Debian in the Classroom - Episode III: The Students Strike Back (with code)

Track: Introduction to Free Software & Debian

Type: Long talk (45 minutes)

Room: Aula Magna - FADU

Time: Jul 20 (Mon): 14:00

Duration: 0:45

For the third consecutive year, the Free Software Development course at the University of São Paulo (IME-USP) is bringing students into the Linux kernel and Free Software ecosystem. In “Episode III” of our journey, we evolved our curriculum to increase the Debian project’s prominence: students are no longer just learning Debian packaging in isolated workshops; they are actively contributing to Debian in the second phase of the course. This talk shares the challenges, achievements, and actionable strategies from three years of bridging academia and real-world Free Software collaboration.

The audience will leave with actionable strategies to replicate our approach, including: (1) evolving a course curriculum to real Kernel Linux, Debian, and Free Software contributions; (2) assessing student success and engagement beyond code; (3) sustainable engagement strategies for educators and Free Software communities. Whether you are a professor seeking curriculum ideas, a maintainer looking to grow your contributor base, or a newcomer curious about academic pathways, this talk offers a road-tested blueprint for Free Software education.

URLs

etherpad