[Fhsst-authors] Re: Science Textbook Project (fwd)

[Mark Horner]

Hi all,

for recruiting purposes we are gonna put an article in the Science for
Africa online magazine. We'll break the maths and chemistry stuff into
sections and assign them to volunteers - and then we can edit for flow
etc. See message below:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 11:16:32 -0800
From: Science in Africa <address@hidden>
To: Mark Horner <address@hidden>
Subject: Re: Science Textbook Project

Hi Mark

Good to hear from you.

The project sounds fantastic.

What I suggest is that we write an article on this - basically what you have
below and then just simply invite people to get involved. Something short -
need not be long. Would also not hurt to try to get some radio coverage as
well. Could you get something in a news article piece by the end of the
week? I could then edit for you and we could place it in the next edition
and announce in our newsletter.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Janice



----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Horner" <address@hidden>
To: "Janice Limson" <address@hidden>
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 1:19 AM
Subject: Science Textbook Project


> Hi Janice,
>
> I am a PhD student in physics at UCT. We met briefly at the 2002 Science
> Festival (waves at UCT). I am writing to you to ask for some assistance
> on a project I have started with some other students at UCT. We are
> looking for some volunteers and you have an audience of people who might
> be able to help.
>
> First let me tell you about the project: I have started working on a
> project to create a 'free' High School science and maths textbook. To do
this we have decided
> that no single person can give up hundreds of hours of their time to write
it and
> just give it away. To solve this we are writing it less efficiently but so
> that no single person has to lose too much time. We have 9 people already
> and we have written more than 100 pages. We are taking this serioulsy. Our
> website, which is used for administration not publicity, is
> http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/fhsst
>
> We are looking for people who can write a few pages/sections which we
> incorporate and then we look for people who can spend some time editing it
> for flow. So with enough people we can produce an entire book that is the
> sum of many small individual efforts.
>
> Ultimately it will need credibility and to this end we will have guest
> editors with good credentials for each of the sections. In addition we
> have the support of the education department here at UCT and they will, as
> part of their syllabus, have their teachers-in-training help edit it so
> that it meets the outcomes based layout.
>
> I feel that such a textbook could really help students. If it is released
> free so that it can be printed for the cost of materials (R30 a copy for
> science and maths) alone it will be easy to get sponsorship to distribute
> it to schools that need books. We have done research and there are many
> schools who could benefit. The Mindset project (www.mindset.co.za) also
> needs materials and we could solve their maths and physics materials
> problems completely.
>
> So what I am trying to do is find people to write some sections or provide
> worked examples in maths or science. I would give everyone due credit and
> nobody will stand to gain financially from the project - it is purely a
> charitable undertaking. It will be released under the GNU Free
> Documentation Licence.
>
> Do you think that it might be possible for us to use your online magazine
> for recruiting purposes? Unfortunately we have no budget whatsoever - our
> website is hosted free and everyone so far has given up their time for
> free. I will glady provide you with any other details you want.
>
> I look forward to hearing from you.
>
> Your sincerely,
>
> Mark Horner
>
> Physics Department
> University of Cape Town
> Rondebosch
> 7700
> South Africa
>
> Phone: +27 21 650 3366 (office)
> Phone: +27 83 564 6272 (cellular)
> Fax:   +27 21 650 3342
>
> Homepage:
> http://hep.phy.uct.ac.za/~horner
>
> Co-author:
> http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/fhsst
>
> "It went well. There are no problems, and, as a bonus, it showed that I
> have a brain!"
> - Stormers and Springbok backrower CORNE KRIGE speaking after undergoing a
> precautionary brain scan after a clash of heads during a Super 12 match.
>