Comparative learning potentials of OSs [LWN.net]

Comparative learning potentials of OSs

Posted Feb 6, 2007 13:57 UTC (Tue) by NAR (subscriber, #1313)
In reply to: Comparative learning potentials of OSs by copsewood
Parent article: Comparing Linux and Minix

For those like myself whose main application for computers is learning and education we have to be concerned much more about measuring the learning that is achieved using different kinds of software than its technical performance in other areas.

One of the best ways to learn about software is to fix it, so using this metric a broken (and fixable!) software could be "better" than the working software - but I guess most users would not agree with this "better" concept.

But given the rapid pace of change, and the pressing economic needs of all computer users to keep skills and knowledge relevant, who isn't in a similar position ?

The casual (i.e. not software developer) users? See the other thread about the 3D desktops - people are not willing to invest a couple of hours of reading documentation and changing configuration parameters to achive a better desktop, they prefer a solution that "just works", that has better default values. And changing configuration parameters is quite far from understanding how the software actually works.

Bye,NAR

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Comparative learning potentials of OSs

Posted Feb 6, 2007 15:44 UTC (Tue) by copsewood (subscriber, #199) [Link]

Yes it's true that having software lacking usability doesn't help learning in most situations. The question is whether the user interface hides its operational environment too impenetrably to allows this to be explored. I agree that getting a new user started with sensible defaults does help avoid a learning curve so steep that it seems like a brick wall, which prevents learning through successful use.

What I suggested as a problem at the top of this thread is where the design of the software prevents contextual learning by creating a plateau. I have observed that it is very difficult for some of my students who have only ever seen Windows-style applications to go beyond the limitations of these. I think the learning plateau they have become accustomed to is a real problem for weaker students when exposed to command line usage for the first time, having encountered few if any comparable learning opportunities and difficulties since they started learning how to read an write.

So a question I am asking is "how to design software such that a learning curve exists which is neither too steep, nor results in a plateau at a superficial level of understanding".

While changing a configuration doesn't give an understanding of how something works it does help with understanding what it can do, which I think is a prerequisite to understanding what goes on inside the black box.

Comparative learning potentials of OSs

Posted Feb 7, 2007 21:28 UTC (Wed) by landley (subscriber, #6789) [Link]

Documentation is nice. An up-to-date version of this would be a good
start:
http://www.faqs.org/docs/kernel_2_4/lki.html