Promo/Schools

This section contains information how KDE could be presented at schools. It was created during a Google Code-in project.

Students' Main Interests

Many students are showing their interest on computers very much. However, they sometimes are more familiar with proprietary software since they are not informed about the existence of FOSS. This can be changed though.

Some of the students' main interests and needs could be :

• They like to surf the internet through a fast, stable and easy-to-use browser. Most of the sites they visit contain flash content (e.g. YouTube). Students are keen on visiting social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc.
• They like to play games (usually online multiplayer games) in their computers
• They are using the computer (and unfortunately closed source software sometimes) for several tasks for school like creating and printing documents, searching the net for information about different subjects and many more!
• They like to burn CDs with movies, songs, programs etc.

You should be able to provide a KDE alternative to all those needs and make students feel comfortable when using such software.

Main Ideas for making a successful presentation

• A presentation about KDE software can be organised (the duration of the talk should be about 40-50 minutes)
• After the presentation, a short workshop should follow (in the school laboratory) giving the chance to students to interact with KDE's desktop environment and try some of its programs.
• CDs with KDE software as well as other promotional material can be hand out to students (for example marketing flyers etc.).
• After the presentation, forming a team of students who are willing to volunteer and promote such software would be a great idea. Don't forget to register your team.
• A help desk could be set up in your school (something like a booth in our school) so that students will feel free to ask questions and/or request support for their problems.
• Organizing meetings should be also a great idea in order to collaborate with other students and decide on how we can proceed
• Updating the school's website with information about KDE and FOSS is a good note.
• Last but not least, before the students who form the team of volunteers graduate from school, they should try to find younger students who are willing to volunteer. As a result, the spirit of KDE and FOSS software will continue to live forever in the school.

Making a Plan and getting prepared for your presentation

You could make a plan in order to make your life a lot easier. Creating a plan (or a table) will help you organise things better by putting them in order.

An ideal plan could be :

• Asking for permission from school headmaster; ask to provide space as well as time for the presentation
• Request support and advice from teachers who are teaching about computers; thus,convince them to contribute to KDE
• Form a team of students who are willing to volunteer
• Register our team
• Send a mail to the mailing list; ask for advice as well as for a small amount of material If possible
• Begin preparing the presentation slides and produce locally some swag (flyers,CDs etc.)
• Design a poster for the event. Focus on the strengths of KDE
• Set up a small booth with marketing material
• Make any last preparations
• GO GET THEM !

See If you can make your own plan. It will make your life easier.

Additional tips on how to approach students

• The cost is not something as valuable as quality. It is of vital importance that we focus on KDE's strengths.
  • We could mention that KDE software is :
  • fast
  • easy-to-use
  • easy-to-learn
  • easy-to-interact-with
  • reliable
  • stable
  • and FREE
• Design a small flyer in your language that will provide smalls tips to students and make their life on KDE easier
• Provide CDs, flyers and other marketing material to students for free
• Make the students LOVE KDE and FOSS in general by focusing on the strengths of the COMMUNITY