Open University course/Linux

[busby]

Is any other newbie out there thinking of doing the OU course on Linux? I'm hoping it will help me to understand how it works. (I'm pretty new to computing except for basic word processing). I'm discovering what a great and helpful community this is, but don't want to be asking for help every day!

[ThistleWeb]

I didn't know there was an OU course on Linux. There are certs but they don't come cheap. They also rely on a certain level of computing knowledge as a prerequisite to starting them. I'd advise hanging out in the IRC channels, visiting the forums regularly, and just idling. You'll pick up information without being aware of actually studying anything. Before too long you'll see a question you know the answer to, that nobody else has answered yet and find yourself answering it.

There are plenty of places to pick up Linux knowledge, the key is not to put pressure on, everyone starts somewhere; enjoy the journey. Perhaps try the Linux Reality podcast http://linuxreality.com as an easy going explanation of a lot of Linux concepts. Things have changed a little since Chess stopped doing those shows, but a lot of the information is generic and still applicable. It'll give you a grounding on exploring other stuff, as you'll be familiar with many more terms.

[busby]

Hi Thistleweb (lovely name!)
Thanks for your reply. I think OU is coming round to Linux. I did a completely different course last year and then they could give no support to linux users, so it seems as if they've decided to embrace it now, and are offering a 10-week course called Linux: an introduction, starting Oct 1st. I've already enrolled, so should be able to give some feedback by the New Year!
Meanwhile, yes, I'll read lots!! Thanks for the link you gave.

[Maik]

Is any other newbie out there thinking of doing the OU course on Linux? I'm hoping it will help me to understand how it works. (I'm pretty new to computing except for basic word processing). I'm discovering what a great and helpful community this is, but don't want to be asking for help every day!

I was quite interested in this post and checked out the OU course. Looks interesting but not inexpensive: £245 if resident in the UK, £480 if resident anywhere else in Europe or in the USA. Interested as I am, I'll pass on that one! But thanks for the heads up, busby.

Thought just flashed through my head: there are some specialist forums where volunteers are taught how to remove malware infections from (Windows) PCs via a progressive course. These are run by volunteers (who've undergone the training themselves) free of charge. Maybe a 'Linux Mint University' where Linux newbs are taught how to use Linux at a low cost to help further the development of Linux Mint? As I said, just a thought.

[Phil Dodd]

This is an interesting subject in several ways.

You're right to go for something like this, in that it is a formalised training programme with a guaranteed outcome - that you'll be knowledgeable about the stated areas of ( what's known as ) Linux at the end of it.

Of tremendous importance is the social aspect. You'll be in contact with other human beings - the tutor and probably other participants. A great thing about the IT world is the scope for sharing problems, experiences, and ideas. It was good to read recently that the annual hackers conference at a west-coast American hotel is the best party that the hotel has all year, and they love the people going there. The hotel sells the most beer that they ever do at the conference, and everyone has a great time. That really is a strength of the UK Open University, that you get to meet other like-minded people in a similar way. Inspiration like that is worth a thousand magazine articles.

The prospectus is a good foundation for other OU courses - indeed it goes on to mention the BSc degree. This would obviously be far more expensive, but again after hard work it gives predictable results - and there are great summer schools which is party time again ! So it's a fun way to get qualified - or as you say, to simply learn some basics.

As to the price, in the commercial computing world, the cost of the course is at the low end of course prices. It may seem high to a private individual just wanting to gain knowledge, and I agree with what everyone else has said about other ways to do it. But you've signed up now, and I don't think that you've made a mistake in doing that.

Going back to the OU and prices, they have become more competitive now for us in the UK, because the central Government have withdrawn funding to academic institutions, who have had to up their course fees to that of the OU. People I talk to in my home town of Leominster tell me that they are considering OU courses instead of going to Worcester ( UK ) University, because the latter is going to start charging 5,000 pounds per course. Suddenly the OU starts to look attractive for the young people looking for their further education.

As regards the knowledge, the course material is a broad range, but nothing too specific. That allows you to keep your options open, and whether you just want a pastime at home, or to go on to study for a BSc, then it is a useful introduction. I have to say that to get a job in industry, you'd need to have something else to add to this course. Employers will be impressed that you can show an aptitude for learning the subject ( and socialising ) but they will also be looking for skills in web design, or database management, etc. You would have to be able to show an employer that you are going to go on to learn those, or perhaps actually study them, before going for a good IT career.

As others have said, I hope that the course is everything that you want it to be ! Good luck !

[busby]

Many thanks for these replies with all the very interesting comments and suggestions.
I'll let you know how I get on. I'm probably in too much of a hurry to learn more, maybe taking it too seriously! Having fun with the system sounds like a good idea. Not having a holiday this year, so the OU course will keep me busy through the probably wet and wild autumn weather of west Wales. But it is such a lovely part of the world, who needs a holiday when they live here!

[busby]

In case my reply to the message received via the ucp didn't get sent (because I think I didn't get the procedure right), to the person who asked how the OU course is going I would answer that I'm finding it very enjoyable. Challenging, yes, but it seems really well structured and I'm learning such a lot. It uses Ubuntu in VirtualBox, and is all done from home, so have had to set that up for a start! Doing plenty of work in the terminal, so the command line is beginning to lose its terrors now. Ubuntu seems pretty indestructible.thank goodness - its had a lot to put up with and so far so good. Am using Windows7 on a different computer for the course, so that I won't mess up Isadora.

For me, even if I don't manage to finish the course, it will be time and brain power (and even money!) well spent.

[DrHu]

I think if you just start with using the system

• Install/remove applications
• Updating the OS
• Learning about the FHS (file hierarchy standard)
  --location of main file types on this Linux and in general
• Learning about package management
  --and not just the GUI (Graphical user Interface, ie the desktop versions)
  --but also apt for this Linux style (Debian../Ubuntu base)
• Asking questions at any time is fine, but it also helps to search yourself, checking other forums (eg Ubuntu, which will have similar fixes/issues as Mint is based from their base set)
  --Kernel + Applications + desktop style + system utilities functions and operations (eg run level scripts (startup processes that run on boot)
• Grub and Grub2 (the one now used)
  --Linux bootloader
• Finally the shell program bash in most Linux distributions (perhaps all!)

FHS
http://www.pathname.com/fhs/
http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.html
Runlevel
http://www.debianadmin.com/debian-and-u ... evels.html
scripts
http://www.freeos.com/guides/lsst/

After that type of learning, then any professional training is the step forward if concentrating on Linux or Open source systems
--although it could be combined with Microsoft OS as an additional skill/knowledge level..

[busby]

Such a helpful post, thank you DrHu. Whatever one learns, there's always more - wonderful!

[minty33]

busby's info is spot as far as good sources for neccessary reading . I'm fairly new to linux as well I'm not a power user anyway but a book I found helpful (and i have alot of linux books) is "comptia's study guide for linux+ cert" it goes over pretty much the nuts and bolts of linux and its not just a how-to guide like many other books that focus on 3rd party aps a specific distro or the GUI. It really explains how things operate within linux. From there you'll know what you want to explore. I suggest reading this book first because while more info is avail on the web like others said that info can be confusing if you don't know where to start and you could get overwhelmed as most of us probably have.

p.s - then newest version was printed 2010 so try and get the current one

[Maik]

Hey busby, just wondering how the course is going / how it went - any update available?

[busby]

Hello Maik, thanks for asking. To my very great surprise and delight I was successful !! Very hard work for a newbie, brain wrung dry, but so rewarding. One of the hardest parts of OU assessments is to work out exactly what the question is asking. So now I must build on the knowledge gained so far. Onwards and upwards!

[Maik]

Hey, busby, thanks for the reply.

I've completed an OU course in the past and didn't find it as thrilling as the brochure description describes and, as you say, figuring out the questions isn't always easy itself.

Good to hear you made it through and find it useful, I'm still tempted.

Maik