Well, I consider our first lesson event to be a total success. Victorkane has done an incredible transcript (below) complete with code, and after watching the screen capture of the session, I feel really good about how much we covered and what kind of potential there is for the future here.
My immediate thoughts are on what we should do for the next lesson. I really do want to regularize the timing, so should we change it? After Thursday's success I am willing to take time out of work or weekend to see this group go forward. I'll put up a poll.
Also, we had some good talk in the IRC channel about even better screen-sharing for the event, and next time we'll know to tell people that skype is required. I will also be better able to prepare with one lesson under my belt.
I'm excited!
Use the comments here to throw out ideas for the next lesson in terms of content and procedure. I'll start a separate poll and thread for picking a time.
Comments
Just some random thoughts on
Just some random thoughts on possible topics:
More about access control , or more generally on how to write secure code.
Some intro on hook_access, sql_db_rewrite (this one puzzled me quite a bit and I am still not quite clear how exactly it works)
It seems 5.0 introduces a new "node access arbitration" mechanism and a few new hooks come with it. However I couldn't find any good intro/handbook on this, can you talk something about this as well?
More form api stuff. Maybe use the quickstart guide on api.drupal.org as a outline? It'd be great if we could also cover multipage/dynamic forms in lesson 3 or 4 :)
Thanks, looking forward to lesson 2!
Looking at stuff I didn't cover
Looking at stuff I didn't cover, I think it would make sense to spend time on coding style and standards. How to write clean, safe code the Drupal way.
That could be 30 minutes right there, and then a little project example afterwards where we do something with good style.
http://www.chapterthreellc.com | http://www.outlandishjosh.com
https://pantheon.io | http://www.chapterthree.com | https://www.outlandishjosh.com
Validate people's active involvement in the process
Yes, a review and mop up operation of the objectives of the first lesson would have the added all-important advantage of allowing time to confirm that we have everyone (or as many people as possible) on-board at this point.
What concerns me is the actual instantiation of the learning class in each individual participant: how far along are we, concretely, as a group, in having converted ourselves from passive watchers, to active participants, who through their actions are absorbing the main points to be learned.
So, I think a great idea would be to use the IRC for a 30 minutes feedback on what you have actually been doing the last week with the course materials session after you cover the coding style and standards adherence points. (Perhaps it will be more ordered if Skype maintains itself with the one or two instructors speaking only) Then, we can get a good feel as a group in terms of what people have been doing, and the real active state (or not) of the process that is going on with each participant in the group.
One thing you could do right now is set up a poll, like "What work have you been doing as a result of the first lesson", with possible answers being "I watched the video", "I read the class notes", "I practiced with the examples", "I used what I learned in a project I am doing". Or, people can have an IRC "show of hands" ("snap if you watched the video", then "snap if you used something you learned in the lesson in a project"), and you could even call on people, or devote a fixed 15 minute period for "show and tell", the possibilities are limitless :)
The danger of not getting this practical feedback in the second lesson is that people might drift off into passive-land without the group knowing it. Obviously, this may happen with some people (who actually have lives to live apart from this group and may have some pressing concerns, or who are not in a good moment for it, or whatever), but active participation should be both encouraged and validated, I think, for the continued success of the lessons.
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com.ar
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com
Feedback/planning seession soooner?
What about a feedback/planning "meeting" relatively soon (e.g. monday/tuesday)? I could do that with less prep, and then have time to better architect/plan/prep for Lesson #2.
I just don't want to take up the learning time planning more learning, you know?
http://www.chapterthreellc.com | http://www.outlandishjosh.com
https://pantheon.io | http://www.chapterthree.com | https://www.outlandishjosh.com
Good idea
That would be fine.
But there are two kinds of feedback, one is of the planning variety (what can be done to make things go smoother) and the other has to do with what is going on with everyone, what the majority of those who actually took part, what have they been doing, and I was thinking that no matter how the lesson is planned, it would be good to dedicate say 15 minutes for people to show how they have been involved: that, as part of the learning process itself, so those who have not found time to do very much, or who haven't realized the need for more active participation, can realize that.
I agree on the basic scheme you put forward, the brunt of the last part being a project would be super.
Just an idea,
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com.ar
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com
Understand better
Yes, that makes more sense. Also, looking at the time poll and thread (and thinking about my own life and keeping this up for a couple months at least), I think it would be good for me personally to try and move the regular lesson to the weekend.
So, maybe we can do two meetings in the next week. One could be the thursday time and be more "meta," and then other could be basically one week from now, and be much more project oriented. I really like your idea of letting people cross-connect and say what they have/haven't done as part of the group so far, and I almost don't want to try and do anything too ambitious other than that so as not to rush it. Plus, I'll be much better equipped to do a good lesson when I'm actually at home, which won't be until saturday.
Sound good?
http://www.chapterthreellc.com | http://www.outlandishjosh.com
https://pantheon.io | http://www.chapterthree.com | https://www.outlandishjosh.com
sounds great
Looking forward to it
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com.ar
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com
If I'm reading this correctly, it could backfire on you.
I understand wanting people to be active in the group. But I also think that if people get busy and/or have a particularly tough couple of weeks at work, we don't want to exclude them because they haven't had time to do more on their own.
"so those who have not found time to do very much, or who haven't realized the need for more active participation, can realize that."
This would scare me off, not because I don't want to learn drupal, I'm not enthusiastic, or that I don't realize the need or participation, but because I'm busy. Indeed, I can already say that I've used Forms API this week once in the course of my job, but I haven't even had time to look at the screencast or the wiki. Does that mean I'm not welcome here at the dojo?
Get what I'm saying? I don't particularly want to get up in from of a group and say I haven't done my homework...
Tresler Designs
CNDP, LLC
Good point
I think it's all in the phrasing. People who don't do anything don't have to say anything and lurkers and readers are always welcome. Also, it would be more interesting (to me) to hear about your real-world FormAPI experience.
http://www.chapterthreellc.com | http://www.outlandishjosh.com
https://pantheon.io | http://www.chapterthree.com | https://www.outlandishjosh.com
That's the idea
My idea simply is to maximize encouragement of vocalization by those that are actively working through the material, so the group can gain consciousness and feel its strength.
By no means, of course, is doing absolutely anything a prerequisite :)
It's all good.
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com.ar
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com
Quite...
Gotcha... I agree then.
Tresler Designs
CNDP, LLC
Absolutely
I guess I expressed myself poorly.
By no means should the encouragement of an active approach to enhance the learning process be expressed as a demand on people, everyone has their own timing, etc., and excluding anyone for whatever reason is absolutely off the screen, we certainly don't want to scare anyone off.
Simply what I mean is, those who haven't realized the need for a more active participation can be encouraged to move in that direction, people can get used to working out the code in their own time, and everyone will gain more from the course; while those who prefer to follow along, or don't have the time right now, will also benefit from a more vivid atmosphere.
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com.ar
Victor Kane
http://awebfactory.com
Screen Capture
You can update the link to http://www.webavant.com/drupaldojo/2007_01_04_swf/
Done!
Many thanks!
https://pantheon.io | http://www.chapterthree.com | https://www.outlandishjosh.com
Skype Required?
Why Skype? Drupal is not only about the CMS but also about FOSS! Why opt for a closed solution when there are open alternatives that work like OpenWengo (http://www.openwengo.org/). Has any thought been put into this? If I'm not mistaken Jabber also supports voice.
Skypecast
I'm a proponent of stuff that works, which Skype does well and is easily accessible. Also, they offer the skypecasting service which lets us put 100 people on line for free.
There's a danger in pursuing only FOSS solutions in that we drive away/exclude people who can't figure them out. This is especially bad when we're trying to create a community for learners. We also have to do more ourselves in terms of figuring out a conferencing solution. While I'm sympathetic to these concerns, I'm more interested in promoting Drupal proficiency to the widest audience possible.
http://www.chapterthreellc.com | http://www.outlandishjosh.com
https://pantheon.io | http://www.chapterthree.com | https://www.outlandishjosh.com