How we educate Java / JavaScript devs

Not so far time ago, I and 10per Team started the CheckPoint education course for students of “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”. The main idea is to declare learning topics which are required for a good start of development (Java / JavaScript) and then provide education materials (multiple sources for each topic). This is a formula which can lead students to the future professional software development.

Trainers are involved in the studying process just in several point:

• Preparing learning topics and education materials
• Answering on questions in Google Group
• Participate in weekly meet ups
• Check assignments

The course in broken up on three stages.

1. HTML & CSS [all students] (2 weeks duration)

This stage aimed to teach students to work with web markup on a basic level. It’s very important due two reasons. The first one is reveal of students who can not work according this flow. Regardless you want to be front-end dev or back-end dev, you have to know at least basics of HTML markup – second one reason.

2. Java / JavaScript basics [students choose profession] (4 weeks duration)

On this stage students learn syntax of programming language and basic concepts (e.g. OOP e.t.c). In the end of the stage trainers check assignments and decide who can be accepted on stage #3.

The assignments can be of two possible types. The first one is simple because implies working with a small part of information. The second one is complex because implies applying several knowledge areas in one task.

3. Spring / Angular [students continue development from the stage #2] (6 weeks duration)

About this section and final assignment I want to talk in the next article.

Summary

Teach someone programming is really interesting, especially if you know that your students have no any working experience. This circumstance gives to trainers additional motivation because you are responsible for a start of new careers.

One more concern is about knowledges and skills sufficiency. From the one hand during 3 month of education students learn how to solve programming problems, how to find answers, how to work wit official documentation, but they don’t have communication practice. I mean team cooperation which presents in each software development company. This is definitely cons. But we will work on this to achieve not just a good technical level but also relevant soft skills.

PS

10per Team has won IT Education Awards 2015 in nomination “Full Stack Education”. We are really proud of this.