There was little (or probably no) deviation from what our CEO/CTO Meric Mara expected to be a "usual" speaking engagement. No, not little at all. Even our Head of Technical Services and Support, Erwin Galang, didn't anticipate the kind of participation, or the latters would-be involvement in the "Open Source: Linux and Emerging New Technologies" Seminar that Monday, September 10.
For one, the program started promptly at 10:00 AM. It's a good thing that the organizers, the BSU-ARASOF Computer Engineering Society (BSU-ACoES) of the Batangas State University at Nasugbu spearheaded by their Mr. Rodel Pega, prepared an overnight accommodation at a beach resort just across the campus for our two galant and debonair IT masters.
The organizers also prepared intermission numbers that showcased the Batanguenos’ love for music; it was acoustic revelry met by a collective encore. Helping out with the uproar for more songs, Maestro Erwin (who coincidentally had a keyboard on board) readily accompanied the group to a more festive mood.
But largely, what set the seminar apart from the usual was that all 120 faces in the audience was aglow with attentive interest which only fueled the speakers’ energy to impart what they are primed for that day—
Why Linux? Why Open Source?
Before starting with his topic, Meric leveled with the students and told them his own expectations--that each member of the audience would be picking something worth sharing to others. It is no less than what Open Source technology is about: sharing and collaboration of codes and designs not only with fellow students or within the campus, but with other groups and organizations, to mature, make them useful, and available to everybody. This is a mute outcry in an environment inundated with proprietary (read: pirated) softwares, yet if heeded, can make a whole lot of difference in the world of IT; an informed, free-thinking, open-minded community. Imbibing, creating an Impact and arousing appetite for studying and being passionate for Linux is also a challenge they posed to students as this is something they have to sustain after the Masters leave their campus, Batangas State University at Nasugbu.
Meric next briefly discussed what it is about Linux that makes it important aside of it being FREE--by this it does not entirely imply no license (as this is only a minute essence of it ), but by being able to understand and starts to innovate his own operating system or application, then IT becomes FREE. Open Standards of which of course it meant NO compatibility issues. Linux, as the heart of an open source operating system, is designed to optimize a computer's performance while handling bigger application programs which he sounded off that maybe at this stage may not be well appreciated but when they encounter business and enterprise application or set-up only may they realize the value of Linux and the Open Source.
But does Linux have "disadvantages"? Yes, Linux is not for those people who want to frolic their way into IT. It is not good for people who hates tedious steps and analytics. As studying or working one's way to Linux entails a tempered habit of continuous and conscientious learning.
He delved further on what Open Source resources the school can benefit from to better equip it in optimizing advantageous features of the now available technology. Here, Meric focused on three:
School Administration. A web-based tool that will lessen secretarial loads of monitoring the school's faculty and personnel attendance as well as students' records and profiles.
Course Administration. Another web-based tool that will proactively implement a virtual classroom where teachers can upload their curricula, readings and resources, and where students can participate in forums and discussions while "jotting down notes".
Thin Client System. The school can use low-maintenance low-end computers and connect these to a Linux-ran central server. This setup will not only cut cost in setting up a bigger computer laboratory but will also increase the school lab's security and performance enabling students to spend more time in an IT-conducive environment.
Getting IT out in the Open
For the afternoon presentation, Erwin first imparted that a number of matured open source applications are ready to be downloaded over the internet. But as up-and-coming computer engineers and technicians, it should be a practice to know other options than being spoon fed by the cyber environ.
Erwin then showed the students the step-by-step installation of Ubuntu, an Open Source software that has the necessary desktop applications congruent to the Windows environment but faster to install and easier to use, yet expending less memory usage.
To while away the minutes during the onsite demonstration, the audience was tested how educated their opinions (and guesses) were. Each answer that satisfied the speakers corresponded to an Ubuntu CD installer. This activity also became evidence that the students were not only putting an attentive front but were actually listening to the lectures.
And then IT begins
The seminar concluded by 3:30 PM.
The task of assessing how well the lectures went would then be up to how the students resolve to respond to Meric’s concrete challenge: study and implement the three systems and make them work to the utmost benefit of the school and its population.
This should be easier though. As Erwin shared earlier in the day, today’s generation have more options than those before them. Not just more but limitless even with the vast IT resource available today.
It’s only a matter of when they are willing to start making IT work to their greater advantage. It is when you start to boot your PC and your PC feeds you with information and when you start sharing what you have learned, you're getting IT started.