So according to Randal, to reach out to schools we need a scaled-down
and lighter OSGeo-Live build (probably without the server side
applications), with different documentation included. Maybe based on
Edubuntu?
I volunteer to make a custom OSGeo-Live iso for kids, but we will need
lots of feedback and volunteers to shape up a new documentation.
Last year I had the chance to teach several hours of OpenStreetMap to
school kids in a municipality initiative and I can totally agree that
things are different with kids. They did not seem to have much
difficulty with the OSGeo-Live UI, but we ended up playing with iD and
less with desktop applications, like josm.
just my 2c
Angelos
On 10/28/2016 04:55 PM, Randal Hale wrote:
If I can just chime in (I told my cat I wasn't).
The kicker in this is ESRI is deeply entrenched everywhere. They've
entire groups of people just focused on "giving to schools". I was at
the helm of rolling out a full ESRI rollout to a school in 2012. We
had a 50 seat lab setup. I ended up moving them over to FOSS4G 2 years
ago - and I need to go back and update their setup (they don't know
how). The school is Title 1 (which means the school is very poor). The
computers are better than what they normally get - BUT - they will be
using them longer than what they need to. They will be unable to run
the next version of ESRI Software. The computers can still run FOSS4G
software.
The teachers here in the US (and I have no doubt this is the case
everywhere) are stretched thin. That's what makes ESRI so nice. They
show up and go "here is a curriculum (of sorts) and here is 'free'
software". It's a short term win. They have people targeted to do just
that.
So what would Randy do (and I've thought about this more than I care
to mention) to introduce FOSS4G into the schools:
A bootable disk with FOSS4G software (I am partial to QGIS - other
things exist) and not everything like the OSGEO Disk. A few select
pieces of software with a purpose:
* 10 lessons of 1 hour apiece to work through that are student
oriented (maybe pick an age range - 12-16)
o Start globally and work down to locally. Maybe we have different
local datasets.
* An explanation for the teachers. They don't understand like we do -
they need us there for hand holding and encouragement. They can
manage kids - We need to help manage the lessons. I'm not a teacher.
I can teach adults - but not kids - it's a whole different game.
* A spot where teachers can get the lessons (NOT GITHUB) and the disk
(maybe we combine all things into a bootable USB stick).
* Help - a place where they can get help (NOT GITHUB). My town has 30+
schools. If more than 1 does this I can't be everywhere. ESRI put
out a call for Geomentors. We put out a call.
* We have COMMUNITY - I don't believe ESRI currently does. They have
an advertising budget. 20 years ago they had community. We have
momentum now. Community is greater than an Advertising budget.
* Advertise it. Ask for help from the teachers.
* Update it.
I know I'm asking for a lot - it's time intensive - but I think it's
100% doable. I go to speak at 2 colleges on GIS Day on nothing but
FOSS4G.
We've got all the pieces to make this work except time. I'll carve out
some time if this gets going.
I wished the cat had stopped me. Now I'm in it.
On 10/28/2016 09:16 AM, Jeff McKenna wrote:
As if someone is reading this ha, a tweet just came across my desk:
https://twitter.com/GIS4Teachers/status/791981572991746048
So, we need to also get into that huge K-12 market, plant the open
seed early :) A challenge indeed.
Think on this over the weekend,
-jeff
On 2016-10-27 12:36 PM, SERGIO ACOSTAYLARA wrote:
Sadly, only ESRI seems to exist for some in the USA...Imagine the
consequences of
this:
http://www.pobonline.com/articles/100610-gathering-up-geospatial-pros-to-meet-massive-market-growth
Sergio Acosta y Lara
Departamento de Geomática
Dirección Nacional de Topografía
Ministerio de Transporte y Obras Públicas
URUGUAY
(598)29157933 ints. 20329/20330
http://geoportal.mtop.gub.uy/
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Angelos Tzotsos, PhD
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http://users.ntua.gr/tzotsos
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