Having had a look at the course structure document, it seems like a great idea to share why we're here. (http://wiki.p2pu.org/w/page/30783467/course-structure) From these accounts it will be easier for us to set our learning objectives.
I'll start.
My name is Dan Hassan and this is the third Linux course that I will be attending. I decided to start learning 'programming' after going to an event in Bradford called HacktionLab (http://hacktivista.net/hacktionlab/index.php/Autumn_2010_Hacklab). A project I had been working on was having issues with it's website (www.threadme.co.uk). We were going to be charged to have the issue fixed. I decided to go to HackLab and see if I could learn how to fix it myself. The event was amazing and there were a few people who ran a workshop on another project called Indymedia (http://london.indymedia.org/) on Hyperactive - a Ruby on Rails application. threadme is also a RoR application, so I came away enthused and determined to learn Ruby!
I got home and didn't know where to start. My background was in printing, bike mechanics and food growing.
After some failed attempts at trying to 'learn Ruby' a friend got in touch to tell me another friend was going to run a 10 week course in Linux Systems Administration. I attended that.
I have since started a one night a week course called Linux Systems Administration at City University in London and now this p2pU course with you guys.
My interest is to try and capture those early learning experinces, crystalize and share...
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Bio
London based. Teaching myself Linux Administation off the back of a co-operative printing project (www.threadme.co.uk), wanting to bring more of our services in house. This splintered off into a multi-vendor project (www.threadmarket.co.uk). The co-operatives I am a member of are members of the secondary co-op Radical Routes (www.radicalroutes.org). I did handle the IT infrastructure at Footprinnt, too (www.footprinters.co.uk)
I'm a bike mechanic at an anarchist bike space in London (www.56a.org.uk/bikeworkshop.html). I am interested in spaces like these which are held in common, where environments of mutual learning are fostered. Spaces where the lines between learner/teacher, mechanic/customer, friend/stranger are blurred.
I'm currently attending two night courses; one in Networking and Linux Administration and another in SQL and Database design.
I'm also interested to hear how people self-organise their time outside of institutions. How to set goals and feel successful with your acheivments. There seems to be a tyranny to structure-less-ness which easily slips into longer working hours with less and less contentedness with what does get done... That said I'm not sure I'd have it any other way. I love learning.