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

Mon Feb 26 10:24:12 EST 2007

On 2/26/07, Markus Neteler <neteler.osgeo at gmail.com> wrote:
> I feel that we need a bit more than a Wiki approach here - OSGeo
> should provide a list of *selected* references. Otherwise it will become
> just yet-another-list of tutorials.

Hi Markus,

I think what you suggest is a good idea, but I fear it has the danger
of falling into bit-rot and other forms of neglect. The problem with
*selected* references is that someone has to *select* them. As far as
I know, we have not yet developed a clear policy on blessing tutorials
and other packages with OSGeo's imprimatur. Doing so also requires
someone (or somemany) to go through those packages and determining
their suitability for *selection*. Who will do that?

Even if the packages were *selected*, loading them on OSGeo's servers
might have its own impedance -- at least it requires getting hold of
someone who can do that. If the author wants to do that, sure, go
ahead. Tyler has already said that he has no problem with helping out
with that. I can help with that if I know where to store them for the
long-term.

In the long run, yes, having a few, key, tutorials/packages with the
OSGeo brand on them would be great. In my opinion, these are likely to
be the ones that accompany the official distro of the said project --
for example, official docs/tutorial that comes with OpenLayers, and so
on.

I would love to hear what others think, but the key is to give, in
this case, Gary, a quick and unequivocal answer on what to do.

>
> The list may enrich the
> http://www.osgeo.org/education
> page, too.
>
> Markus
>
> 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...
> >
> > -Perry
> >
> > On Saturday 24 February 2007 09:48, P Kishor wrote:
> > > http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php/Education_and_Curriculum_Committee
> > > 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
> > _______________________________________________
> > Edu_discuss mailing list
> > Edu_discuss at lists.osgeo.org
> > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/edu_discuss
> >
>
>
> --
> Open Source Geospatial Foundation
> http://www.osgeo.org/
> http://osgeo.org/grass
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>

-- 
Puneet Kishor http://punkish.eidesis.org/
Nelson Inst. for Env. Studies, UW-Madison http://www.nelson.wisc.edu/
Open Source Geospatial Foundation http://www.osgeo.org/education/
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