Using humanitarian free and open source software (HFOSS) to introduce computing for the social good

Abstract

Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software (HFOSS) is a category of free and open source software that improves the human condition. HFOSS projects focus on a range of societal needs including microfinance, healthcare, education, and disaster relief. Many HFOSS projects are developed by international teams whose goal is to make the world a better place. These projects are often primarily used in developing nations, but many have been adopted across the world because of the robustness of the software and the ability to contribute to its direction and applications. HFOSS projects have been successfully infused into the computing curriculum at a number of institutions in a range of ways and courses [1]. The benefits of introducing students to HFOSS projects potentially includes improved students learning, increased motivation to study computing, attracting women to computing and increased appreciation of the societal impact of computing. HFOSS projects are an excellent real-world learning environment for a number of reasons: - The altruistic nature of HFOSS makes the community welcoming of new contributors and tolerant of student participation - The ability to help others is a potential draw for women and under-represented minorities - The transparency of HFOSS projects provides artifacts that can use for instructional purposes in the classroom - Students can build a visible portfolio of their contributions to show potential employers. However, determining which project to choose, how to incorporate HFOSS into a class and deciding how to assess students' participation, can be challenging. OpenFE is an NSF-funded project whose goal is to help faculty members introduce their students to HFOSS and become contributing members in HFOSS communities. Faculty typically start with choosing a project, then learning about the chosen project, getting up to speed on the tools and communication used by the project and getting a handle on the work flow. Then faculty members have to figure out how to integrate the project into their existing curriculum and determine how to assess the student performance. The goal of the OpenFE project is to help faculty through the hurdles presented by joining an HFOSS project.

Social innovation with open source software: User engagement and development challenges in India

“…FOSS responds more rapidly to market demands and regenerates itself more quickly than any monolithic vendor of closed-source software (Yildrim & Ansal, 2011). Hence, its potential for developing countries in particular, with the resource constraints they face, lies in reducing the cost of ICT investment and increasing its productivity (Postner et al, 2015). Weber (2003) argues that the imperative to adopt and use FOSS in such countries is motivated by a desire for independence, a drive for security and autonomy and a means to address intellectual property rights enforcement.…”

“…In addition to cost savings, FOSS facilitated the ability to try out and experiment with different software for particular applications, enabled experimentation and customization and allowed free distribution and installation on multiple computers. DC policy makers are beginning to see the benefits of FOSS and as Postner et al (2015) and Yildrim & Ansal (2011) report; the innovation and technology policies of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, China and South Africa now have active directives for the adoption and use of FOSS for development purposes.…”

Adopting a New Practice: Open Source Experiences in the Classroom

“…Prior research has also shown that HFOSS domains are attractive to underrepresented groups [13]- [15]. Results indicate that HFOSS has broad appeal to women and can bolster enthusiasm for studying computing.…”

Department-wide Multi-semester Community Engaged Learning Initiative to Overcome Common Barriers to Service-Learning Implementation

“…Another option in use in academia is the Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software (HFOSS) project [6,10,15]. In these opportunities, students contribute to the professional community by getting involved with the open-source community.…”