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

[Daniel Fried]

Bram,

>From my perspective, one of the greatest things you can teach them is good
programming habits.  A good programmer can adapt to any language... if they
have a good foundation.

Because of that, I would tend to argue in favor of languages that impose
more structure, object-oriented development and strongly typed variables.
It's far easier to learn those concepts and then move to languages that
don't require them than the other way around.  From your list, that would
lead me to say Java first with Python next (please avoid PHP).

-Dan

On Sun, Sep 10, 2017 at 7:06 PM, Bram Moreinis <bram at greenfielddigital.com>
wrote:

> 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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