This track is intended for those who have installed Linux but want to learn how to do more with it.

10 AM:  I've Installed, Now What? (DoorToDoorGeek) - The goal of this session is to help the new user understand some basic concepts about Linux, from the philosophy of Free Software to actual hands on step-by-step "task completion",  Examples include: What is a package manager, why do we use one, and the pros and cons; Where does a Desktop Environment (DE) start and stop;  How to install/access other DEs.

Bio:   DoorToDoorGeek aka Stephen McLaughlin a Baltimore native, a full time worker, family man and host five podcast a week, totaling over
350 episodes and easily over 500 hours of content. My Linux goal is to merely learn as much as as I can and share it is as easy to understand fashion as possible, and yes to have fun!

11 AM:  Desktop Environments (Ryan Kather) - TBA

Bio:  Ryan Kather is a long time open source user and advocate.  He has been using Linux and open source software professionally for over 10 years, and has contributed to several open source projects including rsync, pidgin, and cpr-backup.  In his role as an IT Architect for Siemens Enterprise Communications, Ryan has been thrilled to bring open source solutions to the forefront of corporate environments.  When he's not tackling IT hurdles, you can find him fathering his two boys, playing video games, or hanging out with the various hacker and geek groups around the metro-Detroit area.

12  PM:  BREAK

  1 PM:  Command Line Basics for New Users (Scott Courtney) - Almost anything you need to do in Linux can be done from the graphical interface, but there are times when using the command line (the shell) can save you time, especially for doing the same thing many times or working with text files. Graphical interfaces are easy, but the command line is efficient. This class won't teach you everything there is to know about the Linux shell, but it will give you the foundation you need to start learning it gradually, at your own pace, and without fear.

Bio:  Scott Courtney is a Principal Engineer with Sine Nomine Associates, an IT consultancy that provides engineering services and enterprise support featuring Open Source software and tools. He has over 25 years of experience as a computer professional, and has been teaching classes on technical topics as part of his work for over a decade. Scott has been using Linux at home and at work since the late 1990s and is a contributor to several Open Source software projects.
  2 PM:  An Introduction to Libre Office - Session 1 (Kevin O'Brien) - Writer and Impress: These programs have some interesting similarities, and are probably the two modules that every casual user will use. The focus will be on presenting a few skills that every user should try to master, with links to additional material if they want to dive a little deeper after the class.

Bio:  Kevin O'Brien  is a user and supporter of Free Software, President of the Washtenaw Linux Users Group, member of the Ubuntu
Michigan Local Community, and a frequent speaker at Linux User Groups and conferences. He is also an office productivity software geek, and previously created and taught a course for Concordia University on using such applications. He uses LibreOffice daily and is thrilled to promoting it at Ohio LinuxFest.

  3 PM:  An Introduction to Libre Office - Session 2 (Kevin O'Brien) - Calc, Base, and Draw:  The concentration of the session will be about Calc and Draw, with some focus on principles of spreadsheet design for Calc.  Base (the database program) will be covered but not as intensively.

  4 PM: Switching from Apple to Linux (Tarus Balog) - TBA

Bio:  Tarus Balog has been involved in managing communications networks professionally since 1988, and unprofessionally since 1978 when he got his first computer - a TRS-80 from Radio Shack. Having worked as a network management consultant for many years, he was constantly frustrated in the lack of flexibility involved in commercial solutions such as OpenView and Tivoli, as well as shocked by their high prices. Looking for a better solution, he turned to open source and joined the OpenNMS project in 2001 and become the principal administrator of the project in 2002. Since then he has managed not only to make a living working with free software, but the OpenNMS Group, the services company behind the project, has thrived, and currently has over 150 customers in 25 countries.

  5 PM: Intro to Gimp  (Scott Courtney) - This session, intended for newcomers to Linux, will teach you how to use the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) for basic photo editing and file conversions. GIMP is a graphical power-tool, and whole books have been written to explore its nuances, but this class will get you started using GIMP's most popular features.

  6 PM:  Gaming with Linux  (Hans Kokx) - Take a closer look at the past, present, and future of gaming in the Linux operating system.

Bio:  Hans Kokx is an Open webOS core developer, Linux enthusiast, and security nut.  He is currently attending Washtenaw Community College, pursuing a second Associate’s degree in Computer Systems Security to complement his Associate’s degree in Networking.  Hans tore apart and (successfully) reassembled his first computer at the age of 6, and was immediately hooked.  By the age of 13, he was a blossoming Linux user, and by 22 he was a full-fledged sysadmin.  He has presented at the Washtenaw Linux Users’ Group several times in the past, and is excited to present at the Ohio LinuxFest 2012!  Hans is a perfectionist, often to his detriment, who sees the beauty of Open Source and strives to make it better.