[scribus] Scribus and DTP classes

[Gregory Pittman]

On 12/05/2010 12:43 AM, John Jason Jordan wrote:
>
> Some additional random thoughts:
>
> Should purchase of the manual be required? Strongly urged?
Considering the scattered feedback that we get about the manual being a 
bit mercenary, we might just stick with a recommendation. At the same 
time, there could be an attempt to consider the topics and material 
discussed in the manual, so that the manual could serve as a useful 
reference, thus underscoring its value as a recommended resource.
>
> I'd suggest that it be aimed at 1.4.0, which will probably be released
> by the time the "school" is running.
>
> It would need a website. Could it be on the Scribus website? Elsewhere?
>
> We need an outline or list of modules or topics. I have no idea where to
> start.
>
It's easy enough to begin by using the wiki, both as a place to start, 
and in particular as a place to shape the content of the course by 
creating a working outline. Christoph was strongly of the mind, and in 
retrospect I fully agree, that we should not have simply jumped into 
creating a manual without a reasonably fleshed-out outline of its 
contents, and I think that the same applies to this course idea.

The upside of doing this on the existing wiki is that the site is known 
and editing is easy enough.
Some downsides are the limited ways that wiki pages can be manipulated, 
and there can be a bit of a free-for-all, depending on who comes in and 
edits. Wikis don't naturally lend themselves to organization. This must 
come from someone or a small group stepping in to encourage, edit, 
perhaps even say that some submissions just aren't up to the desired 
quality.

>
> My original thought was that there would be assignments and volunteers
> would check them over as completed. But after considering the module
> idea I think that is unnecessary and cumbersome. If the student
> completes a module without a problem, there is no need for instructor
> intervention.

I can imagine that those going through this may wish to pursue their own 
ideas such as, for example, learn how to create, edit, and advance the 
sophistication of some newsletter that is the basis for them getting 
interested in Scribus in the first place. What we might provide is some 
guidance toward using various features, nudging toward using Master 
Pages, layers, paragraph styles, and creating a sensible workflow in 
general. We might also come up with some generic kinds of layout 
projects if students can't come up with ideas on their own.

Beyond that, they could get feedback on design, especially creating 
pleasing design according to the intended purpose of their documents.

Greg