[Linux-disciples] A Linux course

[Nirmal Trivedi]

> On that note, check out http://reg.ucsc.edu/soc/aci/winter2003/ling.html
> 
>     80G. Nature and Language of Computers (Introduction to Unix)
>     MWF 12:30–1:40pm
>     Classroom Unit I
>     Instructor: Geoffrey Pullum
>     E-mail: pullum at ling.ucsc.edu
>     Introduction to computing, the Internet, and the World Wide Web through
>     the language of the Unix operating system. Oriented to the beginner, the
>     course presupposes no previous acquaintance with any particular sort of
>     computer. It covers the basic concepts of text editing and formatting,
>     writing web pages in basic HTML, and promotes a rigorous understanding
>     of Unix commands and shell scripts. Views communication with a computer
>     as a matter of learning a few simple, though powerful, languages. (Also
>     offered as Computer Science 80G. Students may not receive credit for
>     both courses.)
>     Prerequisites: none.
>     General Education Code: T2 (Topical-Natural Sciences).
> 

This type of course sounds great. I would certainly take it, especially
if it met once a month or so for a few hours. Personally, I'm not too
interested in a course that focuses on how much better/efficient Linux
or Unix is compared to Windows, though it might be important to do this
as a teaching tool. I would much rather like to learn what steps an
experienced Linux might take in solving a series of the most common
problems associated with making a computer efficient for a user. In
other words, I'm interested in the kind of logic that underlies all of
decisions to use or not use a certain tool. For a first meeting, I would
be happy to have a "study sheet" that asks me to learn and memorize
several commands, components of a computer, etc. (i.e. a vocabulary). 

Perhaps this is not the best way to go about designing an intro course,
but it would certainly serve me well since it would be much more about a
structural understanding of the operating system than about shooting
down random problems as they come up. (Why do I think of Bush's "taking
down the structure of terror" here?!!).

--Nirmal