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Building A Community For Beginners
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Jennifer Konikowski
February 18, 2017
Technology
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5.3k
Building A Community For Beginners
Jennifer Konikowski
February 18, 2017
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Transcript
Building A Community For Beginners or "How To Make Your
Group Super Accessible To People Learning To Code"
I'm Jennifer Konikowski
None
6 years ago ➡ 5 years ago ➡ .
!"#$ %!$& ' (#$%
None
Many will quit " ➡ #
# $ % & ' ( %
Why?
Diverse teams are smarter
– Harvard Business Review “working with people who are different
from you may challenge your brain to overcome its stale ways of thinking and sharpen its performance.”
Everyone should be able to learn to program
We need to be open to helping people learn
Case Studies: PyLadies Boston Boston Ruby Women Boston Python Boston
RB
How?
1. New Groups
Make sure your descriptions are beginner inclusive 1. New Groups
Be clear about what knowledge and skills are required 1.
New Groups
Find out what your local community needs 1. New Groups
Ask for feedback ALL. THE. TIME. 1. New Groups
Try different types of events like... 1. New Groups
Presentation Nights
Lightning Talks Presentation Nights
Tutorials Presentation Nights Lightning Talks
Mob Programming Presentation Nights Lightning Talks Tutorials
Host separate events just for beginners
Like study groups Host separate events just for beginners
and mentor sessions! Host separate events just for beginners Like
study groups
2. Existing Groups
Welcome email 2. Existing Groups
Greeter at the door 2. Existing Groups
Ensure that there are regular talks that are suitable for
beginners 2. Existing Groups
For project nights... 2. Existing Groups
Beginner tables 2. Existing Groups For project nights...
Introductions 2. Existing Groups For project nights... Beginner tables
Collaboration 2. Existing Groups For project nights... Beginner tables Introductions
3. Workshops & Teaching
Challenges when running a workshop 3. Workshops & Teaching
Space Colleges + Universities 3. Workshops & Teaching Issue: Solution:
Volunteers Prepare for no-shows 3. Workshops & Teaching Issue: Solution:
Content DjangoGirls, Boston Python Workshops 3. Workshops & Teaching Issue:
Solution:
Food Local companies 3. Workshops & Teaching Issue: Solution:
Issue: Solution: Continued engagement Host project night week after 3.
Workshops & Teaching
Dos and Don'ts of Teaching Programming 3. Workshops & Teaching
Do: Have beginner events where people can bring questions from
a variety of tutorials 3. Workshops & Teaching
Don't: Have a free class that builds on itself week
after week 3. Workshops & Teaching
Do: Short one-off tutorials of basic programming concepts 3. Workshops
& Teaching
Don't: Give a text tutorial with no support 3. Workshops
& Teaching
You can make a difference
Questions? @jenkoni jmkoni.com
[email protected]