Teaching Linux in SE Asia
From SPARK
Contents |
Brief Summary
Training in editing using Write and Audacity on a Linux system.
Introduction
Legal copies of the popular Microsoft Windows operating system are difficult to find where I live in SE Asia. When asked to provide a month of practicum experience for a national student, I decided to evaluate the use of Suse 9.2 Linux at the same time. Suse Linux can be freely distributed and used within our organization. The target task is audio editing with a side benefit of learning a new operating system.
Key Factors
What Was Done
We set up two computers running Suse 9.2 Linux, one in my office and the other at the student’s dorm. After loading Audacity, an audio editing program, I then gave the install DVD and root password to the student with instructions to “have a look and load whatever software you think looks interesting.” He loaded the graphics programs and a few others on his own.
We spent time learning the basics of audio editing. My student is fairly knowledgeable with computers. I let him learn on his own by asking questions or giving him a task then letting him work it out. He was also tasked with translating an AIDS story into his native language and used Open Office as his text editor.
In addition to audio editing, we created master CDs, and from these, master cassettes for duplication.
Results
The student was able to edit audio files and learn about basic computer system operation. He had no difficulty switching from familiar Microsoft Word to the Linux Open Office Write text editor. He edited material from which we created a script, recorded the story, and then mastered a CD.
One day he came in and said he had applied the knowledge he had gained using Linux to a problem a friend was having with Windows XP. He stated that the exposure to Linux enabled him to find a solution to his friend’s operating system problem.
This student works with graphic design. He was impressed with the graphics programs on the Linux operating system and desires to add these to his arsenal of programs for graphic design.
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