Sameer, I remember being a student like it was yesterday. The thing is, you have classes like this one that Mel Chua pointed out awhile back: <a href="http://csci462-2011.wikispaces.com/">http://csci462-2011.wikispaces.com/</a> I looked at some of their blogs and some of them were struggling with pretty basic stuff like how to put in a toolbar, etc. They were using my book as a reference and still didn't quite get it. If I had been able to help them (not do the work, but point them in the right direction) I would have. The kind of stuff we'd like for them to do is the same kind of thing future employers are going to want, for the same reasons. I really think we have something to offer them. Once they are part of the community they may find that they like it. James Simmons <div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 12:50 PM, Sameer Verma <<a href="mailto:sverma@sfsu.edu">sverma@sfsu.edu</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;"> <div class="im">On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 3:27 AM, Gonzalo Odiard <<a href="mailto:gonzalo@laptop.org">gonzalo@laptop.org</a>> wrote: > Yes. > Also, we must recommend working more in the open, I don't know why, but in > particular students in universities > are very reluctant to integrate to the community, and are happy dropping a > "finished" product without interaction. > > Gonzalo > </div>A lot of it has to do with motivation. Students typically pick up a project because they have a requirement, and may be passionate about the work at that moment, but needs of looking for a job, working on other course assignments etc. will quickly supersede their original project direction. The reluctance of integrating with the community stems from the requirements of the project (schedule/deliverables are course driven) and a usual lack of understanding of how FOSS projects work. Once the university requirement is satisfied, their motivation to continue typically goes away. However, if we are able to inculcate in these students, a desire for working on these projects while they are in the course, and integrate them into the community, then there is hope of continued work. cheers, Sameer -- Dr. Sameer Verma, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Information Systems Director, Campus Business Solutions San Francisco State University <a href="http://verma.sfsu.edu/" target="_blank">http://verma.sfsu.edu/</a> <a href="http://opensource.sfsu.edu/" target="_blank">http://opensource.sfsu.edu/</a> <a href="http://cbs.sfsu.edu/" target="_blank">http://cbs.sfsu.edu/</a> <a href="http://is.sfsu.edu/" target="_blank">http://is.sfsu.edu/</a> <div><div></div><div class="h5"> > On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 5:37 AM, James Simmons <<a href="mailto:nicestep@gmail.com">nicestep@gmail.com</a>> wrote: >> >> I like the idea of giving certificates, but I think we should take the >> opportunity to enforce some simple best practices, like requiring a toolbar, >> requiring Share and Keep buttons to be hidden if they aren't used, requiring >> a proper icon for the Activity, etc. >> >> It might be nice to have two levels of certificate. Since shared >> Activities are more difficult to develop, maybe we have a separate >> certificate for those. >> >> James Simmons >> >> >> On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 2:53 AM, Martin Dengler <<a href="mailto:martin@martindengler.com">martin@martindengler.com</a>> >> wrote: >>> >>> On Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 06:11:31PM -0400, Chris Ball wrote: >>> > Hi, >>> > >>> > On Tue, Jul 12 2011, Walter Bender wrote: >>> > > Can we discuss this? I think it would be good to have a certificate >>> > > program of some sort. I image that if we get sign-off by 2+ >>> > > experienced developers, we should be willing to award some sort of >>> > > certificate (perhaps we can get the design team to work something >>> > > up.) >>> > >>> > Perhaps we could tie the certificate-awarding to posting an activity on >>> > ASLO and getting a review from someone on the Activity Team or >>> > something? >>> >>> Perhaps even prominent reviewers on ASLO (are there any?). Either way >>> it's more sustainable and honest than herding developers to sign off >>> on certificates. >>> >>> > Thanks, >>> > >>> > - Chris. >>> >>> Martin >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) >>> <a href="mailto:IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org">IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org</a> >>> <a href="http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep" target="_blank">http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep</a> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) >> <a href="mailto:IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org">IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org</a> >> <a href="http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep" target="_blank">http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep</a> > > > _______________________________________________ > IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) > <a href="mailto:IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org">IAEP@lists.sugarlabs.org</a> > <a href="http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep" target="_blank">http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep</a> > </div></div></blockquote></div>