HACKS:

In Los Angeles, a new group has formed that combines MIT OpenCourseware (OCW) with weekly gatherings similar to a Journal Club and a Chautauqua. OCW allows for individualized learning, while the affectionately named Ghetto Institute of Technology (GIT) brings students together to informally discuss the week's lessons. Different participants take turns faciltating lessons, games, and more. A week is being set aside to discuss the optional homework from the first five lessons of the "Information and Entropy" curriculum. For more information, please visit http://www.ghettoinstituteoftechnology.org/. I am interested in continuing this conversation, as well as the context of educational technology.

I would have to think more deeply regarding the question raised with regard to hacker education. My initial response is that hackers are the ultimate self-educators. Resources such as zines, other publications, conferences, and the Internet have allowed us to share research, how-tos, pinouts, tear-downs, forums, and more. Take things apart. Asking questions and learning how to teach oneself are not unique to hackers; they are essential for all free thinkers.

For operating systems specifically, the Linux From Scratch project is a great way to explore how all the pieces fit (or don't) and how to do some serious tweaking, customization and personalization.

My primary resource for self-learning aids is del.icio.us. If there's a subject you want to study, there's someone out there who's found the text you want.