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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Haven't seen this in the other comments: Coolness factor. If you're a successfully popular teacher, i.e. "cool", then your students will likely want to participate in whatever it is you suggest.
However, if they don't see you as cool, you might have difficulty, and might even put them off the platform. This is not something that can be fixed easily, and trying to be cool is about as uncool as you can get.
(Making it mandatory will work, of course, but how you go about that could determine whether they choose to stay on the platform once you're done. This was kind of covered by OP talking about Matrix in another comment here.)
Good points. I need to be very thoughtful before i procede. Thank You.