[plug] PLUG sponsored newbie tutorials

[Mark Nold]

I'd love to help and i can give a lecture or two. (Maybe Gnumeric, KMail, a 
Perl Intro? anything really.)

mn

-----Original Message-----
From:	Sol [SMTP:solhanna at dingoblue.net.au]
Sent:	Wednesday, March 06, 2002 2:28 PM
To:	plug at plug.linux.org.au
Subject:	[plug] PLUG sponsored newbie tutorials

Hello again! (If I keep this up you'll need to filter my messages!)

I took the opportunity of speaking with veep Matt Menzel to sound him
out about something that the list had discussed about a fortnight back,
namely a course of tutorials to introduce newbies to Linux/OSS - the
reason being that lecture theatres with big screens which can display
output from a PC or notebook, as well as access to other multimedia
presentation equipment. He seemed quite enthusiastic about this, though
I made it clear that this was just a proposal that *might* come to
fruition next semester.

Anyhoo, this seems doable to me, though not all on my ownsome of course.
In keeping with the Open Source ethic and the old adage that "many hands
make light work" I'd like to know if there are PLUGgers willing to give
one lecture/tutorial/workshop presentation, or two even? I'd be happy to
coordinate it all, hell I'd do all the lectures myself, but that would
not be good as there are huge gaps in my own knowledge and I've only
been a pc user for 18 months.  Possible topics may include (as suggested
by Anthony Jones and amended by me - but subject to debate I dare say):


INTRODUCTION
Lesson 0. Introduction to the course.
Learn what is coming up and what Linux on the desktop can do.

Lesson 1. Getting started.
Learn how to log in, log out, change your password, select between KDE and
Gnome, shut down the computer, change your preferences, etc.

Lesson 2. Internet and communication tools.
Learn how to use common desktop functionality tools in KDE and GNOME (connect 
to internet, mail, browser, IRC, etc).

Lesson 3. Word processing.
Learn how to use the word processing tools available for Linux (Open Word, 
Kword, Abiword, LyX, along with - perhaps - gv, xpdf & wv).

Lesson 4. Spread sheets.
Learn how to use the spreadsheets: OpenCalc, Gnumeric and KSpread.

Lesson 5. Presentation software.
Learn how to use presentation software in Open Office and Koffice.

Lesson 6. Drawing graphics.
Learn how to manipulate pictures and produce interesting graphics using The 
Gimp (and other: imagemagick?).

Lesson 7. Composing web pages
Learn how to create and edit web pages using a common graphical editor.

Lesson 8. Multimedia.
Learn how to use Xine, XMMS, The Grip and perhaps Gnutella.

ADVANCED

Lesson 0. Accessing the documentation.
Learn where to find the documentation and how to read it.

Lesson 1. Package management
Learn how to log into a console window and use dselect. What some of the
important packages you need to install are.Lesson 2. Installing from .tar.gz 
files.


Lesson 2. Bash
Learn how to use bash including cd, ls, cp, mv, less, etc.

Lesson 3. Editing configuration files.
Learn how to use vim and stuff.

Lesson 4. Introduction to programming languages and environments: Perl, Python, 
C, etc.


(NOTE: the heterogeneity of the Linux environment is a plus in my mind, 
however, it may confuse newbies. Whilst reference should be made to all major 
apps in a software category, possibly on one should be taught. However, we 
should not fall into the mentality of "training" people in an application 
(which is what M$ does and reinforces its monopoly), but of becoming aware of 
how a class of software works - process knowledge, not content knowledge - so 
that people become genuinely empowered software users - which is kind of the 
aim of OSS is anyway!)

With regards to questions of time and place, I think that this is still open. 
I'm willing to organize it through Mudrock for an evening or even weekend and 
have confirmation that this can be arranged.

With regard to Russell Hobman's suggestion that an external course be available 
- I would say that to begin with this would be too difficult to arrange unless 
the meetings can be tape recorded or something. Weekends I think are doable if 
there is sufficient willingness to hold them on weekends.

This leads me onto my "icing on the cake" proposal: What do people think of the 
idea of issuing some form of certification (post-assessment) for those who've 
completed the course. My preference would be for a practical assessment where 
students demonstrate competencies and recieve a pass or fail as opposed to a 
written examination which would only test memory, not competency. (Following on 
from Andrew Pamment's suggestion of the "treasure hunt" combinations of skills: 
ie: test task 1:locate the GPL on your harddrive and transfer the ascii text 
into formatted PDF. It wouldn't matter which applications were used so long as 
skills were demonstrated in getting from point A to point B.) We could issue a 
certificate "Accredited Linux User" or some such. A LUG like PLUG is well su  
ited to this position because we don't have a vested interest like say Red Hat, 
or some other corporation does. It would be a genuine peer review. If necessary 
we could charge a nominal amount for this certificate to cover costs or 
whatever.
Whilst this final suggestion is not essential, it could be useful to improve 
the reputation of Linux amongst the business community (which has an obsession 
with formal qualifications) and increase the motivation of those considering 
taking the course - because there's a self-affirming prize at the end which is 
a basic pass/fail based on demonstrating a set of competencies.

Any thoughts/feedback?

Sol