Thanks for all of the useful feedback. Some of the constraints which were not clear from my original post are that the venue specifically requested that programming be included. I don't see that as a bad thing as long as the programming is a couple of lightweight exercises. I am also glad to see that there is some healthy discussion of the language choice which might indicate that there is not necessarily a best answer.
The library venue does not have UNIX machines available at this time. Plus, I would like the participants to have easy access to the environment outside of the Library's operating hours. Maybe a solution is to give participants options. The Live CDs sounds interesting, but then all configuration is lost, I think, when the CD is rebooted? VMs are also a good alternative, but in the past, the environment was sluggish and peripherals were sometimes a challenge. I am still not convinced that $350 will be a major obstacle. I have spent that just on texts years ago, but realistically cost is a major concern. Perhaps the best feedback I might get are from potential participants. Maybe I can get some relevant surveys going to help answer some of these questions for our specific venue. Your feedback is really helping to target the potential survey questions, I think, although that was not my original intent. Thank you so much for all the great feedback. It is really helpful I think. Regards, marc -- Marc Ronell, PhD CSE, PE EE gpg pub key 42E39C86 on http://pgp.mit.edu/ http://pgp.mit.edu/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x304A2DED42E39C86 -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: https://lists.debian.org/87fv4zv2rw.fsf@cadence.glidepath.invalid
