The Literature Review is part of my thesis: to survey the literature concerning the place of open source software in education: specifically High School use of open source software.

A thorough search of literature has found that there is a shortage of research specifically on the topic of open source software and high schools, particularly in the developed countries. The key concepts will be discussed and the associated research papers evaluated in the context of open source software in education. The main questions and problems associated with the use of open source software will be discussed. The major issues and debates around the implementation of open source software in schools will also be discussed in light of the research available. The concept of “openness” in education will also be discussed in relation to resources and pedagogy. Finally, a statement regarding the use of open source software in schools is made and how this thesis will address the gap in the literature.