This space is devoted to the development of the FLOSS Desktop Refurbishment and Distribution project through Schodack School District.

Project Description

Student workshops run every other day (what days?) during 9th period (1:24pm - 2:05pm) at Maple Hill Middle School (basement workshop).

• Project provides district students access to a variety of project-based learning activities.
  • Hardware refurbishment: Students will rebuild and bring to operational condition local school districts' decommissioned computers.
  • Software Administration: Students will install and configure LUbuntu, add various desktop applications (LibreOffice, GIMP, etc.).
  • Mentorship: Students will develop a curriculum and teach a course on "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.
  • Manging a 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.
• Project provides opportunities for various undergraduate and graduate internships.
  • Informatics students interested in education;
  • Informatics students interested in community development;
  • Information Systems students interested in technology development.

Project Motivations and OSI Alignment
 1. Fulfill the Schodack School District's requirement for those using office space to donate professional development, educational or support services to faculty, students and or staff;
 2. To create a channel for local college/university internships to work on OSI operations, supplementing limited staffing and resources;
 3. develop a reference model for extending the OSI's reach through regional chapters/affiliates.
 4. In line with the OSI mission, raise the awareness and adoption of open source and build bridges between open source communities.