Hello Shakthi: Attn.: parthan, kenneth, sujith, bharathi, raman
As you are aware, one of the activities of NRCFOSS is to promote FOSS
elective for B.E.(CSE), B.Tech.(IT) and MCA students. Towards this we have
designed two elective papers -- one on the basics and other on Enterprise
applications. Jaya Engg final year students from CSE and IT opted for the
elective during the last summer and Kumaran told me that all of them have
cleared. During the current semester, they want to offer it to MCA -- in
fact both the electives. Their M.Sc students are also interested. We should
appreciate the efforts by Kumaran, Janarthanan and their colleagues (and the
management and students).
Raman and Bharathi had addressed about 40-50 lecturers from different
colleges during the training program we conducted for Elective during last
month. Many of them are keen to conduct LDDs / seminars in their colleges.
We are also trying to set up FOSS labs in all the 50 colleges under our
program (some like Jaya, RMK, Kongu, Sona, Thyagaraja, etc., already have
fully functional FOSS labs).
In my discussions with Raman and Bharathi, we had found merit in one day
training of the students and enabling them to conduct the LDD later
(basically the Arunai experience). I would suggest that you please add
something for students who are not from core computer branches, esp.
Mechanical and ECE. At least one stall could contain demo / exposition on
QCad, Calculix, Scilab, etc. Senthil Anand and Sujith from our group have
done some work on it. Some of you could come over here on a mutually
convenient day and we can fix up a set. Or else, Parthan (who is already in
with us) can take the lead in this guided by Kenneth.
We can work out a basic structure training and LDD / workshop / half-a-day
seminar. I would suggest that we focus more on the potential use of FOSS and
the various application areas, the opportunity for collaborative development
(and, forgive me, less on the history and philosophy). We could think of a
joint msg to the colleges that ILUG-C and NRCFOSS / AU-KBC are joining to
HELP THE COLLEGES TO ORGANIZE the LDD / seminar. If feasible, I can discuss
with Prof Krishanan (our Director) to transmit the msg thru our Teachers
Mailing group and also put in NRCFOSS portal.
I could then implore the colleges to (a) conduct at least one LDD / lecture
related to FOSS during July-Aug-Sep ; (b) the colleges which have LUG shoud
organize a lecture for the benefit of nearby schools on the Software Freedom
Day ; (c) all the colleges should have a local LUG -- inaugurated on the
LDD/Seminar or on SF Day.
Raman and I had discussed about zone-wise LUGs with apex members interacting
with ILUG-C. This is not to restrict membership, but to co-ordinate and
organize local events more effectively.
Thanks and best wishes, Srinivasan.
