FLOSS Desktop Refurbishment and Distribution

Version 30.2 by Administrator on 2016/04/05 11:29

Description
- Background
Working Group Mission
Alignment to OSI Mission
Communications
Resources
Deliverables
Target Completion Date
Ongoing OSI Support
Activities and Outcomes
- Community
  - Documentation
Press / Community

Start date: January 2015

Working Group C0-Chairs: Katie Osterdahl & Kristopher Navratil

Working Group Sponsor: Patrick Masson

OSI General Manager: Patrick Masson

Initial members: James Derby, Robert Horan, Patrick Masson, Kristopher Navratil & Katie Osterdahl

Description

Each year school districts across the United States discard thousands of computers as the hardware moves off of commercial service warranties (typically after three or four years) or are no longer capable of running the latest proprietary operating systems and desktop applications. The majority of these computers are still functional (i.e. not broken or damaged). At the same time, many schools are looking for opportunities to increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) within their curricula. The availability of surplus equipment and FLOSS software provides a unique opportunity for schools, teachers and students to learn about computer hardware and software.

The FLOSS Desktop Refurbishment and Distribution working group will develop a program and resource guideline for creating student workshops (school clubs, groups, etc.) serving K-12 and potentially the broader community (senior citizens, libraries, community groups, etc.). These workshops will be open to school children and run by their faculty and/or community mentors in cooperation with their schools, providing access to a variety of project-based learning activities, including:

Hardware refurbishment: Students will rebuild and bring to operational condition decommissioned computers from local school districts.
Software Administration: Students will install and configure FLOSS software: operating systems and various desktop applications (LibreOffice, GIMP, etc.).
Mentorship: Students will develop a curriculum and teach "desktop literacy" to their peers and other members of the community using the refurbished FLOSS computers. After completion of the course, the participants will be able to take the computer home.
Peer Support Center: Students will create, manage and operate a "help desk" providing those who complete the course and using the refurbished computers a resource for ongoing support.

Background

The Open Source Computer Club (OSCC) began as Schodack School District in the Fall of 2014 with an academic go of extending exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to students. The club took advantage of existing initiatives within the district, specifically the creation of an incubator program that invited local technology start-ups to move into district facilities. Schodack has been very progressive in extending partnerships to the community in order to cultivate partnerships that extend educational opportunities to students as well as professional development for staff. As a result of the districts new approach, a Chris Olsen, a Schodack Board of Education member, wrote to compliment the districts innovative approach to teaching and learning through partnerships with the community and the OSCC specifically:

I had a meeting with the [University at Albany] Provost’s office this morning, they were looking for some help from me a with a new degree program in computer engineering beginning in the fall of 2015. [The campus] has partnered with industry and they have helped us design the program so that graduates are trained and ready for what the job market needs. Incoming 2015 freshman accepted into this program will have specific courses they will need to take, including an introductory course in building a simple computer, and then will matriculate into the degree once we have the final accreditation.

I mention this because of what we are doing at the middle school with Open [Source] Software, and what I hope will continue to be developed further and expanded into other Maple Hill grade levels. This is exactly what the job market is looking for; employees who are not just programmers or technicians, but who can walk the line between the two disciplines.

Once again I applaud how Schodack is pioneering education, and finding creative ways to utilize our space while simultaneously exposing our children to so many different opportunities, leading to a more well-rounded education and possibly some career choices they might not have ever considered.

So now I will add, as promised, KUDOS to you and your staff!!!

Best,
Chris
Schodack CSD Board of Education &
Director of Technical Services
College of Arts and Sciences
University at Albany

Working Group Mission

Initially, provide Schodack School District's (the reference implementation) with professional development, educational programs and support services related to FLOSS for faculty, students and or staff.
Create opportunities for districts in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) using existing and low cost, low barrier resources.
Based on the initial activity and lessons learned through the Schodack Schools, document the program, develop resources and promote awareness for other districts across the U.S.
Extend the awareness of FLOSS and the OSI within K-12 education and the institutions that support it.
Create opportunities for regional "OSI Centers of Interest" to extend the OSI mission and resources.

Alignment to OSI Mission

In line with the OSI mission, raise the awareness and adoption of open source and build bridges between open source communities.

Communications

The group will primarily communicate via the working group wiki page and related discussion forum.

If you have questions about the group, please contact Patrick Masson, the sponsor or Katie Osterdahl & Kristopher Navratil, the working group co-chairs.

Resources

Use of the OSI wiki to document our work and communicate through development.
Communications through OSI channels (press releases, blog posts, tweets, etc.) related to the working group's activities.

Deliverables

Press release explaining the OSI sponsored initiative.
Program/resource guide for developing local FLOSS student groups / clubs based on the Schodack School District model.
1. Hardware resource guide (how to obtain and manage donated equipment)
2. Staffing (recommendations for teachers, aids, volunteers required to support students and projects)
3. Policies (issues to be aware of and address for establishing and running the program).
4. Learning objectives (goals for student learning through the project)
5. Schedule (recommended topics, activities, etc. toward learning objectives).

Target Completion Date

Program/resource guide: June 1, 2015 with annual renewal

Ongoing OSI Support

It is expected that once the resources have been developed and distributed the working group can be dissolved. However, as the Schodack student group is expected to continue, and new districts may choose to participate, additional work may be undertaken in maintaining the documentation and updating materials based on ongoing practice, lessons learned and new inputs.

Activities and Outcomes

Community

Name	Affiliation	Role	Contact	Comments
Internal
Kristopher Navratil	Schodack Middle School	Technology Teacher & Club Advisor	knavratil@schodack.k12.ny.us	Direct participation (teaching, mentorship) with students, program administration.
Matthew LaClair	Schodack CSD	Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds	mlaclair@schodack.k12.ny.us	Support services and administration.
Robert Horan	Schodack CSD	Superintendent of Schools	rhoran@schodack.k12.ny.us	Support services and administration.
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National