Recently, I had to create a website, for a Penn State course, to search Tv shows. I was free to select any platform to develop the site on and I've picked Symfony php framework. However, couple weeks into the project I realized that Drupal could've saved me so much time and would've been much more reliable. If only someone mentioned Drupal to me at the right moment...
For another Penn State course, our class is presenting a website solution to a non-profit organization. Research was done by previous classes and they've picked Zope & Plone (python based) CMS. Their reason? Linux/Windows/Mac, Apache, PHP, Mysql server stack is hard to setup. I can agree that initial server setup can be cumbersome. But, tools and software packages (LAMP, MAMP, WAMP) exist to make it easy for an average user to setup a server.
With that in mind, how can we present/promote Drupal to Pittsburgh IT community or to individuals within IT market? I think many organizations are willing to have their own website but are unfamiliar with Drupal. Moreover, most Penn State IT classes include a website project while students aren't really familiar with available solutions. It's not only Penn State, other collages employee students to run department's websites. And a handful of people are able to use an most optimal solution.
Drupal is a do-it-all tool especially with a wide range to available modules and maybe our group can help bring new users to Drupal.
Comments
I'm not sure how this is in
I'm not sure how this is in itself promotion or a promotional strategy but I will agree with you. I know at least at PSU in IT courses there is less emphasis on specific technologies like Drupal and you're taught more so just how to go out and research / find solutions to the problem (being a former IST grad I'm somewhat familiar with the concept ;) ). I'd really like to head up a consortium of major Universities to get educational IT peeps all in the same room talking about the challenges they are facing and overcoming via Drupal. A promotional strategy is usually part of the discussion (see drupalineducation link below for some arguments for/against drupal solutions). Any interest in this from those in the greater Pittsburgh area? I know I'm heading out to Madison for a Drupal Camp they are hosting and I think there's probably enough interest in our area to host one as well. The informal meetings that seem to be going on in the PGH area sound like a good start (wish I could attend, bit far for an hour or two at the bar to talk shop :)).
I'll be contacting you about your experiences though since I didn't know students were using Drupal for course projects and this is my life ;)
"Plaguing the world with Drupal; One Plone, Moodle, Wordpress, Joomla user at a time since 2005." ~ btopro
http://elearning.psu.edu/
http://elearning.psu.edu/projects/
http://elearning.psu.edu/drupalineducation/
Ex Uno Plures
http://elmsln.org/
http://btopro.com/
http://drupal.psu.edu/
I would love to see us start
I would love to see us start exposing different groups to Drupal, particularly college students, non-profits, and even middle school and high school students (who knows, we might find ourselves talking to the next 13 year old Drupal whiz kid).
I know that a number of DrupalCamps have solicited applications from non-profits to have the nonprofit's site redeveloped in Drupal as part of the demonstrations during the DrupalCamp. This may be one way to both promote Drupal to different organizations throughout Pittsburgh and also promote the DrupalCamp event.
Public Library
I would love to get the current Drupal books in the Carnegie Library. Does anyone know how to do that?