DrupalCampNYC 7 Intro Track Planning Discussion
So I have a somewhat ambitious idea to expand on the hands-on intro track at DrupalCampNYC.
For reference I'll refer to some previous posts from prior DrupalCampNYCs.
- http://groups.drupal.org/node/19412 (Instructions to students prior to event for DCamp6)
- http://groups.drupal.org/files/PresentationNotes2.pdf (Detailed instructor notes, as originally posted here - http://groups.drupal.org/node/19610)
- http://groups.drupal.org/node/13828 (An older discussion thread on evolution of the intro track. Outdated now, but helpful if you would like to get a little historical background).
If you review the presentation notes you can see that the intro track is VERY intro (makes no assumptions), but is also VERY hands-on. You'll also notice that it pretty much ends with the student having built a basic site, but only minimal exposure to creating and theming a cck type and no exposure to views.
This is OK for the time we've alloted, and it really works at introducing all the major core components of a drupal site to the newbie. Drupal gotchas, concepts and jargon than many of us take for granted now are exposed through this hands on intro.
Here is where I'm thinking of taking this further.
I'd like to continue to build this simple site example to spend additional time on building content via cck, and continue by introducing use of Views with a decent bit of intro theming in there. The goal would be twofold...
- Have a solid hands on intro that really gets to a basic, but somewhat finished site with the tools a newb to Drupal really needs to be aware of.
- Have exercises built out and recorded so that this can be contributed to the community at large. I'm thinking through the auspices of the newly invigorated drupal-dojo project.
By contributing this we help other camps who may want to do something similar. We also make it available to others to expand and improve on so that it can continue to grow. An open source curriculum as proposed by the drupal-dojo project is something I'm quite interested in.
So what do we have and what do we need? - and who wants to help!
Basic outline
Note: All below sessions would be building a single site.
- Installfest (30 min of class time)
Plan here is to publish detailed instructions to set up a local environment and download needed materials for training (as we have previously done)
Help those who need it at the start of the camp, but keep the "class time" on this to a minimum (hopefully no more than 30 min) - Drupal basics (90 min of class time)
Cover setting up a drupal install and drupal basics. Basically the material in my presentation notes up till, but not including cck - Build out your site with CCK and basic CCK theming (60 min)
- Present your site with Views and maybe touch briefly views theming (60 min)
I have material to cover the first two parts and I'm willing to deliver that myself. Where I'd like help is to build out enough hands on material to go through the other two parts with a unified site example (CCK and Views), and get volunteers to deliver those two parts. The volunteers for those two parts would have to skim the lab material so they understand where in the site development they are picking up the example and what exactly they are building with the students.
I also propose to use Demo module (http://drupal.org/project/demo) to capture snapshots of the site being built at various points in time. That will allow instructors who may use this in future to quickly pick up key points in the exercise, and it will allow the instructor delivering the session to very easily get the students all to the same point by applying the appropriate snapshot.
Anyone game for this? If so, comment below and let's get a working group together to get this done!
Ical feed
To refresh memory on past
To refresh memory on past events. i have solicited and found a sponsor for dedicated server that is now the property of new york drupal user group (despite my name being on the contract etc). We can setup a learning sandbox environment and even do cool things like [username].nyctestbed.org during camps and what not.
My only concern would be to make sure no one engages in illegal activity on the server.
Sandbox accounts sound great
What would be the request procedure to get one going? Let me know.
For actual day of event training though I'd probably still want to shoot for having the students set up and work on a local environment. My experience from past camps is that although the wireless is quite good (better than many camps I've attended) it still doesn't work for everyone and there can be intermittent issues. Those sorts of things can really kill to flow of a hands on class. Also, it's a real boon to students to have a local environment to play with also.
I could definitely see doing a short "here's how to set up your NYC sandbox" at the end though!
Ambitious goals. I like
Ambitious goals. I like that. However, I have to wonder if people don't hit a point of saturation overload? I can't recall have we had a sense of people wanting more at the end of the last intro sessions, or was it more that they were wrung out from getting so much information so quickly?
I'm kicking around the idea of an advanced track that would run at the same time as the intro track. Although, this idea is quite preliminary and based around the idea that my work schedule lets up between now and then. I am thinking:
New to Drupal -> Intro Class
New to Developing for Drupal -> Advanced class.
Not trying to hijack the thread, just curious if we should be architecting a bigger picture of Learning Tracks, for the drupalcamps?
Treslervania
I'm not sure we can answer that till we try
I'm not sure we can answer that till we try Sam. Usually I'm rushing at the end trying to do at least something with CCK as I know how important that will be to the new drupaller.
By stretching it out a bit more (with one instructor picking up from another) I feel like we can cover that basic cck/views stuff pretty nicely.
I imagine you are correct. I
I imagine you are correct. I keep running up against the thought that we need to somehow break this down into more manageable chunks, and I think what I am landing at is that you can't in a single day. What you can do, is exactly what you are proposing.
However, I keep feeling a need to offer up a more comprehensive Drupal training track in NYC, however, I don't know that that would be camp-material. We should perhaps have an local Drupal education track during this camp for those interested in teaching.
Anyway, I know that is all terribly vague. Once these thoughts coalesce some more, I'll probably propose a session regarding it.
Treslervania
Update on AMP Stack planned for this
Couple of quick updates...
Considered using the Acquia stack installer (having never looked at it before), but after giving it a whirl decided against using it for the Intro class. I probably could have overlooked some of the branding, but more importantly it is a little "too" automatic. It actually does the whole install for you finishing with a rather different "welcome to drupal" screen than typical. I felt like this would lead to some teaching sore points as I'd be teaching a procedure that would not be the same as a stock drupal install.
So current plan is I'm going to use drush to quickly dump all the modules needed to my machine and zip the whole drupal folder with majority of modules already in sites/all/modules (perhaps leave one out on purpose for demonstration of how to install a module totally from scratch). The good news is with drush this becomes a fairly trivial 2 or 3 minute task to perform a couple of days before the camp date.
On another note, I volunteered to do this at the New Paltz camp this week. Probably a smaller and different crowd than we usually get at NYC camp, but still a good chance to try a few new things.
Additional thoughts and ideas on intro session
So having just delivered the intro session once again at last weekend's Hudson Valley drupal camp I've had some additional thoughts and ideas that I'd like comment on.
To cover Drupal hands on from setting up local lamp environment/settings, to installation, to basic site setup and drupal components/concepts, and ending with a tad bit of CCK and theming (only demo on the theming) - it is clearly a full 3 hours.
Now to cover especially CCK + Views and on into intro to theming your really need a full day or two to do it hands on. I would point to Zivtech's offerings and Lullabot's 5 or 6 session web based offering as two good examples.
In my mind this presents a problem for the drupal camp environment. The big problem is I think it is probably unrealistic to expect anyone to instruct this consistently when we are only having one day camps as it pretty much kills half the day for that person. I think a two hour session would be more palatable (to me and anyone who might venture to do this in future). So where does that leave us....
Skip the hands on install drupal in camp environment
Reduce the hands on to 2 hours
Find some way to do the 3 hours and still leave the instructor with time to attend other sessions (since they are there to camp too!)
So you can see where I'm going. I'm proposing that we go for #3, but do it as follows:
A. Have a drupal "installfest" at 9:00 AM at Poly. Since the event starts at 10, that gives a whole hour to do this before we get into barcamp session planning. All we would need to do this would be two or three volunteers to come early and help out. We split the students into a "Windows", "Mac" and (wishful thinking) "Linux" room. Help them get a LAMP stack going with WAMP or MAMP as the case may be, briefly going over LAMP basics (setting key php variables, etc.), and finally get them through just the basic drupal install.
B. The intro students can then participate in breakfast + introductions + barcamp session planning so they don't miss out on that (critical part of the community experience!!).
C. The intro session proper starts immediately following barcamp session planning, but now should fit quite nicely into a 2 hour window.
That gives the drupal newbies a full 3 hour, they leave with a running drupal install and understanding of drupal basics, and whoever is instructing still has plenty of day left to enjoy the camp themselves.
Only issue I see is making sure we have a handful of volunteers for installfest, and that we communicate very clearly to the invite list "Hey if you want a real hands on intro you must come for 9 am!". Otherwise you'll just be watching others.
Anyone want to throw darts at this plan?
No darts
No darts; I think your last proposal is an excellent idea. I'd volunteer to help with the installfest, but I think my time that morning will be busy with getting everything else set up. I should be able to jump in to help occasionally though. I know you're not keen on the DAMP installer, but you could always present that as an option - people can either come to the installfest at 9, or try setting up drupal with DAMP ahead of time and just come along to the regular beginners session. I think that something is lost by not going through the full process with MAMP/XAMP, but at least then people would have a local install of Drupal to follow along with.
http://www.thomasturnbull.com
http://twitter.com/thomasturnbull
Good feedback - so maybe DAMP as option 3
Something like...
Option 1 (most recommended) - Come for 9 am installfest where you will get a LAMP stack running on your Win/Mac/Linux machine + basic drupal install ready to go for intro course
Option 2 (experienced "LAMP" folks) - For those already familiar with how to set up a LAMP stack including configuration of basic php.ini and comfortable getting basic drupal installed themselves. We point them to instructions, but warn that we won't have time to support installs after 10 am. They'll need to have a default drupal ready to go themselves.
Option 3 - A not as instructionally valuable option, but an easy option especially suitable for those who will have others to maintain their base drupal installs - use DAMP.
Additional thoughts??
Let me throw this out there
The camp is already full up and we have approximately 45 days or so till it happens. Can we do an email call STRONGLY urging people to have gone through a LAMP setup, and a Drupal install now. Then have a preliminary 'installfest' at this months meetup, and vis-a-vis email to the people who are knowledgeable directly with the end goal being that we actually have everyone up and running by Dec. 4?
I think with enough over-communication that this might be a reachable goal to circumvent this completely on day of.
Thoughts?
Treslervania
good idea
I'd be up for helping with an installfest pre-camp. In the past there have been many people new to Drupal who have come to the camp, but never come to the meetups afterwards. This would be a great way to introduce people to the meetups and the NYC Drupal community, as well as streamlining the beginners session on the day of the camp.
http://www.thomasturnbull.com
http://twitter.com/thomasturnbull
I would say install fest at the meetup would be a 4th option
But it won't replace the other three.
Reason I say that is the LAMP setup portion of the class is not a simple rote following of instructions. As I'm having them do it I talk at a high level about the individual components of LAMP and especially as I go through the appropriate php.ini settings there is an excellent opportunity to build appreciation and understanding of the environment in which Drupal operates.
At a practical level I think installfest at a meetup in November is an excellent idea, but many intro students come from too far away to join us for that on a weeknight. I recall from previous camps that we get many folks from the "greater" metro area like mid CT, NJ, PA, etc. who would not be able to come to meetups.
If we're going to do a blast email and overcommunicate (which I'm all for), lets include these four options in this order. And let's wait till we know when the November meetup is so we can provide all the information rather than providing it in dribs and drabs...
Option 1 (most recommended) - Come to the DrupalNYC meetup on MM/DD for an installfest where we will help you get a LAMP stack running on your Win/MAC/Linux machine + basic drupal install ready to go for the intro track at DrupalCampNYC 7.
Option 2 (highly recommended) - Can't make the November meetup? Come for 9 am installfest the day of the camp where you will get a LAMP stack running on your Win/Mac/Linux machine + basic drupal install ready to go for intro track.
Option 3 (experienced "LAMP" folks) - For those already familiar with how to set up a LAMP stack including configuration of basic php.ini and comfortable getting basic drupal installed themselves. We point them to instructions, but warn that we won't have time to support installs after 10 am. They'll need to have a default drupal ready to go themselves.
Option 4 - A not as instructionally valuable option, but an easy option especially suitable for those who will have others to maintain their base drupal installs - use DAMP.
How does that sound? That may at least give us a smaller number of folks to deal with at 9 am on camp day. I would only need one other person to help me and could probably do the installfest on camp day myself in a pinch.
Sounds about right. Will
Sounds about right. Will revisit when we know the next meetup date.
Treslervania
Any interest in documenting intro track curriculum?
I am interested in documenting how the intro track curriculum works out and I'm wondering whether the presenters would be interested in this. I've been exploring how to organize a course in drupal through NYC agencies that help small businesses and this would require a curriculum as well as people to teach it. (I am a newbie myself.)
Documenting the sessions by making an audio or video recording or just taking notes and making a transcript might also be a way of communicating what works or doesn't to other drupal camps or workshops. (I volunteer to do one of these.)
Hmm
Kind of an odd request considering I posted links to extremely detailed instructor notes from the last two times this was taught right at the beginning of this very thread - take a look.
I'll consider the video thing, but I'm more focused on developing the concept of open source courseware.
By the way, I'm doing this in the open, but you are referring rather cryptically to "NYC agencies". Any particular reason you don't want to name them?
I can help with basics
It will actually be my first DrupalCamp, so I'm looking forward to how stuff works at these things.
If you need any help with any basics from installation to using Views or CCK I will gladly help any way I can.
I also like the concept of getting all the basic stuff out of the way earlier (9AM isn't all that bad now is it?)
ob.noxio.us
Intermediate stuff
I'd be interested in some intermediate sessions--"now that your feet are wet, how 'bout mucking about?"
For example, creating a first "sample" site. Kind of an "all hands on" session with help when we get stuck.
Ariel Jensen-Vargas
Sample site...
I'd be very interested in working with some other new-to-drupal people who work as a group on a sample site as a longer-term project.
new-to-drupal sample site
Great idea...I'm in.
I'm out-of-town during Drupal Camp, but will be available afterwards.
Thanks for the post.
If Intro Track includes some discussion related to themeing
I'm hoping that the Intro Track includes a brief overview of theming - probably not hands-on but an overview.
If that occurs, this Lullabot/Acquia webinar tomorrow may be good preparation.
Webinar: Tips and Tricks for Drupal Theming
Thursday November 19, 1:00 EST, 90 Minutes
Will cover:
* How to approach a Drupal theme
* Creating a theme from a pure HTML/CSS design
* Working with template files
* The Drupal theme system and how it works
Update: Signup link is on the Lullabot page. Sorry that this post wasn't more timely, I just came across the webinar.
Webinar: Tips and tricks for drupal theming now posted
It's here: http://tinyurl.com/yhq3ztu
Lullabot/Acquia webinar
I plan on being on it... thanks for the info!
Hey Folks...
It may be worthwhile to post your ideas to further develop the "Intro Track" over on this thread too...
http://groups.drupal.org/node/26986
Reason is most of this thread was focused on that initial 2 hour hands on and the pre camp installfest planning so not sure how many other presenters are monitoring this thread.
For this camp I'm not planning on instructing any other sessions so anything beyond that first 2 hours will need other presenters to volunteer.
Feel free to refer them back to this thread. Just want to make sure enough people are seeing what the intro folks want from the rest of the day.
Cross-posting: PHP for Drupal
On http://groups.drupal.org/node/26986 there is a post re a possible offering: PHP for drupal
My impression is that some knowledge of PHP can be useful when tweaking themes. This might interesting to some people coming out of the hands-on session even if writing modules is a distant goal.
Cross posting: Developing for drupal
On DrupalCamp7 Session Ideas discussion there is a post: http://groups.drupal.org/node/26986#comment-92942
My thought was that if this was an afternoon session it might be interesting for some of the new-to-drupal people coming from the hands-on session.
These topics caught my eye:
What is a module?
Overview of most common hooks. (menu, block, access, etc)
Write a sample module.
What is a patch.
Attack the bug queue???