Re: [school-discuss] I think this is the "killer app"

[Marilyn Hagle <marilyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Les!

My email was pretty simplistic compared to the project as it stands.  I just
threw up that website yesterday. 

This school year I have been using Moodle to administer my classes at Mexia
ISD.
 I teach a Blender course, Web Page Development, Digital Graphics, and Digital
Video/Audio.  I have them posted at http://fineartsforall.org/moodle/mymoodle. 
You may login as guest and look if you wish.  It is not extremely fabulous,
because those are 4 pretty high tech areas.  For Blender I rely heavily on the
Tufts University Open Content course.  It is really great.

So as the story goes, the tech director from a small school approached me to
help her set up a LTSP server.  Wow!  I had never done that before and was that
slick!  I worked there a dozen years ago, so I know them and they have been
chatting with them about setting up a system to share elective courses with
other schools.  The way it works in Texas with small schools is that they are
only able to teach core courses plus Ag.  (I am a closet farmer so I think
having Agriculture is wonderful).  With the core courses, they study for the
tests - that is mostly all they can do.   

I want to utilize Moodle.  To answer your question (I think) . . . it is so
easy
to share a Moodle class.  You just make a backup.  It will back up also all of
your special documents, audio, video, pdfs, jpgs, xcfs, .blends . . . what
ever.    Then the teacher who wants to use the course simply restores the
backup file.  I did that with a couple of mini-classes at the beginning of the
year to help me get going.  It was sooooo easy.  Also . . . YouTube has great
stuff we should be using in class.  Most schools have to block it because of
the nasty stuff, or they cannot allow streaming because of bandwidth issues.  I
downloaded some and put them on a CD for my kids to use in class. 
Instructional
audio and video might have to available in .iso downloadsd.

It is not official, but the folks at this little school have been saying they
would like me to come and work for them again.  I have been chatting with them
about this idea.

This little school would offer these three classes via Moodle to other schools.

We would be approaching the other little schools around us (they actually
shared
classes via teleconferencing labs in the 90s).  If other little local schools
had one class
they could share . . . . wow . . . . suddenly high school kids here could have
maybe twenty different elective classes to choose from.

What I really want to teach personally is vocal music/theory/composition.  None
of these schools have choir.  Pitiful.  Done as a local thing - we could get
together once a semester for a fun mass choir event.

So, maybe this idea would catch on in other parts of the world.  Maybe my child
could study Norwegian with a teacher in Norway?

I think we should maintain moodle servers that teachers and schools could use,
but they could host their own moodle servers as well.

The website - highschoolcourseexchange.org - is more like an educational ebay. 
Buy, sell, trade . . . pay with PayPal, etc.

Then as I thought about this more, I thought - how wonderful this could be for
a
teacher who is homebound for some reason - having a baby, small children.  So
this person opts to teach a class with a limit of 10 students.  She uses a
Moodle Course that someone has already developed, but then uploads her changes
and additions to share at the end.

There could be a rich store of unused talent out there.  Also . . . there are
some teachers who love to teach, but hate classroom management.  They would
enjoy being part of this system.

My goal is not to replace classroom teachers . . . they are necessary of course
. . . kids need personal face to face interaction.  The goal is to enrich what
is there.

Kids are awake now and starting to ask for things.  I still need to read the
other emails.

Have a great day!

Marilyn



Quoting Les R <openadmin@xxxxxxxxx>:

> Hi Marilyn,
> 
> Once you 'create a course' in Drupal, how do you package it up so that
> others may use it, perhaps in other systems besides Drupal?  What
> elements are portable, which not.  So, I don't necessarily think this
> is 'site based', or at least exclusively to a large degree. There
> could be a variety of components in a variety of standard package
> formats, depending on media type, etc.
> 
> My 2 centimes worth.
> 
> Les Richardson
> Open Admin for Schools
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 2008/12/21 Marilyn Hagle <marilyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> > Hi there everyone!
> >
> > I was prompted to share this most recent project of mine after reading
> this
> > thread.  I would like to partner with a local school district and apply for
> a
> > grant to put this in motion.
> >
> > http://highschoolcourseexchange.org
> >
> > What do you guys think?    I hope to personally teach vocal
> > music/theory/composition and to assist an art teacher with digital
> graphics/3D
> > animation and assist a theater teacher with digital audio/video (Gimp,
> Blender,
> > Audacity, Cinelerra).
> >
> > I am motivated by my own children who are dyslexic and attend a school
> district
> > that does not offer much for high school students.  My kids are 7 & 9, so
> I
> > have a few years to get this going.
> >
> > Opinions please!!!
> >
> > Marilyn
> >
> >
> > Quoting "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>
> >> Fingerprint = 3C9E 6366 54FC A3FE BA4D 0659 6190 ADC3 829C 6CA7
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> >> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> >> believed to be clean.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > :)
> >
> 


:)