Hi everyone,
The results of the survey are (mostly) in, with 23 having taken it. Of
course, if someone hasn't taken it, you're welcome to go take it at any
time - it's at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=eNkKl991LqI6sP8tAeEFtg_3d_3d
Anyway, I've attached a summary of the results below - if you want
more details, just email me and I'll be happy to give you more info.
Unfortunately Survey Monkey makes sharing results pretty difficult for
free accounts.
The quick summary is basically that we have a sizable core of
experienced users - almost half have been using Linux for over 5 years
and almost 40% rate themselves as power users or administrators. OTOH,
we also have a good spread of less experienced users, with over half
putting themselves into the advanced beginner or proficient user
category.
When asked about the level of LUG talks heard and desired, the
experienced users tended to think they were about right, while the
newer users thought they were a bit harder than they might be. In
general, several expressed the desire for a wider spread of talk
levels and for a way to bring newer users up to speed.
When it came to doing something to help bring newer users up to speed,
there was very strong support, and all of the options mentioned got
some votes. The most popular option was having a QA session before the
meeting for anyone not familiar with the topic, followed by the idea
of having hands-on tutorials.
So here's what I would suggest going forward... 1) we have QA sessions
before the meetings. This will mean starting the QA session around
6:45 and starting the talk at 7:15-7:20. 2) We offer tutorials when
possible - one obvious candidate would be an intro to shell (this time
really for beginners!) by Nick Smith who did a beginner's guide that's
posted on the Ubuntu forums. We'll need to figure out exactly when to
schedule these and what people are interested in. 3) We try to have a
wider spread of levels in our presentations. For this, we'll need
everyone's help, both in suggesting topics and in finding presenters
(and presenting).
We can start with our November 20th meeting on Asterisk and VoIP.
Simon and I (both of us Asterisk users, but not experts) will be in
the lab for a basic QA session from 6:45 (or a bit earlier) to 7:15 to
give anyone who wants a chance to ask basic questions before the
presentation, which will start at 7:15.
Cheers,
Vern
Below is the summary of survey results. Unfortunately Survey Monkey,
doesn't make it easy for free accounts to share survey results, so the
listing below is kind of rough. BTW, the percentages refer to the
number answering that particular question.
1. I have been using Linux...
Less than 6 months
8.7% 2
For 6 months - 1 year
4.3% 1
For 1-3 years
26.1% 6
For 3-5 years
13.0% 3
For more than 5 years
47.8% 11
2. I attend Fort Wayne LUG regular meetings...
I don't - I just monitor the mailing list
17.4% 4
Occasionally
34.8% 8
Some of the time - 30-70% of the time
4.3% 1
Most of the time
21.7% 5
I rarely miss a meeting
21.7% 5
3. In using Linux I can...
Browse the Internet and check my email
100.0% 23
Play the pre-installed games
78.3% 18
Install packages using a package manager
87.0% 20
Install a standard distribution (if there are no hardware problems)
87.0% 20
Install printers
82.6% 19
Use the command line to edit simple config files
82.6% 19
Troubleshoot hardware issues
69.6% 16
Configure and troubleshoot network connections
69.6% 16
Write programs and/or shell scripts
69.6% 16
Set up services like web servers and file sharing
60.9% 14
Install applications from source
65.2% 15
Compile and install a kernel
43.5% 10
4. Rate the following (give us your general impression):
| |Beginner |Advanced Beginner/General User|Proficient User|Power
User|Administrator/Geek
Your level of experience 8.7% (2) 26.1% (6) 26.1% (6)
17.4% (4) 21.7%
(5) 3.17 23
The level of LUG talks you have heard 0.0% (0) 0.0% (0) 44.4%
(8) 38.9% (7) 16.7% (3) 3.72 18
Where you would LIKE the level of LUG talks to be 0.0% (0) 6.7%
(1) 46.7% (7) 40.0% (6) 6.7% (1) 3.47 15|
5. I would like to learn more about...
Installing packages
20.0% 4
Software available on Linux for common activities
50.0% 10
Using the command line
50.0% 10
Setting up a web server
40.0% 8
Sharing files
45.0% 9
Audio and/or Video editing on Linux
75.0% 15
Setting up networks and how networking works
60.0% 12
System administration - managing a Linux computer
75.0% 15
Using cron and other utilities for system automation
45.0% 9
Writing scripts and/or programs
55.0% 11
6. Would you like to see the LUG offer talks and tutorials aimed at
less experienced users?
Doesn't matter to me...
18.2% 4
It would be good for the group, but I wouldn't go myself
13.6% 3
Yes, I would go to a least a few, if offered
27.3% 6
I might not go to all of them, but I would go to some
18.2% 4
Yes, it's something I would really like
22.7% 5
7. If you support sessions for less experienced users, what scheduling
options do you prefer?
Tutorials/Sessions on a different evening
35.0% 7
Tutorials/Sessions at the regular meeting times in alternation with
more advanced topics
55.0% 11
Tutorials/Sessions on the same evening as the regular meetings, but in
a different room
20.0% 4
Tutorials/Sessions before regular meetings (e.g., 6:00-7:00 pm or 6:30-7:30 pm)
65.0% 13
Tutorials/Sessions after regular meetings (e.g., 8:30-9:30 pm)
25.0% 5
8. Assuming you support sessions/tutorials for less experienced
members, what kind of sessions would you like to see?
Informal question/answer sessions 30 min. before the regular talk to
learn about what's coming that night
61.1% 11
Break-out sessions (in a separate room) immediately following a
regular talk, to allow for beginner Q/A
33.3% 6
30-45 minute talks aimed at less experienced users
50.0% 9
1 to 1 1/2 hour hands-on tutorials
55.6% 10
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