[Wftl-lug] Open Source in My Classroom

[Johann]

Patrick Green wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
> 
> It's been awhile since I have written anything of substance her.  I have
> started a new adventure.  I am teaching cs201 and cs202 at a small
> Christian College in Mount Prospect Illinois.  Today was the first day
> of class.  This place is my alma mater and one of my fellow students
> works there now.  He helped me pimp out my class.  I wrote up a little
> blurb and in it I not only explained my philosophy and goals but I also
> included a list of the free software they will be receiving since I feel
> it is important for the students to have the proper tools to succeed in
> college and apply what they are learning.
> 
> The textbook for this semesters class will be Marcel Gagne's Moving to
> Free Software.  My justification for this was the college wanted this
> semester to have a strong focus on power use of MS Office.  I told them
> that removing the experienced user from his comfort zone would level the
> playing field and using an alternative like OOo will teach them the
> PRINCIPLES of word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software
> without being dependant on a version of software that can change.  They
> approved of the approach.  Almost all the free software they are
> receiving is coming from Marcel's book along with some other things that
> are more geared to the Christian/Church application since most of these
> students are theology, ministerial students. 
> 
> Today we just sat and talked about licensing, ownership, ethical use of
> software, the importance of security, and I learned about where the
> students sit.  I currently have the most popular elective in the
> school.  I had 2 non registered students sit in and they signed up on
> the spot.  Some of them are also talking to their fellow students now
> that they sat in and learned what this class will entail.  They are
> excited about this new adventure and there will be a lot of FOSS and
> licensing education included in the class.
> 
> The school is also having a lot of server and networking issues.  Their
> tech support is currently the librarian and he is outside his element. 
> I am looking at all the specs and software on the server....I can switch
> this bad boy to a Linux server and set er up my way and teach the
> librarian what he needs to do his thing.  I was also invited by the
> students to hang out in the dorms and improve things there network wise.
> 
> This is gonna be a great adventure.  Today was day one and it was a
> success. 
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Patrick
> 

Congratulations on landing what sounds like an excellent job. Spread the
FOSS message!

A word of caution, however: Close association with bright, energetic
young people can lead one to feel much younger than one is. Which can
lead to painful reminders of what age brings us... Such as sore muscles,
aching heads, and stiff joints.

Enjoy the new gig! =)


-Johann
"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An
inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."
G. K. Chesterton ~ 1874 - 1936