March 2007 - openSUSE Edu - openSUSE Mailing Lists

[opensuse-edu] Re: Education on openSUSE
by James Tremblay 31 Mar '07

31 Mar '07

On Wednesday 28 March 2007 15:02, you wrote: > Great to talk to you at BrainShare 2007. > > Did you notice I added my dansguardian and squid26 packages? Don, Thanks for taking the time to talk to me. Thanks again for adding to the website. It was great getting to meet all the people associated with k12 and Novell. all the good work that we do will be appreciated , I just know it! JT -- James Tremblay Director of Technology Newmarket School District Novell CNE 3\4\5 CLE \ NCE in training. http://en.opensuse.org/education -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-edu] Re: BRL-CAD
by Phil Thane 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

On Tuesday 27 March 2007 15:42, Janis Klava wrote: > The BRL-CAD package is a powerful Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) solid > modeling system with over 20 years development and production use by the > U.S. military. BRL-CAD includes an interactive geometry editor, parallel > ray-tracing support for rendering and geometric analysis, path-tracing for > realistic image synthesis, network distributed framebuffer support, > image-processing and signal-processing tools. The entire package is > distributed in source code form. > http://brlcad.org/ > > Might something not be done with this as a basis for an opensource CAD > programme. > > J.K. The source code might be ideal, I wouldn't know not being a developer, but the interface is so unfriendly I've never got far enough in to discover how it actually works. Anyone interested in this needs to see SolidWorks, AutoCAD Inventor, (neither available for Linux) and VariCAD (which is OK on Linux and what I use at the moment) Then look at BRL CAD. SolidWorks and Inventor are pro level CAD for mech engineers, VariCAD is intended for pro's too, but in smaller companies making simpler things, as such it is pretty good for school use - but not OSS and not cheap enough. The 2D side of it is clunky to use too, though the 3D is simpler. Maybe with more effort on my part and clearer documentation it would be OK. For a good 2D app for schools see TechSoft 2D Design (Windows only but OK under WINE). It's been around for years, has developed VERY slowly, but has stayed true to the idea of doing what school students need to do and not got too clever for it's core market. 2D is an ideal place to learn CAD basics. All the stuff like geometry, using snaps and grids and working accurately. Some apps make this too hard and the students just guess. OK for artwork (sometimes) but not for CAD. Unfortunately TechSoft don't have the staff to develop a 3D package for schools and now sell SolidWorks. My ideal would be a 2D/3D app with the 2D side as simple and clear as TechSoft's, and the 3D side as good as VariCAD. Would be nice if some sponsor appeared and bought TechSoft and VariCAD to open source them, but that's unlikely to happen. Plan B, Edubuntu, OpenSuSE Edu, etc etc really need an EduCAD project. Count me in on specifying it, trialling it, and documenting it, but I'm not a coder! -- Regards Phil Thane Bryn Villa Penycoed Road (off Brook St) Llangollen LL20 8LR 01978 861677 07971 987623 phil(a)brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk www.brynvilla.llangollen.co.uk -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org

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Re: [opensuse-edu] question about reviewing apps
by Rajko M. 23 Mar '07

23 Mar '07

On Thursday 22 March 2007 18:12, Sarah wrote: > Hi Rajiko, > I will go ahead and work on the wiki for this review stuff more this > weekend. I am not sure I fully understand what you are meaning with the > setting up the categories for future indexes or portals because I've > never worked with indexes or portals. I would like to learn more about > that. Thanks again for your feedback! > Sarah The index is navigation help that we create, just as a book index, or in the Internet site overview, list of articles that one can find. Portal is by all merits the same with more attention given to graphic layout, and some added content, like featured article. My goal is to have something similar to Wikipedia Portals on openSUSE wiki, but I would need 2 days in 1 to cover all my interests :-) Both mentioned are similar ways to make finding information easier, and there is more like categories [1], namespaces, disambiguation pages etc. Now, for both indexes and portals it is important to have naming that is easy to follow, which for me means that is self explanatory and synchronized in all used forms. That is huge task that is in starting stage. Here is the thread that explains more: http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-wiki/2007-03/msg00003.html With start of Education project there will be a lot of knowledge that only educational professionals can categorise, so that simple people like wiki editors can rearrange in indexes or portals, making it accessible to as many readers as possible. Including one or more [[Category:<name-of-category>]] tags at the top of article will help in further organizational efforts. I hope that this clarifies my comments in previous post. [1] Category, that I had in mind, is built in feature of Mediawiki software to create page with title Category:Xyz if there is at least one article with wiki tag [[Category:xyz]]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Categorization and something that we would need: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Categorical_index This is the list of all created categories on openSUSE wiki: http://en.opensuse.org/Special:Categories and this is the list all top level categories: http://en.opensuse.org/Special:Uncategorizedcategories -- Regards, Rajko. http://en.opensuse.org/Portal -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-edu] Open Source ICT Qualification
by Paul Taylor 22 Mar '07

22 Mar '07

Hi all: There is an excellent new open source based qualification called INGOTs (www.theingots.org). In the UK it is now QCA sanctioned and there are lots of academies around the world so it is open and global. It is designed and maintained by people active in the open source community, adheres to strict open source principles, and should therefore receive our full support, I think. Any thoughts? Paul -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org

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Re: [opensuse-edu] question about reviewing apps
by srs76＠earthlink.net 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Hello all, Thanks for the welcome & enthusiastic guidance :-) Lars wrote: >Which applications do you mean? Well, I was originally thinking of contributing to the review of the educational applications listed for inclusion in openSUSE since that is the distro I will be testing them on... However, your point about helping inform the developers and users on other platforms is well taken and I the the reviews I and others write should have the broadest impact possible. I hope you will use list asked for input on to update the template Rajko mentioned: (http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Software_Overview) since it has some very good descriptor/prompts for reviewers. Then we can link it to the page you created for housing the actual reviews: http://en.opensuse.org/Reviews. >I think this is something for _all_ distributions around the world. If no one >intervenes, I try to talk to Edubuntu, Skolelinux, Ofset and other >Organisations. I think we should think about a central place for such things >like edu-software-reviews, curriculums and so on. >As most of the other plattforms also using a MediaWiki for storing their >Articles, we can just start on the openSUSE Wiki and migrate or just copy the >content to a "cross-plattform-education site" later. Great! - let me know if I can help. Ok Here are my suggestions for the template. I will be happy to help & go into more detail if needed on this thread (and will help definately operationally define them further on the wiki). =Name of the program = 1. Overview 1.1 History (if useful) 2. Reviewer type (parent, student, teacher, etc) (link to reviewer bio?) 3. Features 3.1 Application area 3.2 Standards supported 3.3 Target population 3.4 Pre-requisite skills 3.5 Assessment functions (if useful) 3.6 Accessibility & Usability 4. Alternative applications and forks 5. Development 6. Security remarks 7. References/ Notes 8. External links 9. See also At some point, I think it would be good to include a way to categorize based on learning theory approach (constructivist, behaviorist, etc.) but that will have to wait. Cheers, Sarah -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-edu] question about reviewing apps
by Sarah 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Hello, I have a few questions about reviewing educational applications for the project. What information and format are most valuable in a review? Are there any examples or templates I should follow? Where should I post my feedback? Thanks, Sarah -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org

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Re: [opensuse-edu] New Volunteer
by James Tremblay 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Welcome Sarah, I hope you have signed up for an account on opensuse.org and will add some discussion to the wiki. OpenSUSE has some really great programmers associatted with it and our detailed ideas can help drive new modules and functions. The more we tell Novell what we need the more we might get. I'm not feeling well today so I'm not as bubbly and reponsive as I can be. James >>> Sarah <srs5776(a)gmail.com> 3/13/2007 9:31 AM >>> Hello, My name is Sarah, I would like to get involved in the openSUSE for Schools project. I have experience teaching in elementary and high school exceptional student education (ESE) settings in Florida since 1998. My educational background includes: A dual BA degree in k-12 Elementary & Specific Learning Disabilities, a MA in Varying Exceptionalities, and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction. My academic research interests include: innovation and change in teacher preparation, understanding teaching and learning from a systems viewpont, and inclusion & transition issues for students with disabilities. In my work life, I am a project coordinator of three grants at the University of South Florida. I have been using linux now for about 1 year and am working on a personal goal of becoming a developer to build oss tools for teachers, especially those who work in ESE. At this time, I can bring multiple perspectives to different aspects of this project and hope that you all will feel free to call on me for anything that I might be able to help you with. I would like to volunteer to assist this project by: -serving on the governing board, -cataloging info on edu software -testing & writing reviews of educational packages Some things I think I could provide ideas for would be: an IEP module, an e-portfolio system, classroom management tools, and tools for teachers doing action research. I hope that my interests will fit with the project and that I can contribute. My schedule gets hectic sometimes, but I love this kind of thing and look forward to helping out. Sarah -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org

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[opensuse-edu] New Volunteer
by Sarah 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

Hello, My name is Sarah, I would like to get involved in the openSUSE for Schools project. I have experience teaching in elementary and high school exceptional student education (ESE) settings in Florida since 1998. My educational background includes: A dual BA degree in k-12 Elementary & Specific Learning Disabilities, a MA in Varying Exceptionalities, and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction. My academic research interests include: innovation and change in teacher preparation, understanding teaching and learning from a systems viewpont, and inclusion & transition issues for students with disabilities. In my work life, I am a project coordinator of three grants at the University of South Florida. I have been using linux now for about 1 year and am working on a personal goal of becoming a developer to build oss tools for teachers, especially those who work in ESE. At this time, I can bring multiple perspectives to different aspects of this project and hope that you all will feel free to call on me for anything that I might be able to help you with. I would like to volunteer to assist this project by: -serving on the governing board, -cataloging info on edu software -testing & writing reviews of educational packages Some things I think I could provide ideas for would be: an IEP module, an e-portfolio system, classroom management tools, and tools for teachers doing action research. I hope that my interests will fit with the project and that I can contribute. My schedule gets hectic sometimes, but I love this kind of thing and look forward to helping out. Sarah -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-edu+unsubscribe(a)opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-edu+help(a)opensuse.org

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