History (by Anita McAnear)

Paul Nelson proposed the E-mail Garden for NECC 2003. Paul Nelson is a high school technology teacher in Portland, Oregon. His idea was to bring his students and the thin-client computers they had refurbished and outfitted with Linux and other open source software plus a server and set up e-mail stations for participants to become familiar with Linux as they did their e-mail. The students supported the network and attendees doing their e-mail as well as answered questions about Linux and demonstrated some of the other open source software on the machines. His idea fit nicely with the learning environment plans that we had with NCCE for NECC 2003 as he had done something similar for the NCCE conference.

A little to my surprise, Paul asked if his students could come to NECC 2004 in New Orleans to do the same thing plus offer mini-sessions on open source software. Paul raised funds through Red Hat (a Linux company) and his local parent organization to bring six students and a couple of teacher/chaperones. NECC provided some food via the student showcase food.

Paul’s son was getting married about the same time as NECC 2005, so he was unable to consider coming for NECC 2005. He is very active on a listserv with other schools doing similar projects and ... found Steve Hargadon, who has a Web site/organization called Technology Rescue, which helps schools and other humanitarian projects with reliable and affordable computing, and Mike Lichtenwalner from a school district in Pennsylvania, who wanted to continue with the e-mail garden. Neither Steve nor Mike had students they could bring. [Jeff Elkner and Paul Flint brought students from his Computer Science classes in Arlington Public Schools, Arlington, VA.]

Value to NECC

This program component has evolved into a rich and valuable learning environment for attendees that involves students and exposes educators to some viable alternatives to achieving reliable and affordable technology infrastructures. It also offers a very valuable experience for the students. And the students tend to be of both genders.

Future of E-mail Garden Now called the Open Source Lab

I propose that we continue with the component as long as we have a dedicated teacher who can bring students and raise funds to cover their expenses. The current student showcase food budget covers the extra students for breakfast and lunch on conference days.

There is still the question of the name. The e-mail stations were the draw-in for educators, but calling it the e-mail garden is not totally accurate. I would recommend some name brainstorming with Paul and this year’s coordinators and then a recommendation to Donella and the program folks for a final decision.

Anita McAnear, NECC National Program Chair

Original NECC Listing (?):

Hosted by Riverdale High School (Portland, OR), the E-mail Garden/Linux Lab features students engaged in an open source environment using the Linux operating system. Mini-workshops will be given hourly on free, open source software and its uses in the curriculum. Stop by, check your e-mail, and learn about Linux and other open source software.

Monday and Tuesday, 9am–5 pm; Wednesday, 9 am–2:30 pm