{"id":14697,"date":"2026-11-06T01:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T06:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/?p=14697"},"modified":"2026-11-05T07:51:40","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T12:51:40","slug":"teaching-linux-empowers-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/?p=14697","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Linux Empowers People"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\r\n \r\n <\/i>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/span>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n

I\u2019ve spent much of my life teaching people how to use technology. Along the way, I\u2019ve discovered that teaching Linux and open-source software is about much more than computers. It\u2019s about helping people discover new possibilities, gain confidence, and take ownership of the tools they use every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike proprietary operating systems, Linux isn\u2019t promoted by a single company through expensive advertising campaigns. Much of the message spreads through word of mouth, community gatherings, blogs, and publications like We Love Open Source<\/em>. That\u2019s where people like me come in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I consider myself an open-source evangelist. It\u2019s a challenging role, but it\u2019s also incredibly rewarding. There\u2019s something special about watching someone discover that they don\u2019t need expensive proprietary software to write a letter, create a spreadsheet, edit a photograph, or explore their creativity. When I introduce people to applications like LibreOffice, GIMP, and Inkscape, I\u2019m doing more than demonstrating software. I\u2019m showing them that they have choices. They can create, learn, and share without being locked into a particular vendor\u2019s ecosystem. That freedom is what makes open source so important to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving people more for less<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most people appreciate a bargain, and Linux is one of the best bargains in computing. Many Linux distributions are available at no cost, and they can breathe new life into computers that might otherwise be discarded. I\u2019ve met plenty of people who believe their computer is obsolete simply because it can no longer run the latest version of Windows. Sometimes their hardware is perfectly capable of doing everything they need. It just needs a different operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One experience that stands out involves a gentleman named Pat, who came to our local library with a Windows 10 laptop. His internet service provider had told him that his computer had a virus, and he was also facing the reality that Windows 10 was no longer supported. Situations like Pat\u2019s illustrate why I enjoy introducing people to Linux. A computer someone believes has reached the end of its useful life may still have years of service left. Linux can provide an alternative to replacing otherwise functional hardware. That\u2019s good for the person using the computer, their wallet, and the environment. But saving money isn\u2019t the only benefit. People also gain something less tangible: the satisfaction of discovering that they have options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helping people succeed with Linux<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People often ask me what it takes to help someone switch from Windows to Linux and make the change stick. My answer is simple: success. When someone sits down at their newly configured Linux computer and discovers that they can browse the web, write documents, check email, watch videos, and accomplish their everyday tasks, their confidence grows. The biggest obstacle to adopting Linux isn\u2019t necessarily technical. It\u2019s familiarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People have spent years using Windows. They know where to click, how to open their favorite applications, and how to navigate the desktop. Even when they\u2019re frustrated with Windows, the familiar can feel safer than the unknown. That\u2019s why I often recommend Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop environment. Its interface is familiar enough that many Windows users feel comfortable almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I\u2019m teaching someone new to Linux, I don\u2019t begin with the terminal or a discussion of software licenses. I start by showing them how to turn on their computer and navigate the desktop. We explore the applications they already recognize, including familiar web browsers. Then I introduce LibreOffice Writer and Calc as alternatives to the word processor and spreadsheet programs they\u2019ve used before. For those who enjoy watching DVDs or other videos, I demonstrate VLC. For people who enjoy photography, drawing, or graphic design, I introduce GIMP and Inkscape. The important thing is to meet people where they are. I want them to experience an early success, because that success creates the confidence to keep exploring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, this is about more than operating systems. It\u2019s about recognizing that technology should serve people, not the other way around. When we help others discover Linux and open-source tools, we\u2019re participating in something larger\u2014a movement toward digital independence and creative freedom. Every person who successfully writes their first document on LibreOffice or edits a photo with GIMP is taking a small step toward greater autonomy over their own work and expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I continue to share what I\u2019ve learned, my goal remains the same: to help more people realize that they don\u2019t need permission from corporate giants to create, learn, or thrive in the digital world. The tools are available, the community is welcoming, and the possibilities are limitless. All it takes is someone willing to take the first step\u2014and perhaps, a teacher like me to show them the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve spent much of my life teaching people how to use technology. Along the way, I’ve discovered that<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":5983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-linux"],"modified_by":"David Both","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14697"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14698,"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14697\/revisions\/14698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.both.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}