The PC Garage — Computer Recycling (Ages 13-18)
In this workshop students fix an old computer and configure it to run Free Software. Participants will take a computer and parts, assemble and test it, and then install the Linux operating system and other Free Software. Presented by the Community Free Software Group in partnership with AAFE and the Three Jewels Outreach Program.
What We Have
Provided by Asian Americans for Equality
Space and Students
This project has been accepted as a part of the general computer training AAFE provides to clients of its Community Technology Center. The Community Free Software Group's project will be one of the first courses offered in a larger new building near Delancey Street in the Lower East Side.
Supplies
Two Phillips screwdrivers per participant, a few pill boxes or similar containers for storing screws and other small parts, spray paint in a few colors, colored sticky contact paper, and anything else that can be used to personalize cases. A roll of 2" wide masking tape for spray painting, as well as lots of old newspapers.
Provided by Three Jewels
Recycled hardware for building several workstations, including some spare parts.
Provided by CFSG
Stephen Lynch is directing this effort. He has experience working with this age group and will be assisted by the other members of CFSG and the staff at AAFE.
A Good Resource
Creating a Successful Computer Reuse Program: A guide and video to creating a sucessful computer recycling program in Computer Technology Centers. Created by the Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute's OTX-West program.
Schedule
- Week 1 - Introductions
- Icebreaker, assign computers by draw, painting and customization.
- Week 2 - Open up the computers and take inventory
- What's that? What does a hard drive look like? Where's the power supply? Look at these two motherboards; see how they're different types? Take a look at these kinds of slots. Here's an ethernet cable and here's a phone cable; now, is that an ethernet card or a modem?
- Week 3
- More talk about hardware types as they come up. Install missing components.
- Week 4 - Power up!
- Identify power supply problems. Poke around the BIOS, discuss BIOS beeps and diagnostic software. Look to resolve obvious hardware problems through the “swap and see” method.
- Week 5 - Pass out the Linux CDs
- “How come we can just pass these out?” Introduce the idea of Free Software. Start the install and discuss Free Software, ownership, and the GPL
- Week 6 - Work on install problems and additions
- Collaboration with local Linux experts to get everything running.
- Week 7 - GNU/Linux 101
- Navigation, using the floppy and CDROM, using the Internet, and editing files.
- Week 8 - Where to find Free Software
- Pick a small but cool application and have everybody download and install it. Have them look for other software that interests them or improves their system. Isn't Free Software great?
- Week 9 - More on installing software
- Source vs. binary, compiling, and packaging formats.
- Week 10 - Overflow
- Week 11 - Overflow
- Week 12 - Download a networkable game
- Have fun!
We've chosen free and open software because it's better, and because it means the children can participate in making the software better over time.