[Uw-ruby] UW Ext Rails Course: Opinion on group projects

[Ryan Ward]

Question for everyone. This is my first UW extension class. Are these  
classes usually this busy with homework? I particularly have been  
finding it to be a lot of time invested for one class, especially like  
many of you, a working professional and have a family. I am working  
the problems just about every day , zipping out after dinner to study  
for 3 hrs, and still not getting done in time. The wife has been quite  
supportive, but she starting to feel a bit crispy covering for my home  
responsibility.

Some thoughts regarding the Rails class. Maybe it would be helpful to  
see the goals and then match the requirements of those goals to the  
syllabus. I would rather see these kinds of classes more focused on  
the technologies rather than learning to be better developers or  
learning a methodology such as TDD. ;)

The good thing is that we are all Guinea Pigs, and seems pretty decent  
for a first run at the program. I am coming at this from more of a  
hobbyist POV. Not a developer by any means, its actually been years  
since I did any coding.

-Ryan



On Dec 2, 2007, at 12:22 AM, Jim Clark wrote:

> I'll second some of Richard's thoughts. It's hard enough for me to get
> to class some nights as I live in Lake Stevens and usually leave  
> around
> 4 p.m. to make sure I'm down there on time. Having group meetings on
> other nights or other group project management discussions isn't
> something I'm excited about. I want my focus to be Ruby, not group  
> dynamics.
>
> Another point I'll raise has to do with the project that I want to  
> work
> on. Since my only laptop is owned by my employer, there are certain
> guidelines as to what uses are acceptable under company policy. Hence,
> sticking to a work related rails site really fits the bill and I can  
> get
> paid for the time I spend coding which is a nice plus. Opening my
> project to a group implementation would never get corporate approval  
> if
> I need to distribute the supporting data.
>
> Regardless of format, I am taking the class and I am paying out of my
> own pocket because I know I will learn a lot and that is what is most
> important. Being excited about applying what I learn on a custom  
> project
> that continues to grow and build momentum makes my efforts more
> meaningful than trying to do the minimum necessary to be able to  
> submit
> some one time code and dump homework project (or a group project  
> that I
> am not fully invested in). My time is already heavily divided  
> between a
> full time job, my family (3 & 5 year old kids), etc. and I want to  
> make
> the most out of the time and money I invest in this certificate  
> program.
>
> Cheers,
> Jim Clark
>
> Richard Leickly wrote:
>>
>> Philip was nice enough to send out his syllabus for the Rails class
>> this winter.  It is unlikely that I would enroll in it based on  
>> what I
>> can tell about the format.  The reason is that I am very pessimistic
>> about group projects.  I think a lot can be gained from working
>> together, so I'm not opposed to sharing ideas. But if the groups that
>> Philip has in mind will need to meet outside of class, then I'm not
>> going to be able to do it.  And if there is going to be a division of
>> labor within the groups, then we are faced with the obvious problem  
>> of
>> attrition.  What will the group do if someone drops the class?  I've
>> been taking UW Extension courses for 3 years, and there is always
>> attrition.  My other qualms are based on my personal experiences in
>> college. The only good group academic experience I ever had was  
>> when I
>> was teamed up with a guy who was extremely motivated (as was I).  All
>> other experiences involved colleagues not showing up, not doing
>> anything, preferring to talk about other things, ...well... you know
>> how it goes. I don't know how generalizable my experiences are.
>>
>> I may be jumping the gun a bit here because of the lack of details
>> about what Philip has in mind. (I have not rec'd replies to my emails
>> to him yet.)  But if many of you feel the same way as me then it  
>> would
>> be good now to get these ideas out in the open. And if you don't feel
>> that way , then I could use some encouraging words about why I should
>> worry. Philip may very well have considered these issues and come up
>> with a workable structure.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Richard Leickly
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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