[mdlug] how would you teach a class?

[Robert Adkins]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org 
> [mailto:mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org] On Behalf Of John Wiersba
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 12:05 AM
> To: mdlug at mdlug.org
> Subject: Re: [mdlug] how would you teach a class?
> 
> You can't teach a class (properly) without knowing the target 
> audience.  Are they Windows programmers who want to learn 
> linux?  End-users who just want to connect to the internet 
> and email?  What is their background and skill level?  Do 
> they already have working linux machines or do they need help 
> getting started?  Etc/etc.
> 
> -- John
> 

	John speaks the truth.

	It is very important to know the audience before jumping out and
getting into things.

	Back when I was working dealer support at VWoA HQ, I started up a
Linux Study Group, we met once a week and the entire group was composed of
already technically skilled individuals.

	We started off with where to obtain a copy of Linux and performed an
install. During the install I covered the generally accepted practice of how
to partition the hard drive and why it is done that way. While the install
was continuing we discussed some of the technical merits of the operating
system, such as the impressive (even 10 years ago) memory management system,
the demarcation of rights between admin/user and the power available to
root, as well as the choice of a few different filesystems that are tuned to
provide the best performance for particular applications.

	The next session we dove right into the command line and I had
documents prepared covering the locations of configuration
files/binaries/libraries and why things were setup that way. It was
primarily about navigating, using Vim and briefly touched on hard/soft links
and the difference between those and the abomination that Windows calls a
"link". We also briefly discussed some security elements.

	Unfortunately for the study group, I was made an offer that I
couldn't refuse, for more money and direct control over the IT
Infrastructure of a growing company. So, the third session and any that
might have existed after that I just don't have information about. Since I
was the driving force that got that ball rolling, it's possible that the
study group evaporated shortly after I left.

	Anyway, knowing the audience is very important. Highly technically
skilled audiences can be taught at a significantly deeper level than
neophytes and also differently than even 1st or 2nd year computer science
students.

	-Rob