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

["James P. Kinney III" <jkinney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 2008-12-21 at 09:46 -0600, Les R wrote:
> 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.

The largest detriment to the APS linux thin client installation was the
lack of teacher training materials. New technology without a "here's how
to use this feature to teach this topic" was viewed and "not ready for
use" by many people with influence. A large chuck of the packages I've
seen at NECC are on par or sub par with free software version. But they
come with a manual. I don't see that justifies a $3000 price tag but...
> 
> 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
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> :)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > :)
> >
> >
> 
-- 
James P. Kinney III          
CEO & Director of Engineering 
Local Net Solutions,LLC                           
http://www.localnetsolutions.com

GPG ID: 829C6CA7 James P. Kinney III (M.S. Physics)
<jkinney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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