sanalmadatheth July 9th, 2009
Swathanthra Software Sangamam was organized by VHSS Irumpanam in assosciation with “Indian Libre User Group, Kochi” from 24- 29th May 2009 at VHSS Thripunithura.
Objectives Accomplished
– Introduced the computer (computing system) working as a simple system. This was important for them to understand the concept of software and programming.
- Explained to them how a software is created and how the community contributes to it and thereby make them understand the importance of Free Software and its learning.
- Explained to them how the computing system interacts to various commands and thereby teach them the command line.
- Explained to them how a software works and what exactly is a software program
- Introduced them to the various steps in problem solving using a computing system and
- Explaiend to them How we could accomplish simple tasks through basic logic, through an algorithm and flowchart.
- Gave a glimpse of internals of a few hardware components
Day 1
Inauguration of Python Workshop by MI Andrews.
Welcoming the the students, teachers and ILUG members, Principal V.A.Thampy said that the activities of IT Corner of the school came to the limelight with the timely support of ILUG Cochin and the media. Inaugurating the workshop, the Manager of the school, Mr.M.I. Andrews said that although he is a stranger to free software, he is very much attracted by the ideals of it. Jay Jacob briefed the basic ideals of free software. Mr. Thomas Yoyaku, and Mr.Sanalkumar also spoke on the occasion. Other ILUG Cochin Members present were
Sameer Mohamed Thahir ,Sreenadh H, Manu Ram, HariKrishnan.
The inauguration of the programming workshop was held at about 10am by the manager of VHSS Irimpanam and Jay Jacob being the special guest. An introduction to free software and programming was given by jay Jacob to students. He mentioned the importance of sharing knowledge and collaborating to create better technology for mankind.
The ILUG Cochin team conducting the Workshop was led by Sreenadh H along with Manu Ram and Harikrishnan.
The first day kick started with explaining the use of computers in our day to day lives. The objective was to
make students understand the very essentials of the machine. The class started with explaining common uses of the PC and how the PC served our purposes internally.
Next the students were taught about giving commands to the Computer through the keyboard, by using the Bash Shell on GNU/Linux. Some of the commands that were taught were :
mkdir, cd, pwd, ls
In order to save information and store it on a digital device, the students were taught the simple editor “nano”.
Basic functions of saving and undo ing were explained. The day concluded with the students many of them excited to move forward and a few confused from the contents of the day’s session.
Day 2
Day 2 started with a revision of the previous day classes. The students were given an insight into the aspects of problem solving through the use of an algorithm and flowchart.
The concept of how a computer executed such steps to perform operations for us was explained to give an introduction to programming. What followed was a direct dive into the Python programming lanugage.
The differences between an interpreted and compiled language were explained. The Python shell was introduced to the students. Basic arithmetic and string operations were taught to the students.
Data types like integer,float,character and string were taught to them to do different things.
The students played with arithmetic calculation and variables by assigning the results and printing them.
Day 3
Further features of the Python language were explained like the complex data type list. Students were taught to assign values to a list. Following are some other lessons that followed :
- Picking a character from a string.
- Slicing a string/list in different ways.
- Checking conditions with if statement and executing step/steps if the condition is true. Using else and else if to execute commands if the condition is false or to check another condition.
- For loop to do repeated steps(commands) for a condition.
At the end of the day, the students were given homework to develop ideas that they would like to create programs for. This was to build confidence within them by execution of a complete program as well to build platform for logical problem solving.
Day 4
The aim of the final day was to make the students to develop ideas into programs. Students were given opportunity to program their own ideas with the help of teachers. This several programs were written and executed by them using nested if and for loop. Although many of the programs were very simple, the excercise indeed helped them to build confidence and understand the true essence of writing programs.
Day 5
Quiz Competition
Venue: School Main Hall
Time : 10.30 am
Teams : 8
Rounds : First and Second Round ( Curriculum based )
Third Round ( Python Based )
Fourth Round (Visuals )
Fifth Round ( Miscellaneous )
QuizMaster : Sameer, Sreenadh
ScoreKeepers : Shiraz and Boby
Winners
FIRST
Rimal Mathew, Geegu Varghese, Aghil T.V, Manoj Kumar
Second
Merin K. Mathew, Rose Mary, Anusha Sebastin, Sreekutty, Ashna Johnson
Third
Abhinav Thomas, Naveen, Jishnu Kuttan, Mahesh T.C
Hardware Expo
Students have been exposed to computer hardware basics in their curriculum, but
they have never seen what goes inside the peripherals or the “unknown”. We decided
to show them just what happens.
Peripherals that were explained :
SMPS
Hard Disk
DVD Drive
Motherboard, Processor ( Connectivity and Functioning )
Prem, Biju, Venkat, Vimal and Sameer collaborated on explaining the concepts to students.
Concluding Ceremony.
The meeting held in connection with the formation of SSK was chaired by the school Manager M.I.Andrews,
3.00pm : Introduction by Sanal Kumar
Welcome by VA Thampi, principal
Chairperson’s address by MI Andrews
SWATHANTHRA SOFTWARE KOOTTAYMA (S.S.K.)
http://sskvhssirimpanam.wordpress.com/
Inaugration by Jay Jacob and Vimal Joseph. of SSK VHSS Irumpanam
And the first user group of students ever in Kerala was jointly inaugurated by Jay Jacob , the founder member of ILUG Cochin and Vimal Joseph of SPACE (Society for Promotion of Alternative Computing & Education).
Jay Jacob : Free Software Free Society
Jay Jacob said that the student community of VHSS Irimpanam has a bright future in every aspect.
Vimal Joseph : Future of Free Software through schools
Vimal Joseph, a former student of the school, pointed that the python programming workshop was a bold attempt from the part of the school and ILUG Cochin.
Brief talk by Anandan:
Anandan , the Reporter from The Hindu supporting Free Software Movement quoted John Milton and Edassery Govindan Nair ( the Malayalam poet ) And with the support of these quotations he emphasised the importance of “FREEDOM”. He explained the use of Free Software for Defence applications where our integrity of the nation or the information lays in hands of the companies who “own” the software, rather than with us.
Brief talk by Anil Sanalan:
Anil Sanalan (fom Indian Express) also focused on the ‘ freedom ‘ aspect of free software.
Brief talk by IB Manoj
I.B. Manoj an ILUG member expressed his visions on an upcoming student community and extended his full support to SSK. He also said that he is interested to conduct a one day workshop on Computer Hardware in the school.
Thomas Yoyaku , the Coordinator of SSK spoke on the objectives of SSK.
M.R.Sanal Kumar explained his visions and proposed structure of monthly meetings of SSK.
Students who gave feedback
Siddharth.S.Bhattathiri- 7std
Rimal Mathew – 10 StdTeachers participated in the python programming workshop:
Siji.K.Thomas
Mini.Thomas.V
Leena Kuriakose
Rashmi Mohan
Sanal Kumar M.R
Thomas Yoyaku P.
Sponsors :
Chandran Kunnapilly ( PTA President , VHSS Irimpinam )
Santhosh , Chaitram Clothing ( Former Student , VHSS )
Sathish, General Manager Abacus Peripherals Kochi
IB Manoj, IB Services Kochi
Organizing community
Sanal Kumar MR
Sameer Mohamed Thahir
M Balakrishna Pillai ( Python Workshop Syllabus and strategy )
Thomas Yoyaku
Naiju
Binu
VHSS Students
A Report by Hindu
Report in Hindu
A Report by Indian Express
Tags: ssk, student user group, swathanthra software koottayma, user group in school, vhss irimpanam
