Re: [school-discuss] Roadblocks . . . I think this will help

[tom poe <tompoe@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, Marilyn:  May I suggest you obtain a donated PIII low-end computer,
and load it with the software package from Stanford Univeristy's Center
for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, and see how it fits with
what you're doing?
http://ccrma.stanford.edu/planetccrma/software/
Open Studios would be delighted to work with you, if you prefer.
Tom Poe
Open Studios
Reno, NV, USA
www.ibiblio.org/studioforrecording/ 

On Mon, 2005-05-16 at 08:59, Marilyn Hagle wrote:
> Hi there!
> 
> My current Linux in Education project is to offer a couple of high 
> school courses that exclusively use open source software.  I am still 
> working out the details.  A couple of weeks ago I sent out email to 
> Texas schools as a market study and about 10 districts responded that 
> they were interested. 
> 
> I think we can overcome some of the roadblocks by giving teachers more 
> tangible resources.  Of course there are many available already - more 
> than I am even aware of.  Maybe we need to get the word out better?  For 
> example, I just discovered the OpenStudio info on this list (don't have 
> time to read the list regularly) - and wow . . . I need to check them out.
> 
> Anyway, I think these classes will bring Linux into schools who 
> otherwise wouldn't be looking at it.  So . . . rather than just trying 
> to win them over at a technical level, maybe start with subject areas 
> and work backwards? 
> 
> I'm attaching my market study email at the bottom.  Ideas are welcome.  
> What do you think?
> 
> Hope you're having a great day!
> 
> Marilyn
> 
> *****************************
> Would you like your students to be able to enter a similar competition?  
> http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5651
> 
> Good Morning! 
> 
> You are listed on the TEA website as an email contact person for your 
> school district.   Would you gather this information and return it to me 
> at the same email address?   We need a response by this Monday.
> 
> The purpose of this correspondence is to identify if there are schools 
> who would be interested in two online fine arts courses, "*3D Modeling 
> and Animation*," and "*Music Composition*" (see course descriptions 
> below).  The coursework is authored by a certified Texas teacher who 
> taught music and computer animation with great success for twenty-two 
> years, using computers in teaching as early as 1982.  They will be 
> hosted by a corporation who provides online coursework for most of the 
> major textbook companies and many universities (Texas A&M is a client) 
> and supported technically by another company who partners with Novell, 
> Dell, and Gateway.  We are ready to offer these two classes this fall.  
> If schools wish to expand their core of creative offerings, we also have 
> plans in the future to include "*Digital Video Creation and Editing*," 
> "*Music Videos From the Ground Up*," *Writing Scripts for Television*," 
> and "*Writing and Illustrating Books for Children*." 
> 
> Both of these classes are well suited to online coursework since the 
> assignments would be done on a computer and group work is not required.  
> A great advantage to you and your students is that we exclusively use 
> professional grade open source software, that you download free from the 
> Internet.    The courses are designed to accept students at many 
> different proficiency levels, however since it is at least half project 
> based, assignments must be completed to pass.   The classes address all 
> Texas State requirements.
> 
> Are you already offering these courses as part of your curriculum?  If 
> you are - that's great!  If not, you can really give your students 
> something wonderful without having to hire additional personnel.  The 
> author was motivated to create these courses because her own children 
> attend an otherwise wonderful 2A school in Texas, but with very few fine 
> arts courses.
> 
> There is no commitment involved at this point.  It is just prudent for 
> us to make sure there is a market for this product before we continue 
> its development.
> 
> Please reply with answers to these three questions:
> 
>    1. Would you like to offer any of these online courses to your
>       students this fall? If so, which ones?
>    2. What dollar amount $ would you be willing to pay per course per
>       student? (we want to make this affordable)
> 
> 
> If we get a high enough response, we will proceed with our plans to 
> offer these classes and contact you with the enrollment information next 
> month.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Marilyn Hagle, Representative
> Linux in Arts Education
> Cool Tools for Texas Schools
> 903.695.0837
> 
> Course Descriptions:
> 
>     *3D Modeling and Animation  *This course begins with the basics of
>     computer graphics (tools, filters, effects, layers, textures) using
>     a professional grade open source software program called "The Gimp"
>     (http://gimp.org). Students use this same program to learn the
>     basics of animation technique and create animated gifs (the short
>     animations found on the Internet).  The larger part of the course
>     revolves around "Blender 3D" (http://blender.org), a modeling and
>     animation program used to make films such as "Finding Nemo."  At the
>     end of the course, students will be able to create short 3D
>     animations and advanced students may choose to create simple games.
> 
>     *Music Composition  * The Music Composition course assumes that
>     students may have no knowledge of music theory.  It accommodates
>     those who do and those who do not since it is an individualized
>     study program.  Prior experience will mean that a student progresses
>     more quickly.  The goal is the same for all = to use basic music
>     theory and available music software to translate the "song in your
>     heart" to paper and production.  This class will use open source
>     software programs, "Rosegarden,"a professional audio and MIDI
>     sequencer, score editor, and general-purpose music composition and
>     editing environment (http://www.rosegardenmusic.com), and "Solfege,"
>     a ear-training program (http://www.solfege.org).  Students may
>     compose in any style - meaning they will not be restricted to
>     classical formats.
> 
> 
>