--- Paul Taylor <ptaylor@uklinux.net> wrote:
I have been doing a lot with pre-made PHP/MySQL web site databases so I would like to go down that route as it would hit 2 or 3 units of work at one go. I
That's very doable -- and something the lecturers are looking to do at University. I was at a commitee meeting before Easter, about ratifying the course subjects we (as in the year I am in) have undertaken thus far. Since at the moment, I concurrently do a unit on "Developing for the Internet" (php/mysql) and "Database Applications and Design" (Oracle) - the lecturers were thinking of having a concurrent and unified theme between the two units. So in the same way, what you could do, is introduce concepts in one unit that then trails through to the other -- not necessarily in terms of assignments, or work to undertake, but introducing key concepts by way of an evolving case-study is one such idea. You're no doubt aware of it already, but on the php/mysql front, there's "phpmyadmin" as a web-bsaed frontend to allow access to a database.
am interested for lower school in trying out the new OO2 database as well.
It does look very promising, indeed.
Sadly not, I quite enjoyed it and C++ but after a day of teaching, a 3 hour programming class in the evening was the 300kg bale that broke the teacher's back.
Yes -- programming as a subject can be very... intense, and to do it in the evening is suicide. Full credit to you for sticking it out for as long as you did. I find it hard enough doing it day in day out. But then I *love* it, so that helps. :) I'm not privvy to the mandatory units (or parts of units) that have to be undertaken by pupils of KS5 level. Does there have to be some sort of programming aspect to a course such as this? Canonically, the use of VB has always been flaunted, but VB sucks (I've ranted about the applicability of this to Education and future employment before on this list). If you can make it web-oriented, use php/mysql and off you go. You've then killed two birds with one stone, almost.
I can certainly show you the specifications. I don't know yet that I will teach any programming in my own lessons but I would like to have a ready made unit using FLOSS that other people could try. I can put together the
As I said, I can certainly help, but I am no teacher...
I enjoy trying programming tutorials but have no imagination or desire to actually make something so it is hard to relay this to students.
It's debatable as to whether programming is an art-form or not. The angle my studies approach it from is one of design, so most of my efforts are concentrated drawing boxes, arrows and lines, with the occasional stickman for good measure. The actual "coding" is a by-product then of the design. So as far as imagination goes, I must have a pretty good one to actually design a piece of software in the first place [1]. I have often quipped with the amount of diagrams I draw, I'll host my dissertation in the Tate Modern... -- Thomas Adam [1] That's my excuse, anyway... :) "The Linux Weekend Mechanic" -- http://linuxgazette.net "TAG Editor" -- http://linuxgazette.net "<shrug> We'll just save up your sins, Thomas, and punish you for all of them at once when you get better. The experience will probably kill you. :)" -- Benjamin A. Okopnik (Linux Gazette Technical Editor) Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com