be installed to USB drive and then the programing software run on this?

 

Many Thanks

[Hightower]

Can't see why visual basic express edition won't run on your network - just open the software restrictions up for the software to run...

[NikChillin]

We do, we use Virtual machine and disable the network card in it. We then ask them to use the same pc so their files don't get deleted.

[techie08]

We do, we use Virtual machine and disable the network card in it. We then ask them to use the same pc so their files don't get deleted.

 

Is that Virtual PC?

[dhicks]

Our network uses software restrictions so Visual basic doesn't really work with students.

 

Why not? Can't you just allow pupils to run Visual Basic? Python should simply run just like any other user application. You could have a Debian/Ubuntu server, integrated with Active Directory, for users to log in to to do programming if you wanted - either via the command line (SSH) or via VNC.

[techie08]

Because it restricts the run of .exe in their home dir. Maybe its just me being paranoid but would the software have the potential to do much damage anyway??

[dhicks]

Because it restricts the run of .exe in their home dir. Maybe its just me being paranoid but would the software have the potential to do much damage anyway??

 

Ah, good point - you won't be able to block unknown executables and allow pupils to run compiled .exes locally. You could simply use VB Script, of course, or Python, which don't need compiling into .exes - do they really need to learn a compiled language? Otherwise, a remote access server of some kind would probably be best - a Windows Terminal Services / Remote Desktop Services if you want to run Visual Basic, or just a plain SSH login would do for Python.