Re: Free GNU/Linux intro class for teens advice? Purchase box? Squeak/Smalltalk programming
On Mon, 06 Jul 2015 20:12:10 -0400, Marc D Ronell wrote:
> I am working toward teaching a free introductory class to teens on
> GNU/Linux and the philosophy of free software at the Newton Free
> Library in MA this coming September.
>
> For the class, the participants will need access to GNU/Linux. After
> reviewing some options, including sdf.org, virtual machines,
> Chromebooks, etc., I am considering just asking participants to
> purchase a dedicated laptop and installing the OS. I may be able to
> direct students to install fests in the area before the class starts.
> I am not sure that this is the best idea, but it offers significant
> advantages including a potentially working box as part of the results
> of the course.
TBH, you might be better working on helping them get a dual-booting box.
Not everyone has ~$400 laying around to drop on some new kit just for a
class that may or may not become something that hooks them long-term.
>
> As a test, I purchased a laptop (Toshiba Satellite C75-B7180) on sale
> for $350 at our local Microcenter in Cambridge and was able to load
> GNU/Linux for my son. I am thinking of working some programming
> assignments in Squeak (Smalltalk), but maybe C is a better choice for
> an OS class?
>
shell scripting? You can do a lot of "quick and dirty" there, and it
doesn't (IMO) require nearly the same amount of knowledge that one of the
compiled languages needs.
> Has anyone tried running a GNU/Linux intro class for teens? Can
> anyone share their experiences, thoughts or suggestions? Feedback
> based on actual experience would be most helpful, I think, but I would
> appreciate any insights.
>
Forced it on the administration of a local charter / special needs school
(generally the kids are fine, moderate learning difficulties at the
worst), though it's more a "holy fuck! WTF are you running WinXP 18
months after EOL for!?!?!" response, as they didn't have the money for
Win7 licenses with everything else that they wanted/needed to upgrade
hardware wise ("maybe next year...").
Granted the majority of it is "internet-based education resources" and
word processing, but one or two of them have also expressed an interest
at doing some things programming wise.
Biggest thing with pre-college kids is mainly keep it simple / let them
see a result pretty quick. Yeah, a second-semester freshman on up might
be OK with working on a project for 3-5 classes, and "seeing nothing"
until that last class; but for the most part anyone younger than that can
only stand 1-2 class periods before they hate it.
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