Re: [Fsuk-manchester] Ubuntu begginers guide, reply

[Simon Ward]

On Wed, Dec 01, 2010 at 12:22:49PM +0000, Mark Reynolds wrote:
> That sounds like a nice plan but I don't think it's very fair to throw
> people into a 1/2 hour philosophy talk first thing

I think the philosophy is important, but would probably make the first
session a 5-10 minute introduction.  Later, the philosophy can be
elaborated.

In my experience, you throw a load of the philosophy at people, you end
up saying it to the people already agreeing with it (preaching to the
converted).  What would be better is to introduce the philosophy first,
give some practical reasons for using Ubuntu/free software, and in no
particular order elaborate on both, demonstrating where applicable.

> I would combine this with the introduction to the software and show
> them how to do a few simple tasks,

I wouldn’t combine them, I would still talk about the philosophy
separately.  It’s important enough to be discussed on its own, and not
obscured in a discussion about something else.

> then let people loose on it. This way they can see how to do things
> they might already know how to do on other systems so that they're not
> sat in front of it wondering where to start.

I want both the technical benefits and freedoms to be covered, and one
should not swamp the other, both are vital.

Simon
-- 
A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a
simple system that works.—John Gall

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