[ Intent ] [ Observation ] [ Foundation ] [ Resources ] [ Plan ]
Hello everyone!
Here is our weekly monday report.
I deleted the original post that brought us together, but here is the 2nd post I made.
My original intention was to find someone which I could share my technological insights with. My plan was to create an exchange of information, where I could gain insights into my mentees understandings, on which ever topic the mentee understood and was willing to explain to me, in exchange for my time guiding them through the various levels of computer usage.
What a innocent intent!
Now, several strong, the Tecknowledge community is reimagining itself as a foundation for learning. This sort of foundation is one I have had in mind for some years, and it began with 'Dome Computing'. In the past I lived in a small town, and after some years there I became the 'go to' person for technology problems. I mainly dealt with people needing simple guidance, but after some time envisioned a system would facilitate their learning on its own – and my computing map was born.
The map was created out of watching people who wanted to learn, but often had an incomplete idea of the levels of knowledge that they sought – for example, people who were already on the desktop, inquiring as to how to go about certain tasks – who would inevitably have dim understandings of how the keyboard worked, what the desktop was and how it was layed out, or even what all of the buttons on the mouse did.
Once realizing this, I began to work on my map, and developed my ideal as to how learning worked, in general.
In this system, there are four levels of computer knowledge which depend on the previous levels to operate.
Level 1: New to computing, not very sure about what happens under the hood of the GUI. Level 2: Familiar with the basics of networking, file systems, and computer operation Level 3: Knowledge of programming, multimedia creation, security, etc Level 4: Application of the knowledge of the previous 3 levels into creating new systems and improves/innovates upon established methods
These are just my observations.
When I realized this, I understood that people who essentially rush into computing, motivated by free videos on youtube, or online multiplayer games, or whatever task they wished to perform, often overlooked fundamental information that didn't seem directly related to their goals. So teaching people how to achieve their goals wouldn't necessarily enhance their computing experiences, and would possibly only further confuse them once they arrived at another point of misunderstanding.
As an aside, I often noticed when people came to me claiming they needed X done, or were having problems with Z, asking me for a solution, that they were not able to fully assess the problem, and were fixated on a resolution which wasn't always related.
So I began to concentrate on the hierarchies of interaction necessary for advanced computing to operate. As an innate trouble shooter, I always found knowing the system within which the problems occurred, and knowing the systems that interacted with that system, as invaluable in understanding what as going on.
This is my foundation for teaching.
Built upon that system is the ideal that everyone can teach, and that everyone can learn, and that in teaching, new information can be acquired if one is open to it.
This brings us to Tecknowledge.
I have a lot of ideas on what TK can become. As a group we can help each other, grow together, and eventually provide helpful products for others.
How we go about that is the big question!
My view on hacking is that it is an Art; one that cannot be taught. Each hacker will define their own view of the craft. But if we hack together, learning and exchange increases exponentially.
So this community will need lots of input from you - as much energy as you can put in will dictate your experience. Finding ways to help others will enhance your own understandings.
So what is TK? It is our way of getting and simultaneously giving back.
How will we do this? By honing our own skills and learning habits, so that others can benefit from what we have learned. One easy way for this to occur is by taking lots of notes and sharing them.
Our group is composed of learners from all of the above four levels of knowledge, meaning that we should be able to all help each other.
The Plan
What I believe I can offer to the group as it is now is a place to be, a framework to operate within, and the guidance to keep us together. So we have a number of sites to use, a hierarchy to fill out over time, and a mode of operation which welcomes inquisitiveness and learning.
I will be working on 'quizzes' which will determine which level each of us are at, and show what we need to learn to reach the next level of understanding. Also I will work further on tasks for each of us – but one thing should be clear!
This will not be a replacement for school! If you are currently enrolled, you should use that as a base for your learning, and TK as a supplement.
All input will be welcomed as to the direction of our community, so please take some time to write about what you think and want!
Finally, let us welcome a long-time friend of mine into the group - /u/toespaz. He is currently employed as a Cybersecurity engineer, and has shared a story of a currently active criminal scam that he has run into, and is trying to figure out how to circumvent. Any input towards stopping these criminals will be helpful!
Placing ones self into the criminals shoes, and thinking like that criminal, will show valuable insight into how their minds work, and may lead to discovering a flaw in their operation – which could shut it down.
Wouldn't we all like to stop the hacks? It starts with us – lets hack ourselves, and make sure that we are all secure, then look into the world, and try and further secure it.
Resources
Here are the current resources that we are using:
Reddit – Post stories, articles, links, questions and discussions IRC – Real-time text chat Discord – Real-time voice chat Trello - Where lists where will be kept, and lessons, etc shared Github - Where our code and projects are kept, as well as other data
You may want to sign-up for the above services; private message me when you do.
Additionally, I have Linux shell access I can offer as well as a private IRC server we can use on my network – message me in private for more information. There will also be web access, so each member can experiment with various web resources from the shell.
Lastly, TK is now open - I originally decided to keep it private due to the influence of the reddit HowToHack community – they seemed a bit closed minded and argumentative about the original post that brought us together – but now we are separate from them, and I'd like to open up to new people.
If you know either a computer neophyte, an advanced user, or someone in a professional field who would like to learn, or share what they've learned, please direct them to /r/tecknowledge or pass their name to one of our moderators.
The only information I'd like to keep private is our IRC server and shell IP/port.
Have a good day/afternoon/evening, and please leave any input below.
~Thanks!
