[Hidden-tech] Help me rewrite an old Programming / Web Development Curriculum? CMS, Language, Frameworks

[Donald M Stevens]

Good Evening Bram,

I have a few questions…

Are you trying to teach them something that will get them a job, when they graduate?

Or Are you trying to expose them to all the different technologies that out there, and they will take further training once they graduate?

Are you trying to help them “pass the test” as part of your goal?
I assume there are some “required” teachings you need to provide for the course itself?

I teach students that want to get into the field, but they are looking at all areas. I don’t know much about Java, Php or web development to be able to help you out with what to teach.

One suggestion might be a little background on computers, hardware, networking, some history or advice on what is out there today. Give them an idea of just why or how this programming or scripting interacts with other systems. Understanding the rest of the systems, at least a little, help you become better at the area you specialize in.

Hope this helps some?
Feel free to reach out if you would like to talk sometime.

Thanks,
don


TFI Technologies
“We Speak IT!”
159 Patricia Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Office: 413.209.8333
Cell / Text: 860.614.4153
Email: dstevens at tryandfindit.com<mailto:dstevens at tryandfindit.com>


From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net [mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of Bram Moreinis
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2017 7:06 PM
To: Paul Bissex <paul at bissex.net>; Hidden-Tech Listserv <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
Subject: [Hidden-tech] Help me rewrite an old Programming / Web Development Curriculum? CMS, Language, Frameworks


Hi, Folks.

I just got a job teaching Programming and Web Development at Pathfinder Vocational Technical High School in Palmer.  I love the kids and it's wonderful.

I need to immediately re-do the old curriculum, however.  They were learning Dreamweaver DHTML (so some Javascript).  They learned no databases. They developed project websites with Adobe Muse (the Anti-Coder web tool). And they can't afford Dreamweaver when they leave school, so all of this was dead-end.

There are three types of students: those who want to be web developers, those who want to be coders, and those who like computers and want to learn more.  They are at all different levels ... so I have to balance what would best set them up to be coders (few will be) with what will best get them doing SOMETHING.

The AP Computer Science test is in Java. Last year ONE student out of 10 seemed ready to take it after learning it from a textbook (said the teacher who left).  The others tried to learn from textbooks and failed.  Obviously Java is quite valid to learn ... but what entry level work in Java can they find?  And how to connect it to web development?

Obviously they need to learn together, from a teacher (supplemented by online courses like Udacity) - not from textbooks.  I need a coherent, cumulative curriculum that goes deep into coding, and addresses both the back end and the front end. Ideally we also learn a CMS so everyone can make SOME kind of website without Dreamweaver.

I think I need to teach them:

  *   a server-side coding language - either PHP (because Wordpress), Node.js (because Javascript), Java (because AP Computer Science) or Python (because Python)
  *   a database to connect the language to - MySQL (because Wordpress) or PostgreSQL (because Python)
  *   an associated framework to get comfy with - Symfony (because Drupal and Laravel), etc.
  *   a CMS to get them started - Wordpress (because jobs) ...

What is my best grouping of the four?

  1.  PHP / MySQL / Symfony / Wordpress: enough PHP to make templates and theme files. Many folks want to hire Wordpress developers. But Codecademy says PHP is so unpopular now that they won't update their course in it.  I can't find anything on the web about what php framework Wordpress was developed from, but http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/best-php-frameworks says Drupal used components from Symfony, and that Laravel is based on Symfony.
  2.  Java / MySQL / SpringMVC / dotCMS: only two dotCMS developer jobs on Glassdoor makes me think that won't help them get jobs... but maybe that doesn't matter.  SpringMVC seems to be the most popular Java framework.
  3.  NodeJS / MySQL / Meteor / [Apostrophe]: nobody is looking for Apostrophe.  But since we're parlaying Javascript into Node.js and everyone wants to hire mobile app developers, maybe I should push them and leap off the Wordpress bandwagon, leaving Apostrophe for students who can't hack the coding?   Meteor seems to be the most popular Node.js framework.
  4.  Python / PostgreSQL / Django / Wagtail: The problem is that none of these connect to the Javascript or Java that we know have to be part of the course, and that unlike Wordpress, Wagtail is not a way to get jobs.

It's better if they know how to do SOMETHING well than how to do many things poorly. What would you advise?

Please vote -- and if you have time to explain why, do!

Thanks,

-Bram
--

Martin Bram Moreinis, Designer/Developer
http://myinstructionaldesigns.com
(413) 829-0355


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