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Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

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Re: Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

#121

Post by corey »

scarmig wrote: post #115
corey wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you mind sharing some more about how you got your first programming job? Did friends help you land the job, or did you just wow them in an interview? Did you have an impressive portfolio or degree?

Sure. A friend helped land me the job in a corporate IT department (an advertised but effectively fake-competitive position, bypassed HR), plus I have a strong technical degree from a brand-name university. No portfolio or design experience. I'd like to say I wowed them in an interview, but it was really just sitting down in a bar on a Friday night, shooting the shit, and then getting a programming book to study over…

Thanks for sharing.

Re: Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

#123

Post by forza »

pitdesi wrote: post #64

This is an interesting business model. I like it, but am interested to see how you will commit people to paying you $100/month for the next 5 years unless structuring it as a loan (which has it's own headaches) For those interested in something similar, my understanding is that Code Academy (Different than YC startup codecademy) http://codeacademy.org in Chicago is phenomenal. I met a bunch of their students at the H…

Isn't this more of a consulting (or contracting) company? At least that's how most of the smaller (20-50 consultants and 1-5 management) companies works around here.

Re: Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

#124

Post by danneu »

I graduate from Texas this semester, but I'm not interested in the large Gantt chart consultancy firms and generic "business analyst" positions that roll through the business school recruiting system.

I've been teaching myself Linux/Ruby/Rails for a while, but I've had to scavenge time between school and work. I can make a basic forum in Rails, I know basic Git (have a Github), I've become comfortable in Linux, and I can deploy in Heroku/Linode box.

But I never had a mentor. After I graduate this month, I'd easily move to the Bay Area for this (or a job). But I suppose I might be too "advanced" for the offer.

Re: Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

#125

Post by morningwarrior »

forza wrote: post #123
pitdesi wrote: post #64

This is an interesting business model. I like it, but am interested to see how you will commit people to paying you $100/month for the next 5 years unless structuring it as a loan (which has it's own headaches) For those interested in something similar, my understanding is that Code Academy (Different than YC startup codecademy) http://codeacademy.org in Chicago is phenomenal. I met a bunch of their students at the H…

Isn't this more of a consulting (or contracting) company? At least that's how most of the smaller (20-50 consultants and 1-5 management) companies works around here.

Code Academy is not a consulting or contracting company. Code Academy doesn't really work like anyone else works.

Re: Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

#126

Post by sosayweall »

ZenBrent wrote: post #113
nealsales wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's all about what the needs and expectations of the individual is - and properly setting them. As one of the founders of http://codeacademy.org I can say first-hand that it is possible to get people to a point where they are happy with their progress. But rather than asserting - our students' own perspectives is the actual evidence: http://codeacademy.org/culture If anyone would like to know more about our experien…

Love codecademy Neal. Just finished the initial rollout of the tool and can't wait for the next programs.

You have to be kidding me. How hard is it to distinguish Code Academy from codecademy in Neal's comment? Neal just referenced Code Academy multiple times in this comment, but you put codecademy?

Not only that, but the two companies couldn't be anymore different. If you truly love what Neal is doing, you would know that you have not completed the program, because that would mean that you are a student in Chicago who is currently 8 weeks through the Code Academy program.

We can disagree about what approach is the best to take when teaching people how to code, but we can at get the names of companies and what they do right.

Re: Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

#127

Post by michaelmcgee0 »

kabuks wrote: post #16
whimsy wrote: post #10

I have some modest experience. None the less, I'm interested. How much do you hope to teach in eight weeks? What should a Junior Rails Developer be able to do?

Great questions. A junior rails developer should have - A good grasp of Ruby - A good grasp of the rails framework - Experience pair programming - An understanding of the Agile Software Development, and Test Driven Development - Basic HTML, CSS, and Javascript skills - Basic git (source control) More importantly, they need to know how to reach out to the ruby community, and have developed the skill of getting stuck a…

I am Mike McGee, the other co-founder of Code Academy (http://codeacademy.org), and this description is pretty much exactly what our students are learning now.

Our program is project-based and centered around pair programming with Ruby on Rails as our web framework. It has been amazing to see the progress of our students in the first 8 weeks of the 12-week program.

While we may have a different focus and a different business model, if you want to talk to us about our experience it could be helpful in what you are trying to do. You can contact me at mike at codeacademy dot org

Re: Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

#128

Post by bigohms »

kabuks wrote: post #48
bigohms wrote: post #42

Are the companies you working with going to actively short the comp of a junior rails dev hired through this program (treating the 6K as a training incentive) or will graduates theoretically get market rates (treating the 6K as a hiring/headhunting bonus)?

Great question. I would sincerely hope it's the latter. Companies pay up to 25% of first year salary to head hunters (or as a referral bonus), that's the budget we are after. But you raise a very good point. We need to spell that out. Not sure how to enforce it though. Any ideas?

Treat and frame it like a recruiter payout but only 10% or less. Going with a model they're familiar with will reduce the friction. Great hires are never docked for recruiter fees.

Re: Tell HN: I want to teach you web development. In 8 weeks. For free (sort of)

#130

Post by MrSlovenian »

I'm 35 years old, married with 4 kids, in the middle of a career change, and teaching myself programming. If this, or anything like Code Academy, were available in the Indianapolis area, I'd be ALL over it. I have a Master's degree in another discipline, I learn fast, and am very motivated, looking to put my creativity and drive towards doing good in the world through programming. If there was an option for doing something online, I'd consider that as well.
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