[OSGeo-Discuss] Sharing sad news from the web...

[Angelos Tzotsos]

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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>
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>
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-- 
Angelos Tzotsos, PhD
OSGeo Charter Member
http://users.ntua.gr/tzotsos

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