Additional profile information on Alfred Thompson at Google+
I see that Microsoft has released five more videos in their SQL Server 2005 Express Edition for Beginners series. (Now that is a mouthful of a title. There are now 13 difference videos that make up almost 9 hours of training. The videos can be watched as streaming or be downloaded for offline viewing. Several of the videos have projects that can be done with them. They are designed for real beginners (students or hobbyists).
I borrowed the following description and course outline from the web site.
Getting Started The series includes almost 9 hours of video-based instruction that walks SQL Server beginners through the steps of learning about SQL Server databases to actually connecting a SQL Server database to a Web application. Select your starting point below based on your skill set. Introduction Learning Video 1: What is a database? Designing Tables Learning Video 2: Understanding Database Tables and Records Learning Video 3: More about Column Data Types and Other Properties Learning Video 4: Designing Relational Database Tables Database Functions Learning Video 5: Manipulating Database Data Learning Video 6: More Structured Query Language Learning Video 12: Creating and Using Stored Procedures Learning Video 13: Enabling Full-Text Search in your Text Data Creating and Using Reports Learning Video 10: Getting Started with Reporting Services Learning Video 11: Embedding, Packaging and Deploying SQL Server Express Reporting Services Database Security Learning Video 7: Understanding Security and Network Connectivity Database Management Learning Video 9: Using SQL Server Management Studio Express Publishing to the Web Learning Video 8: Connecting your Web Application to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
Getting Started
The series includes almost 9 hours of video-based instruction that walks SQL Server beginners through the steps of learning about SQL Server databases to actually connecting a SQL Server database to a Web application. Select your starting point below based on your skill set.
Introduction
Learning Video 1: What is a database?
Designing Tables
Learning Video 2: Understanding Database Tables and Records
Learning Video 3: More about Column Data Types and Other Properties
Learning Video 4: Designing Relational Database Tables
Database Functions
Learning Video 5: Manipulating Database Data
Learning Video 6: More Structured Query Language
Learning Video 12: Creating and Using Stored Procedures
Learning Video 13: Enabling Full-Text Search in your Text Data
Creating and Using Reports
Learning Video 10: Getting Started with Reporting Services
Learning Video 11: Embedding, Packaging and Deploying SQL Server Express Reporting Services
Database Security
Learning Video 7: Understanding Security and Network Connectivity
Database Management
Learning Video 9: Using SQL Server Management Studio Express
Publishing to the Web
Learning Video 8: Connecting your Web Application to SQL Server 2005 Express Edition
It looks like the Scratch programming toolkit has now gone public. Scratch is a programming language developed at MIT that lets people, including young students, create interactive stories, games, music, and art. The Lifelong Kindergarten Group (is that a great sounding name or what?) that is part of MIT's famous Medial Lab has been working on this project for a while. Until now it has been available only as a limited beta and as part of projects the developers have been directly involved in.
Scratch uses various blocks that represent coding instructions that are dragged and dropped into location to set the order for processing. It's like Alice is some ways but different in others. The web site has a section for teachers that includes information on using Scratch with students. There is also a section highlighting some of the research that has been done with Scratch so far.
This is a tool that looks very promising especially with younger students. The developers have been using it with children ages 10 to 16. Take a look. I'd love to hear opinions from teachers on the front lines.
I read that the IEEE is helping to fund a reality TV style show around engineering problems. “Design Squad” is a new half-hour weekly television program produced by WGBH Boston.
The show will feature two competing teams of high school students plucked from real life and follow their progress as they design, build, and test fun yet practical machines, such as an automatic pancake maker and a motorized wagon. The eight contestants, chosen through audition, have minimal engineering experience, though for many working with technology is an after-school hobby.
IT seems like an interesting idea and I can't wait to see how it looks in execution. personally I'd love to see a TV show or a movie were the hero (male or female) is a software engineer - someone smart, interesting, good looking and with a real life like so many I have known in real life. But these days with the raidkly growing neeed we have for all kinds of engineers it is easy for me to get excited about a show like this.
Problem solving is very important, at times difficult and even frustrating, but a show like this should show that it is also interesting, fun and satisfing. It this show gets some kids interested in engineering it will be money well spent.