[ubuntu-uk] Possible Training Events

[Matthew Daubney]

On Wed, 2010-01-20 at 00:38 +0000, Bruno Girin wrote:
> On Tue, 2010-01-19 at 18:43 +0000, Matthew Daubney wrote:
> 
> [snip]
> 
> > > Beginners are not the easiest people to teach to. I would suggest
> > > starting with some moderately advanced topics like "how to package an
> > > app for Ubuntu".
> > I was hoping to avoid this if possible. There is a _lot_ of stuff on 
> > these already, and people who want to learn this know where to look and 
> > are generally happy with whats there. What I wanted to tackle was those 
> > people who are uncomfortable with IRC and following web tutorials and 
> > it's ilk. These people (I believe) will be the really basic beginners. I 
> > was hoping to tackle a little bit of converting people through education 
> > type stuff by running these events as well, but thats a secondary aim.
> 
> That's exactly the point for a training trial run: choose a subject that
> is reasonably well documented so that we have material. On the other
> hand, people who are aware of IRC and online tutorials but are not
> comfortable with them could be a good target: they know about Ubuntu,
> want to use it but need a bit of help.

What we need to do then is find a way to talk to these people. I'm happy
for a R/L trial of something a bit more technical, but I can't shake the
feeling that there will have to be a lot of stuff unlearnt when the
focus moves to absolute beginners. 

Do you have any idea's on how we could contact these people? I'm happy
to try and get a letter into the local newspaper or something if people
believe this might help.

> > 
> > I know it's more difficult, but I honestly believe this is the more 
> > worthwhile path to follow. Please feel free to argue at me the other way 
> > though :) The more views the better as far as I'm concerned.
> 
> I agree with you, it's the most interesting and worthwhile path to
> follow but starting with something simpler doesn't preclude having this
> as the long-term plan.
> 
Hooray! A common point of agreement. Something that proves this is worth
doing :)

> What I would really like to do eventually is basic programming
> workshops, a bit like the old computer clubs of when I was a child (at a
> time when the home computer was called Amstrad CPC or Commodore C64): it
> was a great way to get people (kids especially) interested in computers
> as you would show them how fun it could be when you knew the basics of
> programming. Other fun stuff we could do are themed workshops like how
> to create a 3D scene with Blender.

This is why I'd absolutely love to do a full scale event based on this.
With a large event we can run several tracks from absolute basics to
super uber flashy wonderfulness. A basic programming workshop would fit
into this well. 

I also have another project I want to look into at some point that you
may be interested in, based on the way I learnt to program. I would like
to (at some point in the future) generate a set of ebooks of basic
programs people can build, like I got from St Michaels for my spectrum
as a kid :) Many an hour I spent building space invader type games from
those books.

First things first though, how do you think is best to get hold of
people who would like to try Ubuntu but aren't necessarily comfortable
learning over t'internet?

-Matt Daubney