[ale] The Linux learning discussion

[Wolf Halton]

The worst problem with newbie Linux home users is that they mostly never
installed their own Windoes or OSX, so they have no basis of comparison
from which to judge the difficulty of installing Linux.
That used to be the 1st week of the Intro to Linux course I taught, but I
gave all my students CentOS live disks, so we could consider applications
and navigating Gnome before attacking the install question.

Sorry if this gets doubled up.  I think I am responding to 2 lists at once.
Wolf


Wolf Halton

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On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 1:59 PM, Jay Lozier <jslozier at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> My take is there 3 or 4 groups of Linux users who need different levels
> of instruction and support:
>
> 1. General purpose home/smb users who need a stable, supported system.
> The distro allows them to do things that are typically done by home
> users and small businesses. There are several very good distros aimed at
> this group.
>
> The education they need is how to use a repository and depending on the
> software some repository installation. Ironically, Apple and Google may
> help here as many are familiar with "App Centers". Also, they need to
> know what the equivalent Linux package is to the Microsoft Windows
> package.
>
> Their training is fairly easy to define by what basics does a person
> need to know about computers and how does Linux address those basics. I
> do not think most users ever got the basics so any training here would
> be helpful. The biggest problem will be addressing, "But in Windows it
> is done this way." and "Linux is to hard to use/install."
>
> My wife falls into this category of a home Linux user and she can dual
> boot into Windows. She finds Linux, once she got comfortable with the
> conventions, easier to use. She uses Mint.
>
> I suspect there are very few home/smb users on this list though
> collectively we know many. Also, many in this group use whatever OS is
> installed on the device without really considering its pedigree. (I
> doubt many Android, ChromeOS, or pending SteamOS users really care that
> they are using a Linux distro.) Their issues are using the computer as a
> tool to do something they want done.
>
> 2. Developers who need access to many developer tool kits. While much
> more highly skilled than the home users they often are not Linux gurus.
> They can script and are comfortable with the CLI but are not interested
> in becoming a Linux system administrator. This group is the hardest to
> develop a training course for because it depends heavily on what they
> are developing as to how involved they are with any OS versus the
> development tools.
>
> I am more in this role of a developer when needs a comfortable work
> environment that is relatively forgiving. I currently use openSUSE and
> have used Mint in the past. I need to be comfortable with some shell
> scripts but most of mine are fairly short and simple
>
> 3. System administrators need to know more than the other two groups
> because they are running the backbone network. Their training is more
> extensive but fairly easy to define more by omission - what don't they
> need to know.
>
>
> On Thu, 2013-11-07 at 07:29 -0500, leam hall wrote:
> > Sorry for the cross-post, I'm not sure the ATL-LOPSA membership is all
> > on ALE.
> >
> >
> > The question was asked, "What should be in a Linux basics" class. Or
> > similar, my coffee isn't as strong as I'd like. To which I gave a sort
> > of answer, but not as good as I would like.
> >
> > Learning Linux has had a transformational affect on my life. My budget
> > too; I make my daily wage doing Linux. There are few things more
> > important than helping others grasp the same advantage that was been
> > given me. However, I do not expect someone off the street to want
> > Linux and I feel strongly that looking for those people will burn out
> > the workers very quickly.
> >
> >
> > On the other hand, finding people with need who are willing to learn
> > seems the best course. I needed something to make me think and I could
> > not afford Windows back then. Linux gave me a strong sense of ability
> > and capability; limited by my own limited intellect.
> >
> >
> > I have an unused domain, LinuxSystemAdministrator.com. It has long
> > been my dream to do something with it to help the user type I can most
> > identify with; the new system admin. I have no problem contributing
> > and helping.
> >
> >
> > Leam
> >
> > --
> > Mind on a Mission
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Ale at ale.org
> > http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> > See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
> > http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
>
> --
> Jay Lozier
> jslozier at gmail.com
>
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>
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