[FLOSS-Desktops] May Update

Fri May 26 12:50:17 UTC 2017

Patrick,

Thanks for the update!  I'm excited for all the success you and Kris are
having with OSCC and Floss Desktops!  Keep up the good work.

Welcome Ryan and Taconic Hills!  Very exciting!

-James

James L. Derby
Principal
Castleton Elementary School
Schodack Central School District
80 Scott Avenue
Castleton on Hudson, NY 12033
518-732-7755 Office
518-732-0495 Fax
@CastletonES

On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 4:28 PM, Patrick Masson <masson at opensource.org>
wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I just wanted to give you all a few updates...
>
> *FLOSS DESKTOPS at "ALL THINGS OPEN"*
>
> We're very excited to share that Kris Navratil, Maple Hill Middle School
> Tech Teacher, Dr. Michele McColgan, Professor of Physics, Siena College,
> and Madeline Hagen, a senior at Siena and Student Mentor for Urban
> Scholars, will present at "All Things Open" (https://allthingsopen.org/),
> the largest open source conference on the East coast. The group will run a
> workshop intoducing the FLOSS Desktops project, and how attendees can start
> up their own local efforts. I am very thankful to the *Open Source
> Initiative* (http://opensource.org) and especially *Linux Fund* (
> http://www.linuxfund.org/), who provided funding for the team's travel
> to, and accommodations in Raleigh, North Carolina.
>
> *UPDATED CURRICULUM*
>
> We've updated the curriculum:
>
>    - "MAKE 3: Computer Identification" now includes pictures of the
>    individual computer components, rather than a picture of an assembled
>    computer (a specific model, for example a "Dell Optiplex 775"). These
>    general images remove the need to change out the image in the packets to
>    match the computers your kids may be using. It also reduces confusion, as
>    some students were expecting to see the same configuration in their
>    computers as presented in the packets (thanks for the idea Siena College
>    Urban Scholars!).
>    - We've added a new definition for RAM memory based on feedback from
>    the "Libre Lions" at North Colonie CSD's Loudonville Elementary.
>    - We moved "MAKE 5: BIOS Identification," to before "MAKE 6: Wipe Your
>    Hard Drive," as kids will need to get into the BIOS to set their boot order
>    to start-up from DBAN and wipe their drives.
>    - We made MAKE 7: Network Cabling & Access, a stand-alone MAKE
>    (previously it was a suggested MAKE). We had a few participants that wanted
>    to include it, but it also is a nice prerequisite for the Linux install
>    MAKE as the systems need network connectivity to download updates, and
>    those evil proprietary 3rd party apps--we're talking about you Adobe Flash
>    ;-)
>    - We've added a new MAKE (MAKE 8), "Get your Computer ‘Operating’"
>    which gets kids to think about operating systems by comparing devices they
>    may use, e.g. what OS is running on their iPhone or Droid, or even devices
>    they may not think of as computers: Kindles, a cable box, Roku, or even
>    family car's info-tainment system, etc.
>    - MAKE 9, "Introduction to the Linux Operating System" is also new and
>    introduces the point and click features/functionality of Linux
>    - Make 12 is also new, and is the first step to "coding" using a
>    simple text editor "gedit." Like MAKE 3, which included a glossary of
>    computer hardware terms, a glossary of HTML tags is included so students
>    can explore the elements of a web page.
>
>
> We also want to add one more MAKE to get kids starting to code in a bit
> more of a formal/structured way. Mozilla has a great online resource,
> Thimble (https://thimble.mozilla.org/en-US/). It includes an online
> coding editor, which renders a completed web page in real time--kids see
> what they are coding as they type it. It also includes several projects
> with lesson plans. It is a great resource on its own, but I think it could
> serve as an excellent transition tool to move kids from FLOSS Desktops to
> programs like Hour of Code, Code-in, or even Summer of Code.
>
>
> *WELCOME TOCONIC HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT*
>
> A big thank you to Jim Yox, IT Director at Schodack CSD, who invited me to
> present the FLOSS Desktops program to the IT Directors group. After the
> event I was contacted by Ryan Proper, Technology Integration Specialist at
> Taconic Hills Central School District, with interest in starting up a local
> project. I went out just this week to give them a presentation, and was
> just informed that the district plans on beginning a new FLOSS Desktops
> program next Fall! Welcome Taconic Hills! (Ryan joined this email list too,
> so feel free to respond here to welcome him to the community.)
>
> If you know of any other districts, community groups or clubs that might
> be interested, send them along and I will be happy to talk about how they
> too can participate.
>
>
> *NEW TWITTER ACCOUNT*
>
> Well it was bound to happen as we continue to grow. I've set up a Twitter
> account for the FLOSS Desktops project at https://twitter.com/
> FLOSSDesktops Please follow along and feel free to share you group's
> photos, updates, etc. I'll also be sure the Open Source Initiative account
> re-tweets anything that goes out there.
>
>
> *THANK YOU*
>
> As always, thank you so much to all of you who make the project work. Feel
> free to send along ideas, questions, etc. I am happy to help.
>
> Also remember, this email list and the project wiki (
> https://wiki.opensource.org/bin/Main/Projects/FLOSS+
> Desktop+Refurbishment+and+Distribution/) are for you! Feel free to send a
> note to the group over this email discussion list (just email
> flossdesktops at opensource.org) and it will go out to everyone, or post
> something to the wiki.
>
>
> Thanks again,
> Patrick
>
>
>
>
> --
>
>   ||  |   | || |  ||  ||  | || |  |||  |  |||
>
> Patrick Masson
> General Manager & Director, Open Source Initiative
> 855 El Camino Real, Ste 13A, #270
> Palo Alto, CA 94301
> United States
> Office: (415) 857-5398
> Mobile: (970) 4MASSON
> Freenode: OSIMasson
> Email: masson at opensource.org
> Website: www.opensource.org
>
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