Re: [GRASS-dev] We need mentors for Google Code-In
Dear Anna, On Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 7:41 PM, Anna Petrášováwrote: > Hi Vero, > > On Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 11:24 AM, Veronica Andreo > wrote: > > Hey devs, > > > > As the subject reads: We need more mentors for Google Code-In :) > > > > GCI is a competition addressed to high-school students aged 13-17, as an > > introduction to the open source world. They are supposed to complete as > much > > tasks as possible to win the contest. These tasks should be short simple > > stuff (3-5 hours), but since they have to complete several to win, we > need > > to plan lots of them and be available to review what the students submit > > rather quickly, so they can start with a new one. For that reason, it is > > better if we are more mentors. > > > > Here is the GRASS wiki [0] with more details and a collection of ideas > for > > tasks that should then be further explained and developed in the format > of > > tasks. I think the ideas are nice and this could be a funny experience. > > Moreover, we could attract new generations and benefit from their > creativity > > ;) > > > > this is probably not very helpful response, but I am little bit > skeptical about this and maybe you can clarify some things. My main > problem is that GRASS is not the type of software you just start to > use and understand it right away. Even making useful screenshots > requires decent knowledge of the software and geospatial data/models. > Do you think these students have any ideas about GIS? I confess I > haven't spent much time thinking about this program yet, but I see a > lot of time spent by mentors defining precise tasks without too much > gain. I can see this could be useful for things like designing > promotional materials, but not much beyond that. But I am open to be > convinced otherwise. > > > I had the same doubts as you have, and I think only experience can give us the answer. I partly overcame my doubts talking to other organizations that run the code in. They suggested preparing some beginner tasks like - "Install the software following the instructions here XXX and make a screenshot" - "Follow this tutorial XXX and make a screenshot of the result" - "Prepare a video of 20 minutes, explaining how to get started with the software to your fellow GCI students" I think the more complicated is the software, the more work we need to prepare tasks that are approachable. The good news is that, after the first year, things get smoother, mentors learn a lot from the students, students prepare some good material that can be reused for next editions and also for promoting the software, and students often even come back to mentor other students. I have the feeling that if we never try, we never know how will end up.. ;-) -- Margherita Di Leo ___ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev
Re: [GRASS-dev] We need mentors for Google Code-In
Will do now :) I apologize in advance for double posting Vero 2017-10-05 23:35 GMT+02:00 Helmut Kudrnovsky: > Veronica Andreo wrote > > Hey devs, > > > > As the subject reads: We need more mentors for Google Code-In :) > > > > GCI is a competition addressed to high-school students aged 13-17, as an > > introduction to the open source world. They are supposed to complete as > > much tasks as possible to win the contest. These tasks should be short > > simple stuff (3-5 hours), but since they have to complete several to win, > > we need to plan lots of them and be available to review what the students > > submit rather quickly, so they can start with a new one. For that reason, > > it is better if we are more mentors. > > > > Here is the GRASS wiki [0] with more details and a collection of ideas > for > > tasks that should then be further explained and developed in the format > of > > tasks. I think the ideas are nice and this could be a funny experience. > > Moreover, we could attract new generations and benefit from their > > creativity ;) > > > > Thanks! > > > > Vero > > > > [0] https://grasswiki.osgeo.org/wiki/GRASS_GCI_Ideas_2017 > > to gather more interested mentors, maybe it's worth to broaden it by post > it > to also to the GRASS user ML, as not only code writing is needed. > > > > > - > best regards > Helmut > -- > Sent from: http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Grass-Dev-f3991897.html > ___ > grass-dev mailing list > grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org > https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev > ___ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev
Re: [GRASS-dev] We need mentors for Google Code-In
Veronica Andreo wrote > Hey devs, > > As the subject reads: We need more mentors for Google Code-In :) > > GCI is a competition addressed to high-school students aged 13-17, as an > introduction to the open source world. They are supposed to complete as > much tasks as possible to win the contest. These tasks should be short > simple stuff (3-5 hours), but since they have to complete several to win, > we need to plan lots of them and be available to review what the students > submit rather quickly, so they can start with a new one. For that reason, > it is better if we are more mentors. > > Here is the GRASS wiki [0] with more details and a collection of ideas for > tasks that should then be further explained and developed in the format of > tasks. I think the ideas are nice and this could be a funny experience. > Moreover, we could attract new generations and benefit from their > creativity ;) > > Thanks! > > Vero > > [0] https://grasswiki.osgeo.org/wiki/GRASS_GCI_Ideas_2017 to gather more interested mentors, maybe it's worth to broaden it by post it to also to the GRASS user ML, as not only code writing is needed. - best regards Helmut -- Sent from: http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Grass-Dev-f3991897.html ___ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev
Re: [GRASS-dev] We need mentors for Google Code-In
Veronica Andreo wrote > Hi Anna, > > thanks for your answer... I'll try to clarify as much as possible, though > I'm also rather new in the matter. @Madi & @Helli, please correct me if > I'm > wrong > > 2017-10-04 19:41 GMT+02:00 Anna Petrášová > kratochanna@ > : > >> Hi Vero, >> >> On Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 11:24 AM, Veronica Andreo > veroandreo@ > >> wrote: >> > Hey devs, >> > >> > As the subject reads: We need more mentors for Google Code-In :) >> > >> > GCI is a competition addressed to high-school students aged 13-17, as >> an >> > introduction to the open source world. They are supposed to complete as >> much >> > tasks as possible to win the contest. These tasks should be short >> simple >> > stuff (3-5 hours), but since they have to complete several to win, we >> need >> > to plan lots of them and be available to review what the students >> submit >> > rather quickly, so they can start with a new one. For that reason, it >> is >> > better if we are more mentors. >> > >> > Here is the GRASS wiki [0] with more details and a collection of ideas >> for >> > tasks that should then be further explained and developed in the format >> of >> > tasks. I think the ideas are nice and this could be a funny experience. >> > Moreover, we could attract new generations and benefit from their >> creativity >> > ;) >> >> this is probably not very helpful response, but I am little bit >> skeptical about this and maybe you can clarify some things. My main >> problem is that GRASS is not the type of software you just start to >> use and understand it right away. Even making useful screenshots >> requires decent knowledge of the software and geospatial data/models. >> > > I partially agree... if we compare GRASS today with GRASS some years ago, > I > think it has become more accessible to newcomers. However, it is not the > easiest and most straightforward GIS to start working with. Question for > us > could be how to make it friendlier... > > On the other hand, we are the ones defining how *decent* screenshots need > to be, for example. Do we want all these screenshots (just to grab one of > the ideas for tasks) to be highly visible in announcements or we are fine > with simple screenshots proving that they were able to install the > software, create a location and display a raster map with legend? The > first > would be extremely useful, we always need screenshots for announcements > and > so on... but the second option is not bad either, if we want to gain users > and potential developers in the future. Besides, the former might be > marked > as a begginer task and the latter as a more advanced one. > > In any case, in GCI, the students are the ones that claim the tasks they > want, it's not that we choose them according to their background or > previous knowledge or experience... we might not even be selected by them > :-/ > > >> Do you think these students have any ideas about GIS? > > > Honestly, I do not know, most probably they don't. But most probably they > (or most of them) do not know about the other OSGeo projects either, nor > about other open source projects in general. That's why it is an intro to > the open source world. > > I confess I haven't spent much time thinking about this program yet, but I >> see a >> lot of time spent by mentors defining precise tasks without too much >> gain. > > > Could be... if you only think as for now and in terms of new modules or > functionalities... but we don't know how it could go, since this is the > first time OSGeo might participate... If we think a bit more into the > future this might help us grow our user and potential developers > community, > and open source community in general > > I can see this could be useful for things like designing promotional >> materials, but not much beyond that. > > > For sure... and IMHO we very much need that. We need screenshots, we need > examples and images in the manuals, we need new tutorial wikis and videos, > and so on... no idea, if the young students know anything about GIS :-) ... on the other hand I think, Google Code-In may be a good test case whether GRASS' entry barrier is too high ... ;-) in other words: download software, download sample data set, open the software and do something should be doable ... :-) thanks to Jeff, there is now an editable wiki: https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Google_Code_In_2017_Tasks to collect task ideas. I think also mentoring across projects may be needed. - best regards Helmut -- Sent from: http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Grass-Dev-f3991897.html ___ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev
Re: [GRASS-dev] We need mentors for Google Code-In
Hi Anna, thanks for your answer... I'll try to clarify as much as possible, though I'm also rather new in the matter. @Madi & @Helli, please correct me if I'm wrong 2017-10-04 19:41 GMT+02:00 Anna Petrášová: > Hi Vero, > > On Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 11:24 AM, Veronica Andreo > wrote: > > Hey devs, > > > > As the subject reads: We need more mentors for Google Code-In :) > > > > GCI is a competition addressed to high-school students aged 13-17, as an > > introduction to the open source world. They are supposed to complete as > much > > tasks as possible to win the contest. These tasks should be short simple > > stuff (3-5 hours), but since they have to complete several to win, we > need > > to plan lots of them and be available to review what the students submit > > rather quickly, so they can start with a new one. For that reason, it is > > better if we are more mentors. > > > > Here is the GRASS wiki [0] with more details and a collection of ideas > for > > tasks that should then be further explained and developed in the format > of > > tasks. I think the ideas are nice and this could be a funny experience. > > Moreover, we could attract new generations and benefit from their > creativity > > ;) > > this is probably not very helpful response, but I am little bit > skeptical about this and maybe you can clarify some things. My main > problem is that GRASS is not the type of software you just start to > use and understand it right away. Even making useful screenshots > requires decent knowledge of the software and geospatial data/models. > I partially agree... if we compare GRASS today with GRASS some years ago, I think it has become more accessible to newcomers. However, it is not the easiest and most straightforward GIS to start working with. Question for us could be how to make it friendlier... On the other hand, we are the ones defining how *decent* screenshots need to be, for example. Do we want all these screenshots (just to grab one of the ideas for tasks) to be highly visible in announcements or we are fine with simple screenshots proving that they were able to install the software, create a location and display a raster map with legend? The first would be extremely useful, we always need screenshots for announcements and so on... but the second option is not bad either, if we want to gain users and potential developers in the future. Besides, the former might be marked as a begginer task and the latter as a more advanced one. In any case, in GCI, the students are the ones that claim the tasks they want, it's not that we choose them according to their background or previous knowledge or experience... we might not even be selected by them :-/ > Do you think these students have any ideas about GIS? Honestly, I do not know, most probably they don't. But most probably they (or most of them) do not know about the other OSGeo projects either, nor about other open source projects in general. That's why it is an intro to the open source world. I confess I haven't spent much time thinking about this program yet, but I > see a > lot of time spent by mentors defining precise tasks without too much gain. Could be... if you only think as for now and in terms of new modules or functionalities... but we don't know how it could go, since this is the first time OSGeo might participate... If we think a bit more into the future this might help us grow our user and potential developers community, and open source community in general I can see this could be useful for things like designing promotional > materials, but not much beyond that. For sure... and IMHO we very much need that. We need screenshots, we need examples and images in the manuals, we need new tutorial wikis and videos, and so on... HTH :) Vero ___ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev
Re: [GRASS-dev] We need mentors for Google Code-In
Anna Petrášová wrote > Hi Vero, > > On Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 11:24 AM, Veronica Andreo > veroandreo@ > wrote: >> Hey devs, >> >> As the subject reads: We need more mentors for Google Code-In :) >> >> GCI is a competition addressed to high-school students aged 13-17, as an >> introduction to the open source world. They are supposed to complete as >> much >> tasks as possible to win the contest. These tasks should be short simple >> stuff (3-5 hours), but since they have to complete several to win, we >> need >> to plan lots of them and be available to review what the students submit >> rather quickly, so they can start with a new one. For that reason, it is >> better if we are more mentors. >> >> Here is the GRASS wiki [0] with more details and a collection of ideas >> for >> tasks that should then be further explained and developed in the format >> of >> tasks. I think the ideas are nice and this could be a funny experience. >> Moreover, we could attract new generations and benefit from their >> creativity >> ;) >> > > this is probably not very helpful response, but I am little bit > skeptical about this and maybe you can clarify some things. My main > problem is that GRASS is not the type of software you just start to > use and understand it right away. Even making useful screenshots > requires decent knowledge of the software and geospatial data/models. > Do you think these students have any ideas about GIS? I confess I > haven't spent much time thinking about this program yet, but I see a > lot of time spent by mentors defining precise tasks without too much > gain. I can see this could be useful for things like designing > promotional materials, but not much beyond that. But I am open to be > convinced otherwise. AFAIU Google Code-In, yes, it needs a strategic plan to define precise tasks doable in a couple of hours by the young students. it's possible to mark tasks as "beginners", e.g. download GRASS GIS for your platform, download NC sample data set, start GRASS with the sample data set and set the computional region and post the output of g.region -p. such "beginners" tasks are there that the young students are getting comfortable with the software/environment. and yes, promotional materials are good candidates for tasks. e.g. take some cool existing screenshots/graphics from manuals/addons/wiki and design a fancy GRASS GIS t-shirt. etc etc HTH - best regards Helmut -- Sent from: http://osgeo-org.1560.x6.nabble.com/Grass-Dev-f3991897.html ___ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev
Re: [GRASS-dev] We need mentors for Google Code-In
Hi Vero, On Wed, Oct 4, 2017 at 11:24 AM, Veronica Andreowrote: > Hey devs, > > As the subject reads: We need more mentors for Google Code-In :) > > GCI is a competition addressed to high-school students aged 13-17, as an > introduction to the open source world. They are supposed to complete as much > tasks as possible to win the contest. These tasks should be short simple > stuff (3-5 hours), but since they have to complete several to win, we need > to plan lots of them and be available to review what the students submit > rather quickly, so they can start with a new one. For that reason, it is > better if we are more mentors. > > Here is the GRASS wiki [0] with more details and a collection of ideas for > tasks that should then be further explained and developed in the format of > tasks. I think the ideas are nice and this could be a funny experience. > Moreover, we could attract new generations and benefit from their creativity > ;) > this is probably not very helpful response, but I am little bit skeptical about this and maybe you can clarify some things. My main problem is that GRASS is not the type of software you just start to use and understand it right away. Even making useful screenshots requires decent knowledge of the software and geospatial data/models. Do you think these students have any ideas about GIS? I confess I haven't spent much time thinking about this program yet, but I see a lot of time spent by mentors defining precise tasks without too much gain. I can see this could be useful for things like designing promotional materials, but not much beyond that. But I am open to be convinced otherwise. Thanks, Anna > Thanks! > > Vero > > [0] https://grasswiki.osgeo.org/wiki/GRASS_GCI_Ideas_2017 > > ___ > grass-dev mailing list > grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org > https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev ___ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev
[GRASS-dev] We need mentors for Google Code-In
Hey devs, As the subject reads: We need more mentors for Google Code-In :) GCI is a competition addressed to high-school students aged 13-17, as an introduction to the open source world. They are supposed to complete as much tasks as possible to win the contest. These tasks should be short simple stuff (3-5 hours), but since they have to complete several to win, we need to plan lots of them and be available to review what the students submit rather quickly, so they can start with a new one. For that reason, it is better if we are more mentors. Here is the GRASS wiki [0] with more details and a collection of ideas for tasks that should then be further explained and developed in the format of tasks. I think the ideas are nice and this could be a funny experience. Moreover, we could attract new generations and benefit from their creativity ;) Thanks! Vero [0] https://grasswiki.osgeo.org/wiki/GRASS_GCI_Ideas_2017 ___ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev