Jon Spriggs wrote: > I have forwarded the e-mail to the uk-hackspaces mailing list, as there are > several regional hackspaces across the UK (London, Birmingham, Manchester, > Liverpool, Leeds) who may be able to help - in some cases with venue and in > others with knowledge. >
[...] >useful for a few people just to run little local 'pilot' events, to see what the issues really are, and what seemed to work. I run a monthly Infopoint table (non trading) at the local computer fair with much FOSS information including Ubuntu. Local 'Ubuntu Clubs' would be useful, and I do not mean existing LUGs which are great for more serious users. They could be 'LUG Child' status, as long as it was ok to discuss lots of non technical things too. >I wondered if an >option to deal with this might be to offer a short series of evening >class at the local high school (many of which run 'recreational' evening >classes) I have talked to my local 'adult learning' person and it seems obvious that it is expected that the teachers/trainers are qualified as teachers with few exceptions. They tend to be employed from existing college staff, as part time, for example. The establishment. The person herself has a lifetime investment of Microsoft product knowledge with the consequent view of Free Software, and also, if her clients started to use Open Office, she would have to learn it all again. Not a motivator for her. Not only that but her clients literally all use Windows so the expectation for them is MS courses. Chicken and egg. It needs someone to break the cycle and take the lead, although it might be easier for this to be done outside of the established educational organisations. Unless you know of a politician or councillor or high ranking local gov official who already favours FOSS. >or approach the University of the Third Age This might be useful if it could be followed up. The U3A national magazine has had a number of letters favouring Ubuntu. I am in U3A in Bracknell. I run an online group for 'computers beyond beginners'. Not FOSS, just computers generally. An online group is pretty novel for U3a. The activities are traditionally sitting listening to a central speaker. However, I have to say that of the local membership of several hundred, my group has only a few members and 'online' seems to be a concept which has not yet caught on. I gave a talk on GNU/Linux and Ubuntu a while ago to the main computer group. Even group members would be unlikely to re install their (Windows) OS. With one or two exceptions in a group of around 30 members. I included a short video of Eben Moglen. One of the group commented Moglen was a 'rabid socialist'. Apart from ignorance, even sheer prejudice, there is strong inertia to continue with their existing OS whatever it is. There is, surprising to me, little motivation for many people I know, to move from Windows. However, as Ubuntu gains more coverage, including magazines on shelves, people will become aware it is a choice. Local Ubuntu Clubs sound like a good idea to me though. -- alan cocks Ubuntu user -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UKTeam/
