Hi All,
Last sunday, i gave a seminar to 3 engg students on Web server, MySQL
server, PHP, and some basics of web programming, like sending form variables
procesing it in server using PHP, updating mysql and retrieving from it.
The students were very encouraged at this, and in the evening they called me
and said, "We are very interested" and they started working on a sample
project for resume/profile management". And i am sure, in their final year
project, they would be able to do a project on their own.
I also gave them the demonstration of how to install a typical PHP
application like Mediawiki, forum, wordpress blogs etc. But more than that,
i gave them an idea, on how to bring those softwares in to common use in
their college. I have already expressed in this ILUG group. I will again
recall it below.
1. To implement Knowledge Management Portal in their college using Media
wiki. I gave them an idea of how easily we can create new pages, and manage
our data, and they are very much interested.
2. To implement an announcement portal using wordpress, for every
department. This announcement portal would be used to publish all circulars
issued by the principals and HOD.
They would be discussing with their HOD and staffs and get back to me by
this week.
One thing i observed from this experience is that there are enough students
who are very much interested to learn. The problem is that there is
complete lack of guidance and support from knowledged quarters. Without
these basic knowledge they felt handicapped and could not implement any of
their ideas even if they are very much interested. When i sat down with
them, they came with lot of ideas, and i just told them how easily we can
implement those with WAMP/LAMP tools.
I would like to bridge this knowledge divide, and i am thinking of how to
interlink those industry professionals and academic students.
My goal is to implant the basic knowledge to as much students as possible,
so that they would be able to implement their ideas. And it should be a
participative mode. The three students whom i taught would be further
teaching another 5 students (of different college) in the coming week. I
also want to make sure, that not any single college exploits the knowledge
acquired by these students. For this, the solution is to diffuse this
knowledge to other colleges, and enable inter college participation on this.
I also suggested them to add Open Source concepts and particularly on FOSS
tools in the symposium that they are going to do.
Some suggestions:
1. What i have done is very basic thing, that need not require any expertise
or great skills. However, to actually get a momentum, we need to establish
knowledge pockets, on advanced technicalities like Building a Linux Distro
from source, knowledge on compiling methods, linux programming etc.
2. We can evolve a list of basic skills needed for the students, and
volunteer to teach them at some selected colleges. Once a team is formed,
then those students should volunteer to teach their juniors and other
college students. This will create innumerable opportunities and would
unleash the creativity of young minds. Imagine, if atleast few in each
college knows how to build a linux distro, we would have atleast a dozen
customized distro in india.
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I am sorry if i am too impractical. But i just shared some of my vision
with you all.
Regards,
Senthil
