Creating girl geeks

[acheron]

Originally posted by: AreaCode707

They can install new software, create and manage folder structures, replace a video card (with help), track their competition results in Excel and use formulas to trace their average times and stuff, and identify when they pick up a virus from all the crap they download. I've used them to trial my test scripts for work and they're more capable than about half my user base (though that's not saying much). So either they really don't develop much technologically between now and college or I give them something to work on.

Only half? You must have especially competent users.

 

[AreaCode7O7]

Originally posted by: acheron

Originally posted by: AreaCode707

They can install new software, create and manage folder structures, replace a video card (with help), track their competition results in Excel and use formulas to trace their average times and stuff, and identify when they pick up a virus from all the crap they download. I've used them to trial my test scripts for work and they're more capable than about half my user base (though that's not saying much). So either they really don't develop much technologically between now and college or I give them something to work on.

Only half? You must have especially competent users.

I work at a well-known tech company but most of my user graduated from law school, so they cancel each other out.

 

[Dear Summer]

in my opinion, I think they would be better off focusing on their h.s. classes, getting after school tutoring, preparing for the PSAT, and stuff like that
on the side, they could learn to play a musical instrument, join team sports, or learn a foreign language instead of trying to make them into geeks

 

[Injury]

Yeah but if it's two 13 year old twins doesn't that mean they can count as 26?

 

[Beev]

Originally posted by: Injury
Yeah but if it's two 13 year old twins doesn't that mean they can count as 26?

Flawless logic

 

[Tobolo]

Since they already run a website, maybe they will be interested in learning how to build in Flash. Not a high end skill by any means, but it will most likely be useful to them and it can serve as a gateway drug.

 

[Crono]

Apply programming to a (small) profitable business for them to do. Even a little amount of cash + their imaginations = fun and motivation.

 

[Aquaman]

pic of GF with sisters

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: axelfox
Remember, they've got to like and enjoy it. Otherwise, you'll just breed resentment.

Wrong choice of words in this thread...

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: Injury
Yeah but if it's two 13 year old twins doesn't that mean they can count as 26?

your ideas intrigue me, and i wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

[Aikouka]

I kind of cringed when I read your post... teaching two 13 year old girls about PHP and SQL? It might work, but seems a little too ambitious.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
I kind of cringed when I read your post... teaching two 13 year old girls about PHP and SQL? It might work, but seems a little too ambitious.

I don't know about SQL, but my brother (who was 12 at the time, he's 14 now) learned XHTML and some PHP fairly easily. It's not rocket surgery.

 

[xochi]

Take a look at Alice.org, it was created in collaboration with Randy Paush, The Last Lecture and many of his colleauges.

Its a 3D programming enviorment that uses animation to get kids and adults interested in programming.


Alice.org

 

[AreaCode7O7]

Originally posted by: Dear Summer
in my opinion, I think they would be better off focusing on their h.s. classes, getting after school tutoring, preparing for the PSAT, and stuff like that
on the side, they could learn to play a musical instrument, join team sports, or learn a foreign language instead of trying to make them into geeks

Homeschoolers. They read at a college level, are at the regular level of math for their age, are beginning high school level science, are actively involved in their youth group and 4H club (dogs and horses) as well as the neighborhood kids, and both play a bit of piano. They haven't done any foreign language yet though.

 

[AreaCode7O7]

Originally posted by: xochi

Take a look at Alice.org, it was created in collaboration with Randy Paush, The Last Lecture and many of his colleauges.

Its a 3D programming enviorment that uses animation to get kids and adults interested in programming.


Alice.org

I'd forgotten about that! I read about it and intended to look into it but it slipped my mind. Thanks!

 

[Nik]

I thought you had a sister older than 13.

I was going to ask if she needed a tutor :evil:

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Crono
I don't know about SQL, but my brother (who was 12 at the time, he's 14 now) learned XHTML and some PHP fairly easily. It's not rocket surgery.

It all depends on how detailed and deep you want to get into PHP... if you're not doing much more than simple logic and includes, it's not exactly difficult. It also depends on how much you're going to adapt crap from the website examples or design your own infrastructure. When I read the idea, I see a bit more than a super simple project, but that's just me.

I see an insertion hack in those girl's future .

 

[NikolaeVarius]

http://xkcd.com/342/

Here is your solution.

Have her train with Donald Knuth in a mountain hideout

 

[AreaCode7O7]

Originally posted by: Nik
I thought you had a sister older than 13.

I was going to ask if she needed a tutor :evil:

I do. Three sibs.

 

[MotF Bane]

What about hardware? Building a computer, et cetera.

Oh, and pics in five years.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

making them do real life programming drudgery is a surefire way to make them hate technology and a technical career.

 

[ivan2]

13 and SQL? there are a whole lot other interesting geeky things to do like math, science, chess, or even photography, why are you so mean to them?

 

[Leros]

Let them do stuff they like.

I taught my 12 year old sister how to make mp3 ringtones with Audacity. She's slowly getting geekier, but I'm not pushing her at all. She spends all sorts of time doing little hacks in the Sims game (or something like that). She was just telling me how she set up some streaming audio program so she can stream her music from her laptop to her desktop.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Why not somehow have them develop something towards a "girly" end? Like something that has to do with fashion? Or animals? Home design? Wedding design?

Edit: The ring tone suggestion is good. Other things to do with cell phones?

 

[clamum]

You're going to hire 13 year old girls to learn SQL Server, PHP, and JavaScript, with deadlines and milestones? LOL.