[NTLUG:Discuss] Linux Certification

[Mike Owens]

I agree. What I may not have emphasized is not a re-write of any of the current
documentation that is out there. It is all very good as we know, but more of a
pragamatic bootstrap that does as you sugested as well as perhaps lending a little
more order as well if possible.

Steve Baker wrote:

> Mike Owens wrote:
>
> > The problem I have had though in even trying to start such a project is in
> > narrowing down or even identifing a particular, clear-cut audience. Linux is
> > just so big, and you have novices that start in so many different places,
> > with so many different interests and abilities, as you do with experienced
> > people.
>
> One partial answer that might help to narrow down that wide spectrum of
> users is NOT to teach them how to do some specific task - but to teach
> them how to LEARN how to do any task.
>
> Point them to where man pages are, how to use GNU info documents, where
> the HOWTO's are, where there are vital chunks of documentation buried
> down in
> unexpected directories, when you might even need to consult comments
> in the source code, where to start looking for relevent Web sites,
> which news groups and mailing lists to subscribe to, how to find the
> archives
> of those lists. Tell them it's bad form to email Linus to ask how to
> print
> a file - but that it's perfectly OK to ask an appropriate list when all
> else
> fails and the question is on-topic.
>
> For example: I've been using UNIX for 25 years - but when I wanted to
> figure
> out the parameters I needed to give to the kernel sound module, I was
> suprised at the amount of time it took me to discover that it was in
> (of all places) /usr/src/linux/Documentation.
>
> Obviously this meta-knowledge isn't the entire answer. Obviously you
> have
> to be able to install Linux before you can read any of the man pages on
> how to install it. However, I think there is little point in teaching
> the
> minute subtleties of some particular argument of some specific command
> when
> it could (and probably will) change in the next release.
>
> Give a starving man a fish - or teach him how to fish?
>
> --
>
> Steve Baker                (817)619-2657 (Vox/Vox-Mail)
> Raytheon Systems Inc.      (817)619-2466 (Fax)
> Work: sjbaker at hti.com      http://www.hti.com
> Home: sjbaker1 at airmail.net http://web2.airmail.net/sjbaker1
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss