Volunteering in schools

["Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH)" <Ro...@microsoft.com>]

I know we have a bunch of people who already volunteer to teach in schools. I know that this has a great deal of impact at many levels. I'm looking for volunteers to help with a potential new initiative.

In the run-up to ApacheCon Sally will be running a campaign around the 15th Anniversary of the foundation. It will look at the legacy of the ASF and to the future. It will focus on the ASF as being a place of innovation and excitement.

I've recently had confirmation that a representative of TEALS, an organization that trains volunteers to teach in high schools in 20 states. These students take a rigorous college level CS class (UC Berkeley CS10 or UW CSE142/143 AP) in schools that might otherwise have no IT component at all.

40% of the schools are Title 1 schools (as a Brit I had to look this up, in short it's about improving academic achievements of the disadvantaged [1]) and a dozen or so are in very rural areas. Furthermore, 25% of their students are girls and 25% are from minority groups (in other words this has an impact on diversity).

My ask of the ComDev PMC is for us to run a BOF at ApacheCon to figure out how we might enable ASF community members to assist with the work that TEALS (and similar) organizations do. I'm happy to help drive this, but ideally there will be a couple of volunteers here who are interested enough to take ownership.

I'm working with Sally to find other valuable folks to participate and hope to have more than just TEALS represented. What I would like to do, in a perfect world, is announce a partnership at ApacheCon. Failing that I would like to develop the outline of a partnership at ApacheCon itself.

So, please step forward if you are interested in volunteering (there's no need for you to be present in Austin, though that would be great).

Ross


[1] http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html

Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation

Re: Volunteering in schools

[Kanchana Welagedara <ka...@opensource.lk>]

Hi Ross,

I have been teaching open source in many universities and schools in south
Asia before I came to US. I'm happy to help .

Cheers
Kanchana

On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 2:22 PM, Christopher <ct...@apache.org> wrote:

> On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 4:59 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH) <
> Ross.Gardler@microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Cool, thanks Chris. Keep an eye on this list. I'll keep you informed here
> > (and may ping you privately if there is something specific I think you
> can
> > help with).
> >
> > In the meantime, do you have any experience already?
> >
> >
> I've done some tutoring, but nothing like this.
> (Also, friendly note: I prefer "Christopher" :) )
>
> I'll keep an eye on the list.
>
>
> > Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> > A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Christopher [mailto:ctubbsii@apache.org]
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 1:22 PM
> > To: dev@community.apache.org
> > Subject: Re: Volunteering in schools
> >
> > I might be interested in volunteering (though, I won't be in Austin).
> >
> >
> > --
> > Christopher L Tubbs II
> > http://gravatar.com/ctubbsii
> >
> > On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 2:59 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH) <
> > Ross.Gardler@microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I know we have a bunch of people who already volunteer to teach in
> > > schools. I know that this has a great deal of impact at many levels.
> > > I'm looking for volunteers to help with a potential new initiative.
> > >
> > > In the run-up to ApacheCon Sally will be running a campaign around the
> > > 15th Anniversary of the foundation. It will look at the legacy of the
> > > ASF and to the future. It will focus on the ASF as being a place of
> > > innovation and excitement.
> > >
> > > I've recently had confirmation that a representative of TEALS, an
> > > organization that trains volunteers to teach in high schools in 20
> > states.
> > > These students take a rigorous college level CS class (UC Berkeley
> > > CS10 or UW CSE142/143 AP) in schools that might otherwise have no IT
> > > component at all.
> > >
> > > 40% of the schools are Title 1 schools (as a Brit I had to look this
> > > up, in short it's about improving academic achievements of the
> > > disadvantaged
> > > [1]) and a dozen or so are in very rural areas. Furthermore, 25% of
> > > their students are girls and 25% are from minority groups (in other
> > > words this has an impact on diversity).
> > >
> > > My ask of the ComDev PMC is for us to run a BOF at ApacheCon to figure
> > > out how we might enable ASF community members to assist with the work
> > > that TEALS (and similar) organizations do. I'm happy to help drive
> > > this, but ideally there will be a couple of volunteers here who are
> > > interested enough to take ownership.
> > >
> > > I'm working with Sally to find other valuable folks to participate and
> > > hope to have more than just TEALS represented. What I would like to
> > > do, in a perfect world, is announce a partnership at ApacheCon.
> > > Failing that I would like to develop the outline of a partnership at
> > ApacheCon itself.
> > >
> > > So, please step forward if you are interested in volunteering (there's
> > > no need for you to be present in Austin, though that would be great).
> > >
> > > Ross
> > >
> > >
> > > [1] http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html
> > >
> > > Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> > > A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
> > >
> > >
> >
>

Re: Volunteering in schools

[Christopher <ct...@apache.org>]

On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 4:59 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH) <
Ross.Gardler@microsoft.com> wrote:

> Cool, thanks Chris. Keep an eye on this list. I'll keep you informed here
> (and may ping you privately if there is something specific I think you can
> help with).
>
> In the meantime, do you have any experience already?
>
>
I've done some tutoring, but nothing like this.
(Also, friendly note: I prefer "Christopher" :) )

I'll keep an eye on the list.


> Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christopher [mailto:ctubbsii@apache.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 1:22 PM
> To: dev@community.apache.org
> Subject: Re: Volunteering in schools
>
> I might be interested in volunteering (though, I won't be in Austin).
>
>
> --
> Christopher L Tubbs II
> http://gravatar.com/ctubbsii
>
> On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 2:59 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH) <
> Ross.Gardler@microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > I know we have a bunch of people who already volunteer to teach in
> > schools. I know that this has a great deal of impact at many levels.
> > I'm looking for volunteers to help with a potential new initiative.
> >
> > In the run-up to ApacheCon Sally will be running a campaign around the
> > 15th Anniversary of the foundation. It will look at the legacy of the
> > ASF and to the future. It will focus on the ASF as being a place of
> > innovation and excitement.
> >
> > I've recently had confirmation that a representative of TEALS, an
> > organization that trains volunteers to teach in high schools in 20
> states.
> > These students take a rigorous college level CS class (UC Berkeley
> > CS10 or UW CSE142/143 AP) in schools that might otherwise have no IT
> > component at all.
> >
> > 40% of the schools are Title 1 schools (as a Brit I had to look this
> > up, in short it's about improving academic achievements of the
> > disadvantaged
> > [1]) and a dozen or so are in very rural areas. Furthermore, 25% of
> > their students are girls and 25% are from minority groups (in other
> > words this has an impact on diversity).
> >
> > My ask of the ComDev PMC is for us to run a BOF at ApacheCon to figure
> > out how we might enable ASF community members to assist with the work
> > that TEALS (and similar) organizations do. I'm happy to help drive
> > this, but ideally there will be a couple of volunteers here who are
> > interested enough to take ownership.
> >
> > I'm working with Sally to find other valuable folks to participate and
> > hope to have more than just TEALS represented. What I would like to
> > do, in a perfect world, is announce a partnership at ApacheCon.
> > Failing that I would like to develop the outline of a partnership at
> ApacheCon itself.
> >
> > So, please step forward if you are interested in volunteering (there's
> > no need for you to be present in Austin, though that would be great).
> >
> > Ross
> >
> >
> > [1] http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html
> >
> > Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> > A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
> >
> >
>

RE: Volunteering in schools

["Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH)" <Ro...@microsoft.com>]

Cool, thanks Chris. Keep an eye on this list. I'll keep you informed here (and may ping you privately if there is something specific I think you can help with).

In the meantime, do you have any experience already?

Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher [mailto:ctubbsii@apache.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 1:22 PM
To: dev@community.apache.org
Subject: Re: Volunteering in schools

I might be interested in volunteering (though, I won't be in Austin).


--
Christopher L Tubbs II
http://gravatar.com/ctubbsii

On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 2:59 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH) < Ross.Gardler@microsoft.com> wrote:

> I know we have a bunch of people who already volunteer to teach in 
> schools. I know that this has a great deal of impact at many levels. 
> I'm looking for volunteers to help with a potential new initiative.
>
> In the run-up to ApacheCon Sally will be running a campaign around the 
> 15th Anniversary of the foundation. It will look at the legacy of the 
> ASF and to the future. It will focus on the ASF as being a place of 
> innovation and excitement.
>
> I've recently had confirmation that a representative of TEALS, an 
> organization that trains volunteers to teach in high schools in 20 states.
> These students take a rigorous college level CS class (UC Berkeley 
> CS10 or UW CSE142/143 AP) in schools that might otherwise have no IT 
> component at all.
>
> 40% of the schools are Title 1 schools (as a Brit I had to look this 
> up, in short it's about improving academic achievements of the 
> disadvantaged
> [1]) and a dozen or so are in very rural areas. Furthermore, 25% of 
> their students are girls and 25% are from minority groups (in other 
> words this has an impact on diversity).
>
> My ask of the ComDev PMC is for us to run a BOF at ApacheCon to figure 
> out how we might enable ASF community members to assist with the work 
> that TEALS (and similar) organizations do. I'm happy to help drive 
> this, but ideally there will be a couple of volunteers here who are 
> interested enough to take ownership.
>
> I'm working with Sally to find other valuable folks to participate and 
> hope to have more than just TEALS represented. What I would like to 
> do, in a perfect world, is announce a partnership at ApacheCon. 
> Failing that I would like to develop the outline of a partnership at ApacheCon itself.
>
> So, please step forward if you are interested in volunteering (there's 
> no need for you to be present in Austin, though that would be great).
>
> Ross
>
>
> [1] http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html
>
> Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
>
>

Re: Volunteering in schools

[Christopher <ct...@apache.org>]

I might be interested in volunteering (though, I won't be in Austin).


--
Christopher L Tubbs II
http://gravatar.com/ctubbsii

On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 2:59 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH) <
Ross.Gardler@microsoft.com> wrote:

> I know we have a bunch of people who already volunteer to teach in
> schools. I know that this has a great deal of impact at many levels. I'm
> looking for volunteers to help with a potential new initiative.
>
> In the run-up to ApacheCon Sally will be running a campaign around the
> 15th Anniversary of the foundation. It will look at the legacy of the ASF
> and to the future. It will focus on the ASF as being a place of innovation
> and excitement.
>
> I've recently had confirmation that a representative of TEALS, an
> organization that trains volunteers to teach in high schools in 20 states.
> These students take a rigorous college level CS class (UC Berkeley CS10 or
> UW CSE142/143 AP) in schools that might otherwise have no IT component at
> all.
>
> 40% of the schools are Title 1 schools (as a Brit I had to look this up,
> in short it's about improving academic achievements of the disadvantaged
> [1]) and a dozen or so are in very rural areas. Furthermore, 25% of their
> students are girls and 25% are from minority groups (in other words this
> has an impact on diversity).
>
> My ask of the ComDev PMC is for us to run a BOF at ApacheCon to figure out
> how we might enable ASF community members to assist with the work that
> TEALS (and similar) organizations do. I'm happy to help drive this, but
> ideally there will be a couple of volunteers here who are interested enough
> to take ownership.
>
> I'm working with Sally to find other valuable folks to participate and
> hope to have more than just TEALS represented. What I would like to do, in
> a perfect world, is announce a partnership at ApacheCon. Failing that I
> would like to develop the outline of a partnership at ApacheCon itself.
>
> So, please step forward if you are interested in volunteering (there's no
> need for you to be present in Austin, though that would be great).
>
> Ross
>
>
> [1] http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html
>
> Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
>
>

Re: Volunteering in schools

[Marlon Pierce <ma...@iu.edu>]

Hi Ross--

I'm also interested in the BOF, but I echo David's earlier concerns.

Marlon

On 1/7/15 4:58 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH) wrote:
> Yes, organizing a BoF at ApacheCon - but that's not long term overhead. That's making sure we have interested ASF volunteers present. That we have good non-ASF folks with experience present. That we have an agenda and set of objectives etc.
>
> Ross
>
> Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Nalley [mailto:david@gnsa.us]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 1:27 PM
> To: dev@community.apache.org
> Subject: Re: Volunteering in schools
>
>> As for timing, it's now.  But if you only have time to show up at the BOF and share your experience that will be appreciated.
>>
> Ahh - My takeaway from the email was that the ask was for organizing a BoF.
> What is it that you need help with?
>
> --David

RE: Volunteering in schools

["Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH)" <Ro...@microsoft.com>]

Yes, organizing a BoF at ApacheCon - but that's not long term overhead. That's making sure we have interested ASF volunteers present. That we have good non-ASF folks with experience present. That we have an agenda and set of objectives etc.

Ross

Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation

-----Original Message-----
From: David Nalley [mailto:david@gnsa.us] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 1:27 PM
To: dev@community.apache.org
Subject: Re: Volunteering in schools

>
> As for timing, it's now.  But if you only have time to show up at the BOF and share your experience that will be appreciated.
>

Ahh - My takeaway from the email was that the ask was for organizing a BoF.
What is it that you need help with?

--David

Re: Volunteering in schools

[David Nalley <da...@gnsa.us>]

>
> As for timing, it's now.  But if you only have time to show up at the BOF and share your experience that will be appreciated.
>

Ahh - My takeaway from the email was that the ask was for organizing a BoF.
What is it that you need help with?

--David

RE: Volunteering in schools

["Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH)" <Ro...@microsoft.com>]

Thanks David, 

I agree there is a great deal of overhead. My hope is that we can leverage an existing org to manage the overhead. Ideally all we (ComDev) will do is some internal marketing. If all we do is send 5 volunteers to TEALS it makes a difference and we can all be pleased with ourselves.

Note, TEALS is in the Microsoft YouthSpark Incubator and thus the folks who do the organizing are mostly on campus with me here. I didn't know this when I opened up discussions with them, but it does mean the communication lines between the two orgs are shorter.

As for timing, it's now.  But if you only have time to show up at the BOF and share your experience that will be appreciated.

Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation

-----Original Message-----
From: David Nalley [mailto:david@gnsa.us] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 12:24 PM
To: dev@community.apache.org
Subject: Re: Volunteering in schools

On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 2:59 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH) <Ro...@microsoft.com> wrote:
> I know we have a bunch of people who already volunteer to teach in schools. I know that this has a great deal of impact at many levels. I'm looking for volunteers to help with a potential new initiative.
>
> In the run-up to ApacheCon Sally will be running a campaign around the 15th Anniversary of the foundation. It will look at the legacy of the ASF and to the future. It will focus on the ASF as being a place of innovation and excitement.
>
> I've recently had confirmation that a representative of TEALS, an organization that trains volunteers to teach in high schools in 20 states. These students take a rigorous college level CS class (UC Berkeley CS10 or UW CSE142/143 AP) in schools that might otherwise have no IT component at all.
>
> 40% of the schools are Title 1 schools (as a Brit I had to look this up, in short it's about improving academic achievements of the disadvantaged [1]) and a dozen or so are in very rural areas. Furthermore, 25% of their students are girls and 25% are from minority groups (in other words this has an impact on diversity).
>
> My ask of the ComDev PMC is for us to run a BOF at ApacheCon to figure out how we might enable ASF community members to assist with the work that TEALS (and similar) organizations do. I'm happy to help drive this, but ideally there will be a couple of volunteers here who are interested enough to take ownership.
>
> I'm working with Sally to find other valuable folks to participate and hope to have more than just TEALS represented. What I would like to do, in a perfect world, is announce a partnership at ApacheCon. Failing that I would like to develop the outline of a partnership at ApacheCon itself.
>
> So, please step forward if you are interested in volunteering (there's no need for you to be present in Austin, though that would be great).
>
> Ross
>
>
> [1] http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html
>
> Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
>


I've done similar work with high school and college students in Fedora; and it's challenging. Particularly it's a lot of overhead, especially if the instructor is not very plugged in to the open source group. That said, having seen the normal statistics, I'd say that the ASF does a far better job with things like GSOC than most open source groups do. The level of retention seems much higher.

I'm tentatively willing to participate, conditioned on me having time when this comes around.

--David

Re: Volunteering in schools

[David Nalley <da...@gnsa.us>]

On Wed, Jan 7, 2015 at 2:59 PM, Ross Gardler (MS OPEN TECH)
<Ro...@microsoft.com> wrote:
> I know we have a bunch of people who already volunteer to teach in schools. I know that this has a great deal of impact at many levels. I'm looking for volunteers to help with a potential new initiative.
>
> In the run-up to ApacheCon Sally will be running a campaign around the 15th Anniversary of the foundation. It will look at the legacy of the ASF and to the future. It will focus on the ASF as being a place of innovation and excitement.
>
> I've recently had confirmation that a representative of TEALS, an organization that trains volunteers to teach in high schools in 20 states. These students take a rigorous college level CS class (UC Berkeley CS10 or UW CSE142/143 AP) in schools that might otherwise have no IT component at all.
>
> 40% of the schools are Title 1 schools (as a Brit I had to look this up, in short it's about improving academic achievements of the disadvantaged [1]) and a dozen or so are in very rural areas. Furthermore, 25% of their students are girls and 25% are from minority groups (in other words this has an impact on diversity).
>
> My ask of the ComDev PMC is for us to run a BOF at ApacheCon to figure out how we might enable ASF community members to assist with the work that TEALS (and similar) organizations do. I'm happy to help drive this, but ideally there will be a couple of volunteers here who are interested enough to take ownership.
>
> I'm working with Sally to find other valuable folks to participate and hope to have more than just TEALS represented. What I would like to do, in a perfect world, is announce a partnership at ApacheCon. Failing that I would like to develop the outline of a partnership at ApacheCon itself.
>
> So, please step forward if you are interested in volunteering (there's no need for you to be present in Austin, though that would be great).
>
> Ross
>
>
> [1] http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html
>
> Microsoft Open Technologies, Inc.
> A subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
>


I've done similar work with high school and college students in
Fedora; and it's challenging. Particularly it's a lot of overhead,
especially if the instructor is not very plugged in to the open source
group. That said, having seen the normal statistics, I'd say that the
ASF does a far better job with things like GSOC than most open source
groups do. The level of retention seems much higher.

I'm tentatively willing to participate, conditioned on me having time
when this comes around.

--David