Suggestions For Starting A Linux Education Course?

algorithm_x asks: "I visit regularly and read everything that comes down the pipe. But I rarely ever see anything about Linux education. In an Microsoft ruled world we have classes on how to use every piece of software there is. So why not a Linux literacy class? I did just this thing! I am a PC Repair, and Networking Instructor at the Continuing Education Center here in Conway. My problem is that there is no set precedent and know of no one who has ever done such a thing. What curriculum should I use? Which distro should we use as a base? I start with the shell (bash) and work from there to installation, to X11 (KDE, GNOME, FVWM) but are there things I am missing? I want to end it with compiling a custom kernel, but I am not sure these guys are advanced enough. You can find the site for our program here."

be evil-make them install old software

[darthpenguin]

Here is something that is very evil, but should work well. Get some older hardware (just to make sure it's actually supported), and have them install an old version of slackware (i.e. ~3.4) on it. Then have them configure X-windows to a working configuration. Although this could be considered cruel and unusual, it will make sure that they understand some of the basic concepts that one needs to know to get around the command line. Then start actually teaching them how to use it, as some stuff is difficult to figure out. Then move to newer distro's once their knowledge advances.

This way, the students will gain enough knowledge to, for example, remotely fix a server through telnet/ssh without using a GUI. I know that I would not know nearly as much as I know about linux (and I still don't know very much although I use it almost exclusively) without having gone through this process of installing a configuring a system without a shiny GUI configuration manager.

Near the end, you should definately try some of the commanly suggested stuff like creating a LFS [linuxfromscratch.org] system.

I'd think this to be an ideal course (but with a lot of tweaking first). Anyone care to give any thoughts?

-mdek.net [mdek.net]

Got it backwards

[autocracy]

You need to go the other way around. Get them to learn from a simple KDE destop running under X and with easy software. Then teach the people how to use the front ends. Move on to installing software the real way from there. Next head onto how the system works. Slowly migrate into command-line apps from there to be done in via an Xterm.

It's evolution basically. At this point, I'd start teaching them Unix hacking (differentiate hacking and cracking...). From here, your students will KNOW how to use *nix.

The final step is to go LFS - have them build a Linux From Scratch [linuxfromscratch.org] System. You have total control over everything done in the computer and know the system by heart (heck, you built it from scratch!). I doubt there is any experience in Linux more fulfilling and educational (and downright cool) than building your own OS. If you want to be really nice, let them burn it to a CD when they're done!

The problem with capped Karma is it only goes down...