2008/8/19 Karsten 'quaid' Wade <kwade(a)redhat.com&gt;: The idea that immediately popped into my head: Well in the 'obviously less money' front that means this has to be more regionalized, as I imagine travel and lodging are the major expenses. You could hold a 'regional' workshop invite teachers to it - partner with a local LUG to show off open source. Maybe setup an impromptu lab. Perhaps we don't even term it as a open source workshop - but more of a technology workshop. As part of the "showing off" hold up some examples like Marcelo Tossati, Sarath Lakshman, and Ian Weller hopefully to open their eyes to what kind of opportunities are available to people (even high school kids) who are motivated to get involved and learn. But really I'd like to know what the end goals you are seeking. I understand that you have said that you want to bring more open source to educators - but I guess why is the question? Are we looking to get them to show off open source, become users of OSS? Are we looking to make them into Robby Workmans - teachers by day and packagers by night? Or are we trying to get them to reveal (or open their class to us so that we can) open source to their students. Or all of the above? (and if it's all of the above, what's the primary target among those?) For one I didn't come away with the impression that the teacher had a greater appreciation for open source software or even knew what it was, despite the fact that she was inevitably making use of it. I can't imagine that a teacher (or anyone else) would want to spend a day listening to a sales pitch (even if the item was free as in beer), or even propaganda. So my second question is - what's the demonstrable benefit for them? Especially if they are not teaching something related to computers? Google said if you attend you will learn technology that's current and hip - and you'll take away technology that will make your life more productive, improve your understanding of the technology your students are using, and possibly give you something that you can show off to your students. What's the takeaway statement from what Fedora would provide. I am asking that not to be difficult, but I think we often get so used to showing off 'cool stuff' to technophiles, geeks and Linux-lovers that we lose sight of the fact that just because it's cool to us doesn't mean that others will even care - even if they should.

2008/8/19 Karsten 'quaid' Wade <kwade(a)redhat.com&gt;: As a follow up on this I talked with a teacher or two. They drug me down several rabbit trails - but finally I think I grabbed something useful. You explain F/LOSS in a way that benefits them first - as your introduction. One of the teachers I talked with pays a monthly or yearly membership fee to several websites that provide educational materials. From daily worksheets to what is essentially a datasheet. So while there is nothing wrong with that - why not offer them collaborative space somewhere - perhaps a small wiki instance and let them build their own material collaboratively. I'll admit I haven't though this out to its logical conclusion - but once you get them to understand the concept it would appear to be easier to communicate.