Some of the discussion last night was about helping students get into computers and programming. I have no experience with this but I note that in the footer of a recent post to the Humbug list @mcrilly is involved in developing resources in this area at Upload Academy. It may be worthwhile checking that out.
As far as reconditioning computer hardware for personal or student use I am not aware of any Brisbane equivalent of the Canberra Tech Shed. There may be something as I am a relatively recent immigrant.
I am indeed building an appliance based on open-source software called The Lab. I have a website you can check out here: https://thelab.upload.academy/ – just note it’s a little out of date (just a tiny bit), and not a page I’ve finished working on yet.
That looks incredibly cool! Do you need beta testers? (Can I play with the toys, please?)
Also, a shoutout to Substation33. They not only recycle machines for students who may need low cost computers, but recycle electronic components from e-waste into other projects such as PowerWells (Home solar batteries and lights for remote communities) and flood warning signs you may have seen around south east Queensland. I’m definitely not doing them justice with this brief description and they’re worth checking out.
@mcrilly, the Lab sounds like it will offer training in a number of information technologies that are both relevant and relatively new. You cover many areas about which I would like to know more. My current approach to learning IT, however, follows my traditional approach. This is best described as the “Oh look, Squirrel!” pedagogy.
I was not quite clear at whom the course material was being directed. You mention high school students but many of the areas would seem very challenging for a diverse group of high school students. Many of these topics would also not be a focus for university CS students.
I wondered if TAFE information technology certificate students would benefit most. They are keen to develop skills in the areas you offer but I am not sure how that would dovetail with their existing courses. There would certainly be some synergies.
Like @Belfry I would be interested in helping you with this undertaking. I am only an amateur, but a keen one. Let us know what you think.
You might consider the topics I’ve listed as being way beyond high-school level, but the latest Digital Solutions curriculum is quite demanding, even for an elective. If a student selects the subject then they’re challenged on a wide range of advanced topics such as Linux, networking, cyber security, programming, SQL, databases, and more.
The appliance really works for anyone, to be honest. It’s not limited to high-schools at all.
I’d certainly be interested in learning more about it and seeing if I can do any of the challenges.
I have no real knowledge of computer / IT education in schools. My daughter completed a NSW TAFE Level 4 Course about 10 years ago but that is about the extent of my knowledge of formal computer education.
Interestingly at the last Humbug meeting @jdownie and I attended, in the room next door was a group of 40 high school girls learning some basic python programming. One of the humbugger’s daughter was in the group and he said she was in the advanced class. (I suspect she had already had some private tuition at home.)
It is no surprise to anyone here that some students get heavily in computing as teenagers. Twenty years ago, as the @techman knows, Jared was a local high school student who attended our Linux User Group meeting. One evening he famously hacked into the @techman’s computer while he was presenting on wifi security and brought up a shell that read “Terry is a w@nk@r!”
Even worse, he hacked into the pc I was using and swapped over my mouse buttons in the middle of my demo. I was totally flummoxed and had no idea what was going wrong.
Looking back, the most socially unfriendly thing I ever did at his age was to build a transmitter that broadcast wide band interference at highschool, to disrupt whatever the school was making us watch. I can’t even remember what that was, but I remember the weak herringbone pattern my unit caused on their TV.
