[UCLP] Next Meeting Topic: Course Organization

[Martin Owens]

Hey Charles,

On Sun, 2009-10-11 at 21:34 -0400, Charles Profitt wrote:
> I had a conversation on IRC the other night with doctormo about how
> courses should be organized. I will give a brief example here so we can
> gather our thoughts and discuss prior to the next IRC meeting.

Thanks for getting it written out as an example.

I would not go for this particular model of laying things out because I
believe it confuses a couple of target educational objectives.

The Ubuntu Desktop strand/section is a good start, but it is really "How
to use the Ubuntu Desktop", I would instead organise things like this:

Using Ubuntu:
 - Ubuntu Desktop Course (Basics)
  - Introduction to the Desktop (Class)
  - Editing Documents (Class)
  - Modifying Photos (Class)
  - Writing Spreadsheets (Class)
  - Buying things Online (Class)
  - Chatting with Friends (IM) (Class)
  - Etc
 - Advanced Ubuntu Course
  - Command Line Basics
  - Etc
 - Ubuntu Server Course
  - Introduction to the Server (Class)
  - Web-servers (Apache)
  - FTP Services
  - Etc

Maintaining Ubuntu:
 - Maintain Ubuntu Desktop Course
  - Installing Ubuntu (Class)
  - Computer Hardware Primer (Class)
  - Working Printing (Class)
  - Installing and Removing Programs (Class)
  - Etc
 - Maintain Ubuntu Server Course
  - Init Scripts (Class)
  - Crontab (Class)
  - Setting up Ssh (Class)
  - Etc
 - Maintaining Ubuntu Networks Course
  - Networking Primer (Class)
  - DHCP Services (Class)
  - DNS Services (Class)
  - Physical Wiring (Class)
  - Etc

The reason why I separate these into their own levels, is because if we
don't we won't be able to cut the sections up enough for it to make
sense for the kinds of 4-6 week courses that we might want to run. I
also believe that if we want to translate application specific course
that they should be done outside of the Ubuntu sections. Inkscape, Gimp,
Scribus are all Art, Publishing with Ubuntu and can safely be their own
section that can have a class about file formats, creative commons
licensing and other topics of interest.

I wanted to make a deference between simply using the computer for what
it's meant to do (even a server) and teaching people how to really
maintain the services, their networks or even their desktops.

Each of the sections should really be a requirement of the previous. You
should know the desktop before you do advanced desktop and you should
know that before you dive into the server. You should do maintain
desktops before maintain servers and before maintain networks. Etc

Your thoughts?

Best Regards, Martin Owens

> ---- general concept ----
> 
> Organize courses in 'strands' like college majors.
> 
> Ubuntu Desktop Strand:
> - Installing Ubuntu
> - Open Office
> - Multimedia in Ubuntu
> - Gimp
> - Inkscape
> - Basic Command Line
> - Basic Security
> - Keeping Ubuntu up-to-date
> - etc
> 
> Ubuntu Server Strand:
>  - Installing Ubuntu
>  - Basic Command Line
>  - Apache
>  - MySQL
>  - PHP
>  - Basic Security
>  - SSH
>  - Advanced Security
>  - Keeping Ubuntu up-to-date
>  - etc
> 
> I added two 'shell courses' to Moodle as an example as well.
> http://learn.ufbt.net/course/view.php?id=9
> http://learn.ufbt.net/course/view.php?id=8
> 
> I would love to get feedback.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Charles
> 
> 
>