Re: The "killer app" (was: Re: [school-discuss] Taking requests

["Les R" <openadmin@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Lee,

> Perhaps the "the real" but currently missing "killer app" is a compendium of
> documentation & training, particularly "train the trainer" curricula. Would
> it help if edu FLOSS community can get content experts onboard with visual
> tutorials (how to configure & use OpenOffice using tools like CamStudio)?

Yes, very important. Crucial.

> I've had discussions with media lab teachers & it appears that one
> apparently *LARGE* obstacle to FLOSS adoption is lack of training &
> curricular support. I'm also looking at a best practices (how-to) discussion
> for school LAN/WAN administrative workflow, etc., a total school admin
> knowledge base of some kind.

Yes, this is the biggest issue (assuming that we now have easier
installation, etc). Unless a teacher can have some sort of
instructional support at least in skeletal form in front of a
classroom, what incentive is there to use the software.

Using the ecology idea,  these things are interdependent for program
delivery in schools. Software is only one facet of that.  Curricular
materials and training are others. I spend a lot of time writing
documentation for Open Admin and will have to create more training
materials in the future.  Just part of the deal, IMO, for any
software.  Educational software needs to add these other components as
well.

My 2 cents worth.

Les Richardson
Open Admin for Schools
http://richtech.ca/openadmin





> Also, if anyone's already set up a 501c3 (USA nonprofit) to this end, I can
> possibly exploit a grant writing resource. I'm not sure how much time &
> effort would be entailed in such an effort, seems to me the answer here is a
> community approach.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> -- Lee
>
> ________________________________
> From: Matt Tech <mattech75@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 2:38:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [school-discuss] Taking requests
>
> Marilyn,
>
> I will discuss this with someone who knows more about it than I.
>
> At the current time it is way over my head.
>
> Remember, I am a Linux user, not a pro.
>
> Matt
>
> ________________________________
> From: Marilyn Hagle <marilyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2008 7:23:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [school-discuss] Taking requests
>
> Cool.
>
> The rendering farm consists of a server machine and slave machines (I am a
> teacher, not a system administrator, so my terminology will be in the
> vernacular).  :)  The server machine has two network cards - one faces the
> WAN
> and one goes to a separate hub that connects the slave machines.
>
> There are a couple of live CDs that automatically create clusters that
> almost
> did the job.  One is Pelican * that is the new Parallel Knoppix.  The one I
> liked better is called Instant Grid.  Instant Grid is setup to create a
> render
> farm using PovRay.  However, the connections between PovRay and Blender and
> Cinelerra are not user friendly.  I was not able to get them to work.
>
> If you could use an Instant Grid system with Dr. Queue and if it would
> render
> projects from Blender and Cinelerra - that would be fabulous!!
>
> I am looking for a system to use personally, but also a user-friendly one I
> can
> share with other teachers.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Marilyn
>
>
>
> Quoting Matt Tech <mattech75@xxxxxxxxx>:
>
>> Marilyn,
>>
>> Besides blender, what other software do you need for your rendering farm?
>>
>> I can probably package everything for you but I have no experience with
>> any
>> of it.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Marilyn Hagle <marilyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 11:22:09 AM
>> Subject: Re: [school-discuss] Taking requests
>>
>> Matt,
>>
>> I look forward to testing your CD.  I use another live CD/DVD, Musix, in
>> class
>> all the time..  However, since our Christmas holiday starts in an hour, I
>> probably will not get to play with small.iso soon.
>>
>> I am looking for someone to help with my render farm.  I feel like I am
>> close,
>> but not quite there.  Any experience with Blender, Dr. Queue, and render
>> farms?
>>
>> Happy Holidays to all on this list!
>>
>>
>> Marilyn
>>
>>
>>
>> Quoting Matt Tech <mattech75@xxxxxxxxx>:
>>
>> > No apology needed, no devious intent here. It's just pclinuxos with a
>> > bunch
>> > of software installed on it.
>> > no big deal.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ________________________________
>> > From: Charles Cossé <ccosse@xxxxxxxxx>
>> > To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 8:42:18 AM
>> > Subject: Re: [school-discuss] Taking requests
>> >
>> > As I recall, "Matt" / Chris Yates showed up about 1-2 years ago and
>> > was attempting some devious activity.  Of course, if I am wrong, then
>> > my apologies, but I would be very careful ... it don't sound quite
>> > right.
>> >
>> > On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 7:45 AM, Peter Scheie <peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> > wrote:
>> > > I don't think Matt is abusing the list; he may just be unfamiliar with
>> some
>> > > of the etiquette, such as including the link to the file when he
>> discusses
>> > > it.
>> > >
>> > > For the record, in case anyone missed the previous message containing
>> > > the
>> > > link, the ISO can be downloaded from
>> > > http://mattech.exhspace.com/mattech/small.iso
>> > >
>> > > I think the name, small.iso, may be a bit of a misnomer, however, as
>> > > it
>> is
>> > > 684MB.  The hosting website does seem to have good bandwith, though.
>> > >
>> > > Peter
>> > >
>> > > Charles Cossé wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >> "Matt", can you please not abuse this list?  Nobody has a link, and I
>> > >> seriously doubt if you have a product.
>> > >>
>> > >> On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 6:41 AM, Matt Tech <mattech75@xxxxxxxxx>
>> > >> wrote:
>> > >>>
>> > >>> For now, you all have a link to a very crude image just to see if it
>> will
>> > >>> work on your hardware.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> It currently does not run with NVidea graphics cards or on older
>> > >>> machines..
>> > >>>
>> > >>> I am looking for requests and suggestions on what would be the best
>> > >>> package
>> > >>> in your view.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> To answer on question: Yes, this can be customized for any need, and
>> > >>> I
>> > >>> believe it should be.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Your input will determine the final image, as per everyones needs.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Thanks for the interest.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Matt
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >>
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > AsymptopiaSoftware|Software@theLimit
>> >            http://www.asymptopia.org
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> :)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> :)
>
>