This week at TECH CORPS, I primarily worked behind the scenes. I am still an assistant instructor, but I decided to focus solely on being a curriculum designer. I planned out several future programs for TECH CORPS using my computer knowledge and taking into consideration what would be most exciting for students. I came to the conclusion to make a program that focused on Linux Operating Systems and Virtualization, both of which I believe students can find themselves lost in. I have not fully decided on a name for it yet, for now it is the working title is ComputerOps.

To give a brief description of Linux and Virtualization, Linux is a family of operating systems that allows extensive user modification. This had led users to create distributions (called distros for short) to personalize their experiences. Most distros are available to download for free. Popular distro choices include Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Arch. Virtualization is the emulation of an operating system in a controlled environment. Within the virtual space, users are able to freely do as they please without fear of putting their entire computer at risk. Some uses for virtualization include homelabs or debugging.

I believe the two subjects will work exceedingly well together and make for a phenomenal 3-4 week program. What motivated me to think about make this curriculum at all is my personal experience with Linux and observing tech trends over recent years. I have been using Linux for over 2 years; it has been a fantastic experience. The previously mentioned levels of personalization stand out to me as a tech enthusiast. Linux’s lack of constrictions allow for students to flex their creative muscles. Furthermore, Linux-based systems are seeing a worldwide surge in popularity after the past few years. Several countries around the world are making the switch to Linux systems in public and private sectors as well as citizens within those countries using it more in their individual lives. Many experts are expecting usage to only increase going forward, so I believe that it’s the best choice to prepare students for the more technical world ahead of them.