![Page 1: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software
within Academic Courses
Joanmarie Diggs
![Page 2: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Topics
● Win-Win Solutions that Don't JustWork™
● Putting the Professors in the Driver's Seat
● Building a Better MouseTrap
● Getting Involved
![Page 3: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
`
Free Software + Academia
A Win-Win Solutionthat Doesn't JustWork™
![Page 4: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
4
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Academic Institutions
• Unite theory and practice
• Provide real-world, marketable skills
• Be seen as “cool” and innovative
![Page 5: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
5
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Free Software Communities
• More users
• More contributors
• More people who know about Free Software
![Page 6: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
6
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Corporate Contributors
• More, and more-qualified, job applicants
• Get to be known by the candidates they want
• Work with candidates before hiring them
![Page 7: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
7
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
It Should JustWork™
• Everyone wins
• GNOME welcomes newcomers
• GNOME succeeds with student contributors:
✔ Google Summer of Code
✔ Outreach Program for Women
✔ HFOSS
![Page 8: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
8
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
(Where are all the professors???)
![Page 9: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Barriers to Entry
1. Unfamiliar tools
2. Undetermined projects
3. Unidentified resources
4. Unanswered questions
5. Unforeseen obstacles
6. Unestablished curriculum
} Every semester!
![Page 10: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Root Causes● Semesters have a fixed schedule
● Courses have fixed learning outcomes
● Faculty are expected to be in control
● Academia is a closed culture
● Faculty have limited time to teach
● Research is seen as a “better investment”
![Page 11: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
`
The “Season of Code” Problem
A(nother) Win-Win Solutionthat Doesn't JustWork™
![Page 12: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
12
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
● Real needs
● Great ideas
● Enthusiasm
● Time
How Could It Possibly Fail?
● Supportive mentors
● Backing organizations
● Infrastructure
● Financial support
![Page 13: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
13
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
New A11y Project Outcomes
• GNOME Voice Control – Abandoned
• MouseTrap – Abandoned
• VizAudio – Abandoned
• Dots – Severely neglected
• Compiz eZoom – Severely neglected
• Vedics – Severely neglected
• Simon – Thriving
![Page 14: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
14
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Post-Mortem Results
• Students move on
• Accessibility is not “shiny”
• Accessibility is highly specialized
• Existing team members have full plates
• An entity to ensure continuity is essential
![Page 15: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
`
Outreach Program for Professors+ foss2serve
Putting Professors in the Driver's Seat
![Page 16: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
16
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Educate the Educators
● Community norms
● Communication tools
● Issue trackers
● Version control
• Build tools
• Patch creation
• Localization
• Releases
![Page 17: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
17
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Provide the Tools
• A module (new or existing)
• Infrastructure to maintain that module
• Ongoing mentorship
![Page 18: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
18
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Give Professors Ownership
• They set their road map (i.e. projects)
• They allocate their resources (i.e. students)
• They perform code review (i.e. assessment)
• They control their module (and their semester)
![Page 19: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
19
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Eliminate Barriers to Entry
1. Unfamiliar tools Steep learning curve
2. Undetermined projects
3. Unidentified resources
4. Unanswered questions
5. Unforeseen obstacles
6. Unestablished curriculum
![Page 20: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
20
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Academic Efforts
• TOS – teachingopensource.orgCommunity of academics and developers
• HFOSS – hfoss.orgHumanitarian-centered to attract more students
• foss2serve – xcitegroup.org/foss2serveNew NSF-funded series of projects
![Page 21: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
21
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
foss2serve's Main Goals
• Professional development for faculty in FOSS
• Small-group learning communities– Connecting academia with FOSS projects– Faculty become core participants– Creation and sharing of learning materials
• Increase student interest in computing
![Page 22: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
22
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
foss2serve's Participants
• Red Hat – POSSEFOSS immersion experience for instructors
• GNOME – Outreach Program for ProfessorsRamp-up and support for long-term participation
• (Your organization or institution here)
![Page 23: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
23
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Eliminate Barriers to Entry
1. Unfamiliar tools Steep learning curve
2. Undetermined projects
3. Unidentified resources
4. Unanswered questions
5. Unforeseen obstacles
6. Unestablished curriculum
![Page 24: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
24
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Project Goals• Financially self-sustaining
• Not limited to computer science
• International collaboration
• Professors mentor new professors
![Page 25: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
25
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
• Modules gain communities
• Modules become core GNOME
• Students remain as contributors
• Expands to include high schools
Project Goals (cont.)
![Page 26: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
`
The Pilot Program
Building a Better MouseTrap
![Page 27: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
27
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
MouseTrap
● Standalone GNOME application
● Mouse control via webcam head tracking
● Written in Python, based on OpenCV
● Created during GOPA: 2008
● Contributed to during HFOSS: 2009
● Last non-localization code change: 2010
![Page 28: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
28
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Short-Term Goals
• Make the module GNOME 3 compatible
• Define the module's road map
• Establish expertise in academic participants
• Explore/create course material for student involvement
![Page 29: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
29
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Medium-Term Goals
• Regular releases
• Significant contribution by students
• Incorporation of the module into courses
• Increased visibility of students participation
![Page 30: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
30
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Long-Term Goals
• Module being included as GNOME “feature”
• Users actively participating
• Students and faculty doing core development
• Many disciplines and institutions contributing
![Page 31: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
`Getting Involved
![Page 32: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
32
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
Program Participants Sought
• Computer Science
• Technical Writing
• HCI, Usability
• Special Education
• Art, Graphics Design
• Foreign Language
• Marketing
• Others
![Page 33: Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic Courses (fOSSa 2012)](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081518/545358a3af795908308b567f/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
33
Facilitating Student Participation in Free Software within Academic CoursesJoanmarie Diggs | [email protected]
GNOME Accessibility Team Alejandro Piñeiro Joanmarie Diggs [email protected] [email protected]
Western New England University Heidi Ellis Herman L. Jackson [email protected] [email protected]
Drexel University Gregory Hislop Sean Goggins [email protected] [email protected]
Nassau Community College Darci Burdge Lori Postner [email protected] [email protected]