Installfest in July 2025

Better start a time poll according to convenience of students

I am intrested let me know what is the plans

AI Generated Agenda - open to human modifications.

Here's a proposed agenda for a GNU/Linux Install Fest, designed to be informative, helpful, and engaging for participants of all skill levels:

GNU/Linux Install Fest - Agenda

Date: [Choose a Date, e.g., Saturday, August 17, 2024]

Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (8 hours total)

Location: [Venue Name/Address]

Theme: "Unlock the Power of Open Source: Your Journey to GNU/Linux Begins Here!"

Target Audience: Newcomers to Linux, those looking to switch from other OS, students, enthusiasts, and anyone curious about open-source.

Goals:

* To successfully install a GNU/Linux distribution on participants' computers.

* To provide basic knowledge about using Linux.

* To foster a sense of community among Linux users.

* To answer common questions and troubleshoot issues.

Agenda Breakdown:

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Registration & Welcome (30 mins)

* Participant Check-in: Register attendees, provide name tags, and hand out event schedules.

* Welcome Address: Brief introduction by the host/organizer, outlining the day's goals and what participants can expect.

* Icebreaker: A quick, fun activity to help participants feel comfortable and engaged.

* Pre-Install Checks: Volunteers assist participants with basic pre-installation checks (e.g., checking hardware compatibility, backing up data, ensuring charging cables are present).

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: "Why Linux?" - An Introduction (30 mins)

* Presentation: A concise talk on the benefits of GNU/Linux (stability, security, customization, open-source philosophy, community support, cost-effectiveness).

* Brief Overview of Popular Distros: Introduce a few common distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, Pop!_OS) and their general use cases to help participants choose.

10:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Installation Assistance (2 hours 30 mins)

* Guided Installation: Volunteers (installers) pair up with participants.

* Process:

* Helping participants choose a distribution.

* Assisting with creating bootable USB drives.

* Guiding through BIOS/UEFI settings for booting.

* Overseeing the installation process, including partitioning (with strong emphasis on data backup warnings).

* Troubleshooting common installation issues.

* "Installation Station": Dedicated tables or areas for different types of installations (e.g., dual-boot, clean install, virtual machine).

* Self-Help Resources: Provide printed guides or links to online tutorials for common installation steps.

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch Break & Networking (1 hour)

* Provided Lunch: (If budget allows) Simple snacks and beverages.

* Open Networking: Encourage participants to interact with volunteers and each other.

* "Ask Me Anything" Corner: Experienced users or developers available for more in-depth questions.

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Post-Installation & First Steps Workshops (1 hour 30 mins)

* Concurrent Workshop Sessions (Participants can choose one):

* Workshop 1: "First Steps with Your New Linux System" (Beginner-friendly):

* Basic desktop environment navigation (Gnome, KDE Plasma, XFCE).

* Opening applications, file manager basics.

* Connecting to Wi-Fi, managing sound/display.

* Introduction to the "Software Center" or equivalent.

* Workshop 2: "Terminal Basics & Package Management" (Slightly more advanced):

* Opening the terminal.

* Basic commands (ls, cd, pwd, mkdir, rm).

* Introduction to apt, dnf, or pacman for installing software.

* Updating the system.

* Workshop 3: "Productivity Apps on Linux" (Practical Use):

* Showcasing LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC, GIMP, etc.

* Brief demo of how to install and use them.

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Tea/Coffee Break & Informal Q&A (30 mins)

* Opportunity for participants to stretch, grab refreshments, and ask follow-up questions from the workshops or about their new installs.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Customization & Troubleshooting Clinic (1 hour)

* Customization Showcase: Brief demos of how to personalize the desktop environment (themes, icons, wallpapers, extensions).

* Troubleshooting Clinic: Dedicated time for volunteers to help participants with any remaining post-installation issues (e.g., driver problems, dual-boot bootloader issues, specific application installation).

* Resources Sharing: Share links to forums, documentation, and community channels for ongoing support.

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Wrap-up & Community Engagement (30 mins)

* Feedback Session: Collect feedback from participants (surveys, verbal).

* Community Call to Action: Encourage participants to join local Linux User Groups (LUGs), online forums, and contribute to open source.

* Open Mic: Allow participants to share their experience or ask final questions.

* Raffle/Giveaway: (Optional, if sponsors are available) Small prizes related to open source.

* Thank You & Farewell: Acknowledge volunteers, sponsors, and participants.

Pre-Event Preparations:

* Promote the event: Online (social media, tech forums), local colleges/universities, community boards.

* Recruit Volunteers: Experienced Linux users, developers, and general tech enthusiasts.

* Venue Setup: Internet access, power outlets, projector, screen, tables, chairs.

* Materials: Bootable USBs (pre-loaded with popular distros), blank USBs, network cables, power strips, adapters.

* Contingency Plans: For internet outages, power issues, or specific hardware compatibility problems.

* Communication Channel: Create a Telegram/WhatsApp g

roup for volunteers and potentially attendees for real-time updates.