Vancouver Linux Users Group

Robert Arkiletian has been a teacher for 12 years and is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable GNU/Linux experts working for the Vancouver School Board, frequently sharing his experience to mentor
other teachers.

Robert teaches physics, C++, Python and FLTK GUI programming at Eric Hamber Secondary School in Vancouver. In 2004, Robert began using K12LTSP, the Linux Terminal Server Project version of GNU/Linux, in a computer lab he set up and maintains for his students.

He created the British Columbia Free and Open Source Software in Schools newsgroup to promote the use of GNU/Linux in British Columbia Schools, and for the past two years his computer programming students have earned top honours in Western Canada. Robert is married and has two young children.

In 2005 Robert released the first version of a classroom management program. FL_TeacherTool is written in C++ for K12LTSP GNU/Linux, and allows a teacher to broadcast demonstrations to student computers and

take control of students' computers to answer any question from across the room.

Since 2005 then there have been eleven other releases, and Robert's dedication and perseverance have improved FL_TeacherTool to the point where it is now award winning software. In 2008, Robert received a FOSS and K-12 Education Award for FL_TeacherTool from the National Center for Open Source and Education in Indianapolis.

These awards are given to recognize “the hard work and dedication of individuals who contribute immense amounts of their time and expertise to advancing the use of Open Source solutions in K-12 schools.”

Likewise, Robert is the recipient of the 2009 Dave Michelson Award from the Vancouver Linux Users Group. This award recognizes Robert as a Vancouver area resident who has worked tirelessly to promote and enhance Free and Open Source Software in British Columbia. The Vancouver Linux Users Group appreciates the value and usefulness of FL_TeacherTool to the everyday activities of many, many teachers and schools around the world.

We are proud to celebrate Robert's accomplishments and encourage him to continue to promote and expand the use of Free and Open Source Software in British Columbia classrooms. Congratulations Robert.