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Introduction

FOSS Training has become a novel business opportunity for new and existing businesses as FOSS is becoming more and more mainstream. As more and more mature FOSS applications emerge, businesses who want to use them require training. Growing investment in FOSS applications are expected to continue in following years leading to growing training needs and opportunities. The Open World Forum road-map for 2020¹ predicts that 40% of jobs in IT will be FOSS related and highlight the challenges associated with the shortage of skilled FOSS professionals. The authors assume a 2% growth rate of IT employment annually, which translates directly into 1.5 million jobs in Europe i.e. the creation of 1.2 million completely new jobs (Open World Forum Roadmap, p 69). Thus, the modules in this topic will build on previous topics on basic FOSS concepts in Module 1, African FOSS business experiences as demonstrated by the case studies in Module 2 and some FOSS business and management skills (Modules 3 - 5) to addresses the skills and knowledge required to organise FOSS training in the African context.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand some of the requirements for becoming a FOSS trainer.

2. Be able to identify and seize the opportunities that exist for FOSS training as a business.

3. Gain the knowledge and skills required to organise and provide FOSS training.

4. Appreciate the benefits of peer production of Open Educational Resources and Open Content.

5. Understand the crucial role of communication.

Sessions and Timetable

The entire content in this topic is estimated to be delivered in 2 days, with some variations within the modules. For instructional purposes, the content of this module can be delivered as proposed in the summarized table below.

Time	Session
9:00 – 10:30	Completion of Module 5
10:30 - 10:45	Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:15	How to be a FOSS Trainer
12:15- 13:30	Lunch
13:30 – 15:00	FOSS Training as a Business
15:00 – 15.15	Coffee Break
15:15-17:00	Invited talks: Discussion of FOSS training Experience, FOSS Business in Africa, FOSS in Government, FOSS in Education
	Next day

9:00 – 10:30	Organising Training
10:30 - 10:45	Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:15	Training Material Development
12:15- 13:30	Lunch
13:30 - 15:00	Open Educational Resources and Open Content
15:00 - 15:15	Coffee Break
15:15 - 17:00	Training Communication Skills Training Communication Skills End of Module

Module 6 contains the following sub-modules:

Module 6.1 How to be a FOSS Trainer. Read more...

Module 6.2 FOSS Training as a Business. Read more...

Module 6.3 Organising Trainings. Read more...

Module 6.4 Open Educational Resources and Open Content. Read more...

Module 6.5 Communication Skills. Read more...

New! Module 6. Assignments and Answers. Read more...