About Assignments - TheIronYard--Orlando/2015--FALL--ROR GitHub Wiki
Where to Find Assignments
Each assignment will be delivered as a numbered subdirectory of the Assignments directory in this repo (not the wiki). Each assignment directory will contain a README.md file; for example, the pre-class assignment: 00 -- Brace Yourself. This file will contain all the instructions for the assignment, a list of the minimal requirements, and some "level-up" goals when you complete the minimums. Over time, the assignments will provide fewer and fewer explicit instructions, and I will expect you to fill in the details.
The Purposes of the Assignments
There are several purposes to the homework:
- To give you an idea of the sorts of things that are involved in web development using Ruby
- To give you an idea of how well you can do those things by the end of each day
- To give me an idea of how well you can do those things by the end of each day
- To give you an opportunity to improve your understanding of, and skill in doing, those things
To expand on the last point, the way you can use the homework to improve your understanding and skill level is by spending several hours each day grappling with the assigned tasks. It is essential that you realize you can learn by struggling with the homework, whether you complete it or not. I want your experience with the homework to be like Reggie Miller's experience playing pick-up basketball while growing up against his big sister, Cheryl. (Cheryl Miller was arguably the best player in the history of women's basketball.) Reggie spent years getting his shots blocked and getting thrown into the rose bushes around their house and generally getting beat up by his big sister. If Reggie were judged based on whether he achieved the goal of winning those games, he'd be a failure. But while he may never have won a single one of those games, struggling against an unbeatable opponent, keeping track of his own strengths and weaknesses compared to the standard she set, and continually trying to get better made him better. (Reggie Miller was a five time NBA All Star.)
Learning is like playing a ball game in another way: To develop your skills requires time spent in focused practice, but also time spent recovering from the effort of focused practice. You will have to work hard in this course, but when you reach the point that your brain hurts and you aren't making any more progress, stop. Rest. If it's still early in the day, return to the homework after a break; but if you have to make a choice between working more on a homework assignment and getting a full night's sleep, get your sleep. You'll feel better, and you'll learn more.
When Assignments are Due
Assignments are typically due at 12:30am on the morning of the next day of lecture. Note that lecture runs Monday-Thursday, so while an assignment given Tuesday is due 12:30am Wednesday, an assignment given Thursday is due at 12:30am the following Monday. The reason for a midnight(ish) due date is to prevent you from staying up to all hours of the morning trying to complete your work.
Many of the assignments will seem larger than you can complete in the time allotted. Part of your job will be to analyze the assignment, prioritize sections, and apply time constraints to your work to ensure that you complete some of every part of each assignment. Always turn in what you have.