[OSGeo-Edu] Fwd: [OSGeo-Discuss] Introdution tutorials

Tue Feb 27 11:59:48 EST 2007

On Tuesday 27 February 2007 09:50, P Kishor wrote:
> ...
> <note about IRC>
> Fixing a time for IRC meetings has always been a problem, given that
> there are members on the West coast of NA and in Japan. 8am had worked
> for us a few times, but anytime would be difficult for someone or the
> other. Slowly we evolved to discussing issues on the list. I don't
> know about others, but I personally find IRC chats to be very chaotic.
> I can respect that they work for others, but the list is simply a
> better medium to compose thoughtful responses even if it lacks the
> immediacy of IRC.
>
> We haven't heard from anyone else, nevertheless, I am available and
> will come on the IRC on Thurs, Mar 1.
> </note about IRC>

Ideally, we decide the time that can accomodate the most people who are 
interested and willing to help.  Most OSGeo committees have their meetings in 
mid-morning to early afternoon in the US (afternoon/evening in Europe, night 
in Asia) and it seems to work well.  It would be nice to hear some input in 
this regard.

I wouldn't mind email except I could barely keep up with them and they get 
buried and forgotten.

Anyway, March 1st, 8:00AM US Central Standard it is.  I'm hoping Frank, Markus 
and/or Arnulf (as seven) will be there as well. 

-Perry

>
> The item on the agenda is not contentious actually. It is pretty
> straightforward. Gary Watry asked on the main OSGeo list (and I quote)
> --
>
> > 1. Is the loading of tutorials on the osgeo website still the
> > concept or is just linking to other sites the plan?
> >
> > 2. how and where does someone go about doing this?
>
> To which, Tyler replied (I am quoting an excerpt) --
>
> > I'd suggest that the Edu. group start an educational library with
> > public domain downloads available and put yours in there.
>
> ...
>
> > Anyone from the Web Committee, including myself, can help get
> > the files online for you when ready.
>
> First, Tyler answered the first part of the 1st question that Gary
> asked, and the 2nd question as it relates to the first part. In that,
> if someone wants to host their material on the OSGeo website, they can
> do so in a library with "public domain" dowloads, and someone can
> readily assist them with that task. Regarding the 2nd part of the 1st
> question, anyone with a wiki login can create a link to material
> hosted on their own server. In fact, anyone with a wiki login can even
> categorize and arrange the links into some logical arrangement.
>
> My response with regards to hosting was that it is just too
> problematic given the reasons I outlined. Licensing itself is a major
> roadblock. Determining whether or not a package is in "public domain"
> becomes an onerous responsibility -- who will do that? What if the
> person who created the material and wants OSGeo to host it but is not
> willing to put it in "public domain"? In fact, we've had this
> discussion in the past about licensing.
>
> My strong belief is that linking is the easiest, quickest, and so many
> benefits accrue from doing that. If the links list becomes chaotic, as
> Ned suggested, it is possible to loosely categorize them. In my view,
> something simple, perhaps doing so by licenses -- "completely free aka
> public domain" and "free but no commercial use" might be enough
> categories. I will be happy to do this categorization.
>
> I also believe that uploading should be made available to those who
> many not have the resources to host their own material. However, for
> that, OSGeo has to display a clear stance on what are willing to host,
> mainly with regards to relevance, appropriateness, quality standards,
> and licensing. Either that, or a disclaimer about the hosted contents
> should be provided. There are, however, so many issues with hosting
> content that it really makes me shudder. What if, some third party's
> hosted binary content contains a virus and destroys the user's
> computer? Whose liability is that? In my view, OSGeo should host only
> the content that it produces. By "it" I mean a set of OSGeo members
> collaborating and producing a package in a public process open to all
> for participation, vetted properly, and given an OSGeo quality
> assurance badge.
>
> I am happy to be educated otherwise, and welcome others' thoughts.
>
> > > > On Monday 26 February 2007 09:16, P Kishor wrote:
> > > > > On 2/26/07, Pericles S. Nacionales <naci0002 at umn.edu> wrote:
> > > > > > If the Education Committe doesn't want to address this, I will
> > > > > > recommend that the Web Committee take it on.  I was really hoping
> > > > > > we (the Education Committee) would take a little bit of time to
> > > > > > discuss things like this. Perhaps we need another IRC meeting...
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi Perry,
> > > > >
> > > > > We did discuss it, and the couple of us who commented (Ned and
> > > > > myself) feel that putting links on the wiki is the quickest (see
> > > > > reasoning in the included emails below). Perhaps you missed those
> > > > > emails, or perhaps you have other ideas. If so, please do tell us
> > > > > your thoughts and we will gladly discuss them. The quicker a clear
> > > > > guidance is out the best it is for those producing tutorials and
> > > > > wanting to share them.
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards,
> > > > >
> > > > > Puneet.
> > > > >
> > > > > > On Saturday 24 February 2007 09:48, P Kishor wrote:
> > > > > > > http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/Education_and_Curriculum_Commit
> > > > > > >tee section 4 is for "Existing open educational geospatial
> > > > > > > materials". Adding a link there would be the easiest. See below
> > > > > > > for my reasoning --
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On 2/24/07, Markus Neteler <neteler.osgeo at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > > > > Hi eduCom,
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > for those not following the main discuss list, here a
> > > > > > > > relevant FWD. I think that we (eduCom) should take care of
> > > > > > > > this request.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Best,
> > > > > > > > markus
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > > > > > > From: Tyler Mitchell <tylermitchell at shaw.ca>
> > > > > > > > Date: Feb 22, 2007 12:14 AM
> > > > > > > > Subject: Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Introdution tutorials
> > > > > > > > To: OSGeo Discussions <discuss at lists.osgeo.org>, Gary Watry
> > > > > > > > <watry at coaps.fsu.edu>
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > On 21-Feb-07, at 3:52 AM, watry at steam.coaps.fsu.edu wrote:
> > > > > > > > > If you go to http://www.coaps.fsu.edu/gis and along the
> > > > > > > > > bottom of the page are three tutorials. Quantum GIS, uDig,
> > > > > > > > > MapWindows. We are getting ready to produce OpenJump,
> > > > > > > > > OSSIM, and one more package this spring.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > My Question is that at one point in the past, It was
> > > > > > > > > discussed about the possibility to place these on the OSGEO
> > > > > > > > > Website.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > So?
> > > > > > > > > 1. Is the loading of tutorials on the osgeo website still
> > > > > > > > > the concept or is just linking to other sites the plan?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > In my opinion linking would be preferred. Why?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > One, it is the quickest. If you want to add something you made,
> > > > > > > you don't have to wait for anyone to help you load it. You just
> > > > > > > go, edit the wiki, add the link to your own material, and you
> > > > > > > are done.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Two, it keeps the freshest version always available to the
> > > > > > > public. Otherwise you would have to keep syncing the one you
> > > > > > > have loaded on the OSGeo website with the one you are probably
> > > > > > > continually developing in your lab or office.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Three, by hosting it on your own server, other benefits accrue.
> > > > > > > For example, you can keep track of how many folks are
> > > > > > > downloading your tutorial by looking at your logs.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > And, finally, four, you don't get into the hassle of figuring
> > > > > > > the most suitable license, or being in conformance with OSGeo's
> > > > > > > processes and procedures. Just state the license along with the
> > > > > > > link, and you are good to go.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > For example --
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > - GITTA - Geographic Information Technology Training Alliance
> > > > > > > with material under Creative Commons license
> > > > > > > - my great tutorial under public domain
> > > > > > > - my even better tutorial under capitalist version 2 license
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > The only two reasons I can think of why you would want to load
> > > > > > > a copy on OSGeo's servers are: one, you don't have the server
> > > > > > > resources available to host something; and two, you are
> > > > > > > creating a package in colllaboration with others on OSGeo, so
> > > > > > > wiki is the best method to do so.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > If these apply, definitely pursue the route suggested by Tyler
> > > > > > > below, but be aware of the limitations.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > 2. how and where does someone go about doing this?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > This hasn't been discussed for a while, but if the Education
> > > > > > > > Committee wants to host the files on osgeo.org, that's no
> > > > > > > > problem. I'd suggest that the Edu. group start an educational
> > > > > > > > library with public domain downloads available and put yours
> > > > > > > > in there.  We have a similar library (under development) for
> > > > > > > > promotional material and presentations.  Having a branch of
> > > > > > > > it for education would make a lot of sense.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Anyone from the Web Committee, including myself, can help get
> > > > > > > > the files online for you when ready.

-- 
Perry Nacionales
Dept. of Forest Resources
University of Minnesota
naci0002 at umn.edu