Linux Training for School Teachers

Workshop for Teachers of various High Schools from the Kathmandu Valley

Contents

1 Mission
2 Goal
3 Purpose of the Workshop
4 Idea behind the Workshops and demonstrations
5 Details of first Workshop
6 Benefits for the teachers
7 Details of the demonstration (2 1/2 hours)
8 Benefits for the students
9 Benefits for participating Schools
10 Participant List
Mission
To propagate the use of, sharing of and education of open source softwares, specially Linux, to the communities of various high schools around various districts in Nepal.
Goal
1.Make Schools self-sustainable to run open source, specially Linux, based labs and computer infra-structure along with course rendition.
1.Make teachers knowledgeable to use and to impart education to students regarding open source, specially Linux.
2.Make students aware and knowledgeable to use Linux in school and home environment and help in the propagation of open source, specially Linux, with the community.
Purpose of the Workshop
The workshop will be run in two phases. First phase will be a one day workshop. The purpose of the one day workshop will be to give introductory information on Linux to the teaching faculties at various schools. This introductory session will consist on the basic theory of Linux followed by a hands-on practical session consisting of installing, starting and playing with Linux, including working with GUIs like Gnome and KDE.
Second phase will be an extended workshop of a period of about 5 days. The purpose of this workshop will be to make teachers understand Linux to the level of running, maintaining and problem solving of servers and workstations by themselves and being able to render courses using Linux as the basic platform.
The first phase workshop will be followed by school demonstrations of Linux to groups of students. This will be targetted more as an awareness campaign to allow and to encourage students and teachers to explore Linux together. Then the second phase will allow teachers to handle issues raised by students and direct them towards fruitful and productive learning.
Idea behind the Workshops and demonstrations
The various big schools in Kathmandu valley are in the forefront and have the potential to implement and propagate open technology to the masses. With their immense resources and student strength they can propel the acceptance and use of these technologies as well as allow others to follow in their footsteps. They are also at the place where they can make open source technologies accepted courses in the education system. For this reason, empowering them to implement open source technologies is very important. The students of these schools are also from backgrounds that can invest and experiment with technology. Their friendship circle will allow the above argument of investment and experimentation with technology. Bringing Linux and other open source technologies will allow such technologies to be accepted much quickly.
Also they form the early users group that are very capable of transferring these technologies to other communities. So these workshops and demonstrations, designed for these students as well as for their teachers, will allow the introduction of open source technologies to the masses more quickly.
Details of first Workshop
This is a one day workshop that will focus more the practical aspects of getting Linux up and running and getting to know that is available in the first encounter.
9:00 - 9:30 Registration/Tea
9:30 - 10:00 Linux Installation
10:00 - 12:00 Presentation about Linux, FOSS and Desktop Familiarization
12:00 - 12:40 Lunch
12:40 - 4:00 Applications Introduction like OpenOffice.org, Firefox, GIMP, GAIM, FREEBASIC (alternative as Qbasic)
12:40 - 2:30 Basic Internet connection, Mounting and those Filesystem stuffs and terminal.
2:30 - 3:30 Demo/Presentation on LTSP
3:30 - 4:00 Presentation on "How to teach the kids about it"
Benefits for the teachers
1.Will understand what Linux is
2.Will understand where Linux can be used in their present context
3.Will be able to do basic installation of Linux
4.Will be able to do basic navigation of Linux filesystem
5.Will be able to do basic navigation of Linux GUI
The details of the second workshop will be done based on feedbacks from the first workshop as well as feedback from the demonstartions.
Details of the demonstration (2 1/2 hours)
1.1/2 Hour - Introduction to Linux
2.1/2 hour - Where is it used and what it can do
3.1 hour - quick demonstration of the use of Ubuntu Linux and wubi.
4.1/2 hour - questions, answers and interaction.
Benefits for the students
1.Will understand what Linux is
2.Will understand where Linux can be used in their present context
3.Will be able to do basic installation of Linux on windows
Benefits for participating Schools
1.Will be able to look into cheaper yet viable options for computer labs and education
2.Will be able to use older technologies for a longer period of time Students and teacher empowerment
Participant List

Name of Participants, Institution

Mukund Bdr. Koirala, Budanilkantha School
Devendra Singh, Budanilkantha School
Chiranjivi Sharma, Budanilkantha School
Tulashi Narayan Chitrakar, Budanilkantha School
Shiva Shankar Nanju, Whitefield H.S. School
Aman Lal Dangol, Whitefield H.S. School
Sanjay kumar, Budanilkantha School
Heemlal Shahi, EPS School, Minbhawan
Rudra Prasad Paneru, SOS Hermonn Gmeiner School
Ishwor Acharya, EPS School, Minbhawan
Sushil Upreti, SOS SanuThimi
Sangeeta Lamsal, Budanilkantha School
Bhim Lal Paudel, Budanilkantha School
Suresh Kumar Shrestha, AVM
Shital Thakur, Budanilkantha School
Tak Bdr. Shrestha, LRI School
Ravi Maharjan, Whitefield H.S. School
C.N. Ghimire, Budanilkantha School