[Edu-sig] Edu Summit at PyCon ?

[Vern Ceder]

Trevor Toenjes wrote:
> Who is also part of pycon-organizers and can jump start some activity?
> 
Of course, Trevor and I are on pycon-organizers, but we both are in the 
coordinating business already, Trevor with sponsorship and me with the 
poster session. I can help some, but I'm reluctant to take the lead.

> Vern Ceder wrote:
>> Actually, we've probably been more active than most - every year 
>> members of edu-sig have gone out to dinner and spent an open space 
>> evening together. Naturally more publicity and support would always be 
>> welcome.
> If this is satisfactory to everyone, then that is that. (the thread 
> seemed to die quickly)
> 
> But if there is a desire to accomplish more ... then it requires some 
> organization and effort.
> My offer is open ended to do publicity if the group decides to organize 
> the beginning of something more formal like an Education Summit.  I am 
> glad to help find additional space if need and do press releases, etc.  
> Who can work on this?

Yeah, the real question is whether we want to move to something more 
formal. We've usually had something like 20-25 show up for part or all 
of the open space, so we could probably expect to have enough mass for a 
more formal summit.

The other summits have met during a tutorial day, which might be a 
problem for some of us in getting more time away from classes, an extra 
night of hotel, etc. OTOH, if we have a summit during PyCon we either 
have to take an evening or miss a chunk of talks.

The past couple of years Andy Harrington and I have done the following:

* setup a page on the PyCon wiki to collect attendees, topics and dinner 
plans (Vern)
* publicized our meeting on this list (Vern)
* researched a restaurant and made reservations (this is something that 
someone local is best equipped to do) (Andy)
* reserved an open space room for our evening conversations (Andy)

Other than the barest get-things-started nudge, we haven't had much need 
for a moderator or the like - we've just let the conversation flow.

I can certainly set up the wiki page again, and will back Trevor up (if 
needed) in asking pycon-organizers for the space. With Trevor's offer to 
do publicity, a coordinator's role would mainly (I think) be:

* manage outreach to potential attendees/invitees and the ed community 
(esp. those in the Atlanta area)
* work out a format and agenda, etc
* pitch the idea to the pycon-organizers, with Trevor and me (at least) 
as backup
* coordinate with Trevor on overall location and publicity needs.

>> I would also appreciate it if someone had the academic contacts and 
>> the time to pursue them. However, I doubt that we can tinker with the 
>> tutorials much at this point. OTOH, posters, lightning talks, and open 
>> space are all very well suited for both educators and students, so it 
>> would be good to get the word out. Anyone?
> Who will volunteer to start the grass-roots advocacy and call academics 
> around Atlanta and invite them and their students to PyCon and to meet 
> with the edu group?
> 
> 
Cheers,
Vern

-- 
This time for sure!
    -Bullwinkle J. Moose
-----------------------------
Vern Ceder, Director of Technology
Canterbury School, 3210 Smith Road, Ft Wayne, IN 46804
vceder at canterburyschool.org; 260-436-0746; FAX: 260-436-5137