Introduction to Nashville Software School

What is Nashville Software School? Why does Nashville need it? How is this different from a traditional 2-year or 4-year degree program?

John Wark gave this talk at Nashville hack day. The first three slides of this deck answer these questions and more. I found the answers surprising and inspiring.

To apply, see the next-to-last slide.

Transcript

1. Introduction to NSS Nashville Hack Day John Wark Sunday, August 12, 2012
2. What is NS2? • An intensive training program that prepares people for careers as professional software developers through training, mentoring and apprenticeship • A non-profit non-traditional post-secondary vocational school • A collection of Nashville’s best software developers who are committed to growing the local tech community Sunday, August 12, 2012
3. Why Does Nashville Need NS2? • Middle Tennessee has a chronic shortage of qualified IT resources with approx. 1000 open positions every quarter • Nashville tech startups are starved for qualified software developers • This trend will continue if we don’t start growing more local talent because every other city in the U.S. has EXACTLY the same problem • We have plenty of untapped talent potential Sunday, August 12, 2012
4. What is our Approach to Training? • Experiential learning through apprenticeship • Intensive mentoring • Online courses complemented with live instruction, workshops and discussion sessions • Delivering real projects for real users Sunday, August 12, 2012
5. Program - 2012 already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills Sunday, August 12, 2012
6. Program - 2012 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills Sunday, August 12, 2012
7. Program - 2012 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp Training Curriculum HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, etc. already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills Sunday, August 12, 2012
8. Program - 2012 Customer Projects 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp Training Curriculum HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, etc. already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills Sunday, August 12, 2012
9. Program - 2012 Ruby on Rails Bootcamp 11 Sept 15 Dec Customer Projects 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp Training Curriculum HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, etc. already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills Sunday, August 12, 2012
10. Program - 2012 Ruby on Rails Bootcamp 11 Sept 15 Dec Customer Projects 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp Training Curriculum HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, etc. already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills Sunday, August 12, 2012
11. Program - 2012 Ruby on Rails Bootcamp 11 Sept 15 Dec Customer Projects 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp Training Curriculum HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, etc. Training Curriculum Ruby, Rails, SQL, Javascript/jquery, Git, TDD, Agile/scrum, etc. already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills Sunday, August 12, 2012
12. Program - 2012 Billable Customer Projects Ruby on Rails Bootcamp 11 Sept 15 Dec Customer Projects 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp Training Curriculum HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, etc. Training Curriculum Ruby, Rails, SQL, Javascript/jquery, Git, TDD, Agile/scrum, etc. already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills Sunday, August 12, 2012
13. Program - 2012 Billable Customer Projects Ruby on Rails Bootcamp 11 Sept 15 Dec Customer Projects 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp Training Curriculum HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, etc. Training Curriculum Ruby, Rails, SQL, Javascript/jquery, Git, TDD, Agile/scrum, etc. already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills get a job Sunday, August 12, 2012
14. Program - 2012 Billable Customer Projects Ruby on Rails Bootcamp 11 Sept 15 Dec Customer Projects 11 June 31 Aug Web Development Bootcamp Training Curriculum HTML5, CSS, Javascript, PHP, Wordpress, etc. Training Curriculum Ruby, Rails, SQL, Javascript/jquery, Git, TDD, Agile/scrum, etc. already experienced web developers students w/o technical skills get a job continue with next training module Sunday, August 12, 2012
15. Mentors and Partners Sunday, August 12, 2012
16. So How Does This Help Students Get a Job? • Not just classroom knowledge - experience on real projects • Granular, topic-specific credentials • Professional network of mentors, instructors, project clients • Trained in languages and technologies in demand in the local IT, technology and startup markets Sunday, August 12, 2012
17. Who Should Apply? • You want to design and build things that other people use • You are committed to working full-time to learn how to become a professional software developer • You are strongly self-directed and willing to work hard • You have a logical/analytical mind, enjoy solving problems and love to learn • You have excellent communication skills • You have basic computer proficiency but do NOT need prior training or experience in web development or programming Sunday, August 12, 2012
18. How Much Does it Cost to Attend NS2? • Web Development Boot Camp costs $1000 • If you are accepted as an apprentice after boot camp, we will pay you a monthly stipend until you graduate or take a job with one of our partners • Students agree to stay with the school as an apprentice until their account is reimbursed for the costs of their training Sunday, August 12, 2012
19. NS2 Summary • Intensive, full-time vocational training program • Experiential learning through real projects • Earn while you learn apprenticeship model • Provides an entry into a long-term career in technology/IT Sunday, August 12, 2012
20. Questions? • How do I apply? • Contact information: • www.nashvillesoftwareschool.com • info@nashvillesoftwareschool.com • john.wark@nashvillesoftwareschool.com • wark.john@gmail.com Sunday, August 12, 2012
21. Sunday, August 12, 2012