[BristolBathPM] First free Perl programming course for Schools complete

[Lyle]

Hi All,
  Just an update to say the free Perl programming course I ran for the 
local school has finished. Total of 5, 1hr lessons over 5 weeks. The 
class had an average of 13 students aged 11 to 16 (despite me 
stipulating 13 - 19). 3 did very well, 3 did well when they focused, 3 
were just a pain trying to show off all the time, the rest tried hard.

I was quite surprised that given this was a totally optional after 
school class, 1 seemed to turn up just to make things difficult. The 
mind boggles...

Today was the last class, the kid that was a real pain didn't show up, 
probably because I sent him out the previous week. 2 girls played up 
extra in his absence (they were all friends), I had to tell one to sit 
in the corner. After the class I found a couple of the lads that did 
very well waiting by the gate, one had written me a thank you card which 
was quite touching. Although after reading the card I noticed the two 
girls I'd told off had been picked up and were giving me the finger from 
the back of their parents car. Seems you can't please everyone :s

The 3 that were are problem were all aged 11 & 12, so it seems the 13 
minimum stipulation was right in the first place. At the next school 
I'll re-enforce this point more.

I'm probably going to post the course material I put together in parts, 
with the hope you'll point out the bits I missed, terminology I got 
wrong, grammar, etc.

Once that's done I'll get it online, update PerlProject.org and take on 
the much harder task of trying to convince other Perl groups around the 
country to offer the same...


Lyle