Teaching Ruby to Kids

Teaching Ruby to Kids Or, how to do your part for world domination. Sarah Mei Saturday, February 20, 2010 1

Ohai • sarahmei (twitter, github...) • Software engineer @ Pivotal Labs • Teaching is my hobby • Workshops for adults • Workshops for kids Saturday, February 20, 2010 2

Why? Most programming instructors = FAIL. Programming is becoming part of basic literacy. Saturday, February 20, 2010 3

Why should you teach? • It’s rewarding to spread your excitement about programming to someone else. Saturday, February 20, 2010 4

Why should you teach? • It’s rewarding to spread your excitement about programming to someone else. (blah, blah, blah...) • Teaching leads to learning Saturday, February 20, 2010 5

Teaching: not rocket science • You already have all the tools you need • You already use all the techniques you need Saturday, February 20, 2010 6

Agile teaching Look familiar? • Set goals • Form a plan, but expect to adapt • Keep iterations short • Listen to the customer • Deploy continuously and listen to feedback Saturday, February 20, 2010 7

Set goals Speciﬁc, immediate, measurable, achievable Saturday, February 20, 2010 8

I want Aiden to grow up to be a developer. Saturday, February 20, 2010 9

I want Emma to get interested in programming. Saturday, February 20, 2010 10

I want Lily to be so excited that she explores things on her own after we’re done. Saturday, February 20, 2010 11

I want Jack to enjoy programming so much that he looks forward to the next time. Saturday, February 20, 2010 12

I want Ada to be my little clone being so I can subcontract work out to her when she turns 10. Saturday, February 20, 2010 13

I want the kids to leave excited about what they can build, with enough tools to keep exploring. Saturday, February 20, 2010 14

Form a plan (but expect to adapt) • Also known as, “what do I start with?” • Keep your goals in mind. • Tools: • Shoes • Hackety Hack • Small Ruby Saturday, February 20, 2010 15

Notice a theme? • Kids love anything visual • They also love anything interactive • irb: compelling for adults. • (Maybe.) Saturday, February 20, 2010 16

Your plan • Install all the tools you might use on all the computers the kids have access to. • Start small • Use teh intarwebz Saturday, February 20, 2010 17

Keep iterations short • Your “lesson plan” should be a series of very small steps • 15 minutes or less • Visual change Saturday, February 20, 2010 18

Listen to the customer • Follow tangents! • Don’t stick to a plan because it’s the plan • Don’t worry about “ﬁnishing” • Look for teachable moments • Look for signs they’ve turned off Saturday, February 20, 2010 19

Deploy continuously • Teaching is a learned skill. • Take all the opportunities you can to teach. • talks at your local meetup • pair programming • summer camps, etc., need volunteers • National Lab Day • In SF, I always need teachers for introductory workshops Saturday, February 20, 2010 20

Expect some things you try to fall ﬂat. Keep at it. Saturday, February 20, 2010 21

To sum up • You should teach. • You can teach. • Agile is for more than just development. • Practice. Saturday, February 20, 2010 22

Questions Saturday, February 20, 2010 23

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Teaching Ruby to Kids

by Sarah Mei on Feb 20, 2010

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