Teaching linux in schools

[tex...@cpsc.ucalgary.ca]

From: tex...@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Trevor Textor)
Subject: Teaching linux in schools
Date: 25 Feb 97 00:02:31 GMT

Subject: University Preparation & job preparation for students soon to
be
in the Computer Science or Engineering professions

Hi,

I'm currently composing a report in order to get some Linux taught in
highschool as an introduction to Unix based machines.

[Linux is a Unix type operating system for PC/Mac machines. It was
developed
over the Internet and is completely FREE (it was developed by
programmers
donating their time to a worthwhile project).]

I feel that if your going to learn how to program, an introduction to a
Unix
type operating system would be very useful. (This view point is shared
by
a lot of Engineering and Computer Science individuals already in the
workplace)

I would like to know the opinions of and/or experiences of teachers to
the
following questions. My idea is to expose students to LINUX within a
day or
two of class time (high school students).

If your wish to see the completed report, I will be mailing it to
whomever
is interested!

QUESTIONS (You have experienced Linux)
-------------

1. Do you feel it would be advantageous for students to learn some
basic
elements of this operating system (such as C, using PINE or ELM,
basic unix commands, etc)?

2. How do you define your experience with LINUX (good, bad, ...)?

3. What do you feel are the advantages and disadvantages of Linux?

QUESTIONS (LINUX is taught at your school)
------------------
1. Have you received positive feedback from students (in teaching
linux)?

2. Where have they found what they learned in highschool (LINUX)
to be useful?

3. What do you feel are the advantages and disadvantages of TEACHING
Linux?

4. How do you define your experience with TEACHING linux?

Thanks for your time!

Trevor

[Trevor Textor]

[Rob Russell]

Trevor Textor did the macarena on a keyboard, resulting in:
: I'm currently composing a report in order to get some Linux taught in

: highschool as an introduction to Unix based machines.

I would have LOVED this in h.s.

: QUESTIONS (You have experienced Linux)

I have experienced it. www.engsoc.carleton.ca to see how. Very
interesting.

: 1. Do you feel it would be advantageous for students to learn some basic

: elements of this operating system (such as C, using PINE or ELM,
: basic unix commands, etc)?

YES. Extremely so. In my HS, we had QNX for some twisted reason, and the
comp.sci. students needed special permission to access the OS directly.

: 2. How do you define your experience with LINUX (good, bad, ...)?

Linux is cool. Very cool. I have found that with Linux, I have access to
the FULL content of the internet, not just the www, and this has benefited
my education no-end.

: 3. What do you feel are the advantages and disadvantages of Linux?

The disadvantage is that i's confusing to start off with. when I cam to
university, I got a Linux account, and had no clue what to do with it, and
most of what I know came from just playing till I learned something.

: QUESTIONS (LINUX is taught at your school)

It's not taught at all till about 3rd year, and then only to the comp.sys.
engineers. Not me. But, the student society has occaisional tutorials
that help introduce students.

: Thanks for your time!

Check out www.engsoc.carleton.ca to see how Linux can benefit students.
Sprouting from this project are a denizen of others, all extremely cool.
Also check out www.aurora.carleton.ca

--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Robert Russell, \ / Rob_R...@Ottawa.Com
Carleton University x--o8o--x 2nd Year, Mech/Aero
http://wabakimi.carleton.ca/~rrussell
Director of Publications - Carleton Student Engineering Society
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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[col...@lager.engsoc.carleton.ca]

From: Rob Russell <col...@lager.engsoc.carleton.ca>
Subject: Re: Teaching linux in schools
Date: 25 Feb 1997 05:31:28 GMT