Re: Free GNU/Linux intro class for teens advice? Purchase box? Squeak/Smalltalk programming
On Mon, Jul 06, 2015 at 08:12:10PM -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.
>
Get some scrap desktop machines from thrift shops / Red Cross / recycling
centre / local businesses who are scrapping them.
They should come almost free. If they're not working, hold a class or two
on assembling and fixing computers - make one working machine from two scrap
ones. Show them that the insides of a computer are not completely unknown
territory - show people how to replace fans and that sort of thing.
Laptops are really expensive things to start with. Give them live CDs,
a cheap server with VMs, a choice of distributions to play with - Ubuntu and
Debian and CentOS.
Understanding how to read a simple shell script / Python init scripts - much
more useful than Squeak at this stage. Demonstrating Libreoffice as an alternative
to MS Office and that you don't need expensive programs to burn CDs.
$350 may be nothing to you but it's a lot of money for a teenager or his/her parents
A good friend did almost exactly this for a year for teenagers at a local community
college.
> 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.
>
> 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?
>
> 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.
>
> Thanks for your thoughts,
>
> Marc
>
> --
> Marc Ronell, PhD CSE, PE EE
> gpg pub key 42E39C86 on http://pgp.mit.edu/
> http://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x304A2DED42E39C86
>
>
>
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