OpenSourceLearningProjects@NetGeners.Net

                     

Conceptual Framework

v.081031

FREE / OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE (F/OSS) PROJECTS

FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

Course: Software Engineering, Year 2008-2009 Lecturer I. Stamelos

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Greece

Objectives: ✔ To apply an open approach to Software Engineering that allows taking advantage of the opportunities the web provides✔ To bring together students from different institutions, free learner outside of formal education and open source communities✔ To allow students and free learner to learn with practitioners of open source projects by providing an easy entrance for the first and low burdens for the later...✔ And therefore opening up education and blending formal with informal learning

OpenSourceLearningProjects@NetGeners.NetOpenSourceLearningProjects@NetGeners.Net

✔ It is about finding new ways on how to organize collaborative learning, sharing and knowledge production within a participatory web 2.0 world using technology for the sake of its usefulness and bringing together the various stakeholders

✔ It is not about designing complex socio-technological systems for the sake of technology hoping that it would become a killer application to revolutionize education as we know it

✔ The idea is to start simple, to see what works out and what not, and to develop it further step by step based on the experiences gathered

What it is about and what it is not aboutWhat it is about and what it is not about

Stakeholders & places – simplified overviewStakeholders & places – simplified overview

● Learn together with other students, free learners outside of formal education and enthusiasts from open source projects● Create your own learning projects or to join into the learning projects of others ● Learn from reviewing and studying the learning project activities, outcomes and presentations of the other learning projects● A collaborative learning experience – get in touch with peers and practitioners within a real life situation● Gain exposure to the various conceptual issues through collaboration with each other● Socialize and experience learning within a joyful and interesting environment ● Do something meaningful by contributing to actual open source projects, gain repute and expertise

What learners can expect?What learners can expect?

● To learn how to update your skills and knowledge self-dependently within a lifelong learning context● To know how to take full advantage of the web to support your own learning, to collaborate with others and use the tools required to do so● Be capable to find sources at the web and to critically evaluate and analyse them● Be aware about available free online and desktop software solutions that facilitate learning, knowledge exchange and collaboration● Know how to find online communities, to engage in them for personal support, and to and understands the way they function● In a nutshell: To gain today's required soft skills; like to communicate, collaborate and engage in discussions with others, defend your own work and thoughts and present them, know how to manage a project, or how to resolve conflicts

Soft Skills learners' might acquire as a side effectSoft Skills learners' might acquire as a side effect

● Share the burden of newbie integration to the open source world as a joint venture of higher education institutions and open source projects, and● Therefore build up a synergy of scale● Identify potential contributors early● Provide learners with practical tasks that are of interest for both sides: the project and the learner (do something meaningful)● Help learners to learn by contributing to a given project at the same time

What's in it for open source projects?What's in it for open source projects?

● A richer learning experience for your students ● The opportunity to create a learning community, which is not possible within closed traditional educational settings● To establish a learning ecosystem that is continuously improving and growing in a natural evolutionary way● To assure that subjects meet actual demands, curriculum is up to date and courses are taught in the best way possible (double feedback loops) ● To work together with fellow educational institutions and open source communities and thereby sharing the burden of developing such novel educational provision● In the long tale: To establish new revenue models, by e.g. providing free learners outside of formal education with assesment and certification options against fees (as said, the long taile)

What's in it for educational institutions?What's in it for educational institutions?

Tools & spaces – simplified overviewTools & spaces – simplified overview

1st You might register at the NetGeners.Net side.

2nd You now might take a look at the directory to check about existing learning

projects that are of your interest.

3rd (Option A): If you found a learning project that meets your interest you might

add it to your favourites. Afterwards you might contact the project team and ask

how and where to contribute to it best.

3rd (Option B): There are no existing learning projects you are interested in. If this

is the case just register your own learning project within the area of your interest

4th Start working on the learning project(s) as a joint or individual undertaking

You might also be interested in a more detailed quick start guide at:

http://www.slideshare.net/andreasmeiszner/opensourcelearningprojects-

netgenersnet-presentation

Quick start guide for learners:Quick start guide for learners:

● A. Get in contact with us to discuss about your particular expectations and needs● B. Just go ahead, give it a try, see how it works and help us developing it further

Quick start guide for educators & open source projects:Quick start guide for educators & open source projects:

Find out more & participate!

Visit us at: www.netgeners.net

Contact:

A.Meiszner@open.ac.uk