Emancipative Technology in Formal Education: The Case for “Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

Abstract

In a world where the widespread use of the Internet offers to many citizens the technologicalopportunity to actively participate in the creation of Cyber culture, downloading and using ap-plications and software for different purposes, the use of privative software in formal educationhas no sense because it imposes unnecessary barriers and constraints on learning practices andthe freedom of students. Based on the results of a pilot study, in this chapter I argue for theimportance of Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) as a suitable alternative model to fosterinnovative learning, democratic education and ultimately an emancipative pedagogy.