About 6 years ago, I left industry after 30 years for higher education. A bit a confusing at first, but you'll get used to it. Be prepared to realize that the undergrads know more about using the Web than you do. Talk with other faculty. There are probably some people who can help you find all the "interesting" aspects of academia.
I'd start with 2-3 weeks with Scratch (MIT). I think it's best system for learning the how computing works. I've had non-majors building systems with messages, nested loops, etc in 2-3 weeks. Once they have the concepts, you can go different ways depending the aptitude of the students. If you're not sure, try them on Alice (ask around the faculty if any have used it yet). There they have to actually type some code. If you think they are ready for straight-out coding, you could go with Python. A lot of colleges are using it in the first programming course. Alternately, you could go onto Web programming using Javascript.
Good luck! The first year will be a bear. Then you'll find what works and not for you. Enjoy! Email if you need.
A long 35 years ago on my first commercial programming assignment, I observed that, if we changed the output format, the code would be much simpler. His reply was one that changed everything for me in computing -
"Computers are here to help people, not the other way around."
A reading of their Internet Policy states The mission of the Salt Lake City Public Library is to provide free access to information, materials and services to all members of the community to stimulate ideas, advance knowledge and enhance the quality of life. To support this mission, the Library provides gateway access to the Internet and other electronic resources.The Library considers electronic technology to be a powerful tool and an effective means to extend open access to information and ideas for patrons. But there's nothing about a patron having to be physically inside. The only written prohibition is Use of library equipment or network access for illegal purposes is expressly prohibited. Access to obscene materials by minors is restricted in order to comply with Rule 223-2.. Please take a copy of this document the next time you sit near the library...
An anthropologist and a physicist were travelling in some of the remote areas of the Brazillian rain forest. One day they came upon a tribe hitherto unknown to Western observers. This tribe had an agrarian economy that provided for all their needs. Not only was the area fertile and supportive of a wide variety of plants, but there were a great number of pollinators for their varied crops. As it happened, the pair had stumbled on this tribe during one of their most holy days - the day they celebrate the wonders of their unique botanical area and the insects that support it. The anthropologist of course observed all of the preparations and carefully noted down all of the rituals, including the covering of the young women of village with a locally produced blue pigment. There were dancing, song, and much merriment - much to the delight of the anthropologist and the physicist. At dawn the next day, the two followed the villagers as they led the tribe to their most holy area: the nesting area of their insect pollinators. As the anthropologist recorded all the details, the blue-painted young women broke from the group and performed a number of intricate ritual dances. As the dancing became more complex, the anthropologist became overwhelmed with the level detail he observed. In evident confusion, he turned to his friend, the physicist, for help in understanding what they were seeing. The physicist merely replied, "Oh it's really very simple. You're just watching a manifestation of the dye virgins of the bee field."
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About 6 years ago, I left industry after 30 years for higher education. A bit a confusing at first, but you'll get used to it. Be prepared to realize that the undergrads know more about using the Web than you do. Talk with other faculty. There are probably some people who can help you find all the "interesting" aspects of academia.
I'd start with 2-3 weeks with Scratch (MIT). I think it's best system for learning the how computing works. I've had non-majors building systems with messages, nested loops, etc in 2-3 weeks. Once they have the concepts, you can go different ways depending the aptitude of the students. If you're not sure, try them on Alice (ask around the faculty if any have used it yet). There they have to actually type some code. If you think they are ready for straight-out coding, you could go with Python. A lot of colleges are using it in the first programming course. Alternately, you could go onto Web programming using Javascript.
Good luck! The first year will be a bear. Then you'll find what works and not for you. Enjoy! Email if you need.
Jerry
"Computers are here to help people, not the other way around."
A reading of their Internet Policy states The mission of the Salt Lake City Public Library is to provide free access to information, materials and services to all members of the community to stimulate ideas, advance knowledge and enhance the quality of life. To support this mission, the Library provides gateway access to the Internet and other electronic resources.The Library considers electronic technology to be a powerful tool and an effective means to extend open access to information and ideas for patrons. But there's nothing about a patron having to be physically inside. The only written prohibition is Use of library equipment or network access for illegal purposes is expressly prohibited. Access to obscene materials by minors is restricted in order to comply with Rule 223-2.. Please take a copy of this document the next time you sit near the library...
An anthropologist and a physicist were travelling in some of the remote areas of the Brazillian rain forest. One day they came upon a tribe hitherto unknown to Western observers. This tribe had an agrarian economy that provided for all their needs. Not only was the area fertile and supportive of a wide variety of plants, but there were a great number of pollinators for their varied crops. As it happened, the pair had stumbled on this tribe during one of their most holy days - the day they celebrate the wonders of their unique botanical area and the insects that support it. The anthropologist of course observed all of the preparations and carefully noted down all of the rituals, including the covering of the young women of village with a locally produced blue pigment. There were dancing, song, and much merriment - much to the delight of the anthropologist and the physicist. At dawn the next day, the two followed the villagers as they led the tribe to their most holy area: the nesting area of their insect pollinators. As the anthropologist recorded all the details, the blue-painted young women broke from the group and performed a number of intricate ritual dances. As the dancing became more complex, the anthropologist became overwhelmed with the level detail he observed. In evident confusion, he turned to his friend, the physicist, for help in understanding what they were seeing. The physicist merely replied, "Oh it's really very simple. You're just watching a manifestation of the dye virgins of the bee field."