Re: Linux +

[Michael Hutchinson]

Hi everyone,   I am attending the aforementioned Linux + course, and I find that it is very beneficial. I will admit I am reasonably up with the play on linux but Linux+ has helped fill in the gaps. The other very useful aspect is that it puts you in touch with people in the industry, with experience who are willing to help and share information.   I didn't know that reading the manual was such a hard thing to do, after all, any education requires effort from the student. Effort to voice your questions, effort to explore and research outside of course hours, effort to get along with other people..   I do know however that some of Rik's information needs to be corrected.     Rik said : >The problem is, the natural instinct of *nix gurus is not to teach!   Au Contraire. I think Linux Guru's are more than willing to help people out that wish to learn Linux. I think given the Linux Gugu's perfect world: everyone has/uses Linux.     Rik said : >This stems from the 'hunch-over-keyboard-to-hide-password-from-Black-Hats' attitude required by good security >(i.e. the -ve wider social context is distorting & inhibiting information flow).   Like security isn't an issue, where-ever you go, whatever you do (with computers) (and cars)..(etc) . If you dont understand security you might think of it as distorting the flow. Linux is all about security.. everything in it has something to do with security (just about..)     Rik said: >Instead, *nix gurus tend to default to >top-level, guru-to-guru exchange (from which they personally can learn something & benefit), wherever it is in the >room. *Nix gurus can seem to make terrible teachers, because of this great inclination to hive off onto their own >topics of interest. They can seem completely incapable of heeding where beginners are at.   AHEM. Linux gurus know how to ask appropriate questions. And when to read the manual. How is a guru supposed to "heed where beginners are at" if the beginners dont voice up and ask how they might better understand the taught concept ? Ok I know it is very annoying to be told to go and read something sometimes, but it is necessary. If a student is having problems understanding manpages, they could well be reading the wrong ones. In addition to this I would expect as a student of this course to have at least one linux installation at home that I can mess with and figure things out on.     Rik said: >That said, the Avonmore Linux+ course has plenty of promise. Each & every session is extremely valuable to >attend, though packed with the stress derived from Linux's trademark anarchism. Linux+ will be attained - by this >student at least - not because of the way this course is being run, but in spite of it. :^)- Thanks Avonmore for >making it possible   FYI (for your information) I would like to point out that the cirriculum is being well covered, not entirely discarded. The fact that some topics go into depth is because we have industry experience based individuals (not necessarily in linux) who have good information to share and can provide a much better understanding of the concepts covered in the course than the course material itself (hence the references to the RUTE book etc.), although this material should not be discarded.   OK everyone, I admit that some of the information that is shared is off-cirriculum entirely. I view this as gleaning bonus information that may well one day help out in the real world. ( who wouldn't ask someone who works with Sun boxes a few questions, huh? )     I think Sascha has the right idea about this :   Sascha wrote: >I had a quick squiz at the information avonmore provides and I was under >the impression that the course was aimed at someone who has had around 6 >months linux experience - so presumably confident in using the system, >but probably needing some serious pointers in system administration. >I'll have to have a second look, it does sound like they may be >confusing prospective students who may not have that experience. Time to >submit a bug report maybe.. >And you're right, gurus dont tend to teach in the usual sense, they >provide pointers for you to learn yourself. Its the linux way, RTFM and >search the web ;) All aside, I would expect any student that had a problem with the Linux+ course to first voice that concern with the tutor, and then management, before running off to a public forum to give "critique" (which turns more or less into a whine).   I respect this Feedback chain:         [Educational Institute's Tutor and Students]         [Educational Institute's Management]         [Public Forum / Public]     I hope I am not out of line with this message which might be deemed personal email by some people, however I feel this is a nicer response than Rik's message might have deserved from others.   Have a nice day, Sincerely, Michael Hutchinson