Week-Long Free-Software Class for Kids?

mmol_6453 asks: "I have the opportunity to submit a plan for a week-long class about 'Alternative Operating Systems' to our local community college's Computer Camp. The students will be aged 8-16. We've had classes attended by students who used Linux, but we've never set up a class with alternatives as options. We've found that students in this age range, when interested in the material, can absorb a great deal of information in a short time. This means there's a lot of potential to teach them about Linux, *BSD, and open-source. We often get extremely bright students here, the kind who are likely to go out and earn $80,000/yr in a post-90s economy. Some of them are even on Slashdot. I want to give the rest a boost in the right direction."

"Considering that the great deal of material to choose from, I need to ask the Slashdot Community its advice:

1. Do they need to know how to install the OS first, or should I let them look that up on their own while I make them power-users?
2. What distributions of Linux and BSD should they be first introduced to? (I'm only familiar with Debian, and I know virtually nil about *BSD.)
3. Initially, do they need to be more adept at the GUI, or do they first need to know how to use the shell?
4. Should I give away Debian CDs no-questions-asked, or should I talk with the almighty Parents so little Daniel doesn't install Linux over Dad's 'work computer.'
5. Are there any other key issue I need to think about?"

Comments

Devil's Advocate

[Limburgher]

I love your idea. Wish I'd had this opportunity as a kid. But what exactly is the QUESTION in this particular ASK SLASHDOT? Just curious, not trolling. :)

Re:CLI

[Per Wigren]

What I learned from starting on a CLI was that if you type everything correctly, nothing happens. You only get feedback if you do something wrong. This was not only excellent preparation for a career in computers but also for dealing with women...

Well, for some things, if you do them right, you'll get a hell of a response also...