Rails began life aimed at professional developers, but now I'm using it to revolutionize the way kids and adults learn computer programming. Building an app enables non-programmers to step into computer science without the boring theory and math-like courses that have been traditionally used. I'll show the curriculum I'm using at schools like NU and UChicago, in which students pick up basic CS concepts and more, like design patterns, agile principles, critical thinking skills, and teamwork.
I think many developers don't know the wealth of computer science literacy that's gained when new programmers learn Rails for the first time. Students think they're building a fun app, but I use it to introduce fundamental CS concepts along the way. It's been a wonderful way for students to learn CS basics in a manner completely anti-thetical to the standard CS curriculum used across the nation.
Here are the audience takeaways:
- For teachers/mentors, a specific guide on how various aspects of Rails related directly to CS principles and patterns;
- For team leaders, specifics on how Agile principles are embodied into the Rails framework
- For Rails newbies, insight into how much they will learn "by accident" as they learn to follow "the Rails way" in their applications
I will explicitly make visible that which remains somewhat invisible behind all of the "conventions" and DSL sugar of Rails, so that Rails can be appreciated as being much more than just a CRUD framework, but instead the best possible first step into the realm of computer programming.
Over the past three years, I've taught 3-month web development classes at The Starter League in Chicago, providing classes to non-programmers wishing to join the community of application builders and problem solvers. Through our partnerships with local schools and programs, I also teach in the Masters Program at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. I've also taught short-course sessions for teachers in the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Community Colleges, and high school kids as part of NU's Center for Talent Development.
Jeffrey Cohen is the founding instructor at The Starter League in Chicago, a Lecturer at the University of Chicago, and Northwestern University, and co-author of "Ruby on Rails for .NET Developers" (2008), in a continuing mission to open the world of computer programming to folks from all walks of life.