# Classroom

Arch Classroom is a project to host classes for people to learn new skills and knowledge on various technical topics. The classes are taught by volunteers from the Arch Linux community. Classes are held on IRC and anyone is welcome to attend regardless of their level of expertise.

## Classes

Classes are held in the IRC channel #archlinux-classroom on the Freenode network.

### Upcoming Classes

Classes are announced on arch-general, the forums, and other broadcasting places like twitter. A list is given below for easy viewing.

Date and Time | Class Title | Instructor(s) | Announcement(S)

### Previous Classes

Classes that have already happened. (Maybe students and teachers could write up some info on the experience, similar to the arch con pages.)

Date | Class Title | Instructor(s) | Logs
2013-09-14 | "Beginners Guide to Package Maintaining" | gtmanfred and KaiSforza | 16:45 UTC
2014-04-19 | "PKGBUILD Class" | CalimeroTeknik | 9:30 UTC and 16:00 UTC
2014-05-31 | "A First Look at the Linux Kernel" | jy2wong | 16:00 UTC

### Requested Classes

If you are interested in taking a class on a particular topic, list it below.

- bash scripting basics - A 101 course covering the basics, pitfalls, etc.
- Beginners Guide to C++
- Pacman - An Introduction
- git basics - An introduction to using git.
- using ABS - For new users of Arch.
- automount devices - Discuss different methods of setting up automounting devices, with advantages and drawbacks.
- finding an answer / creating a bug report - How and where to search when you have a problem.
- creating backups - Different methods of creating backups of your files.

## Teaching

Anyone can teach a class. If you are interested, follow these steps.

- Come up with a topic for the class. See past classes or the list of requested classes for ideas. It is perfectly fine to make a class on a topic which was taught before.
- Create a lesson plan. This will be later published in the git repository. You can use lesson plans from past classes for guidance. Don't forget to list prerequisites, if any, for your class.
- (Optional) Make class materials such as diagrams, code lists, essays, or anything else which may be of use to students. Let us know so that we can push them to the website before the class.
- Write a small blurb about yourself. Who are you and what have you done in the Arch and/or FOSS community? This will be added to announcements.
- For announcements, write a few lines about your class.
- Contact an coordinator to schedule your class. A class can be held at more than one time to accommodate various time zones. For example once in the morning for Australia and Asia and again in the evening for Europe and North America. Times must be in UTC.
- Spread the word!

Lesson plans and class materials will be published on the web and made available through git. The file formats should be something which can be read as text and be converted to other formats like HTML and PDF. We suggest reST.

Classes should run with 1-1.5 hours. If you think your class is too long, divide it into parts which will be run on separate days (e.g., part one in a week, part two in three weeks after part one).

### How to Create a Lesson Plan

Start your lesson plan with a goal or objective in mind. What should students be expected to learn in this class? Decide what sort of students you are targeting -- Beginning Linux users or People familiar with particular software, etc. Make a materials list with all the software requirements the class will need, and a list of prerequisites with the knowledge students should have before taking the class. Create lesson plans with topics of discussion, reading lists, and activities that help to achieve the goal of the class. Classes may be in a reading and lecture format, group discussion, or independent activities. Choose a format that will best suit the information you are teaching. A programming class could be taught with a series of follow by example lectures plus some group problem solving. A class on the history of Linux and free open source software could be reading and discussion based.

## See also

- Ubuntu Classroom
- Arch Linux forum discussion
- Administration page on Arch Women wiki
- Teaching materials git repository

Category:

- Classroom