|
|
|
Nicolas Brasseur and John Rizzo, founders of JavaBlackBelt platform and community dedicated to providing technical and study exams about Java related technologies.
John and Nicolas are both Master's in Computer Science, Java drill sergeants and senior developers. Read their bios HERE...
They have taught for dozens of companies like IBM, Sun Microsystems, Siemens, Western Union, and various Belgian government agencies. They teach to a variety of classrooms sizes, from one to one hundred developers.
From their developing and teaching experiences they've devised unique pedagogical tools for visual learning: TechMaps and TechAnims.
A TechMap is a diagram that explains a technology with minimal words. A TechAnim is a Flash animation with subtitled narration, divided into sections that can replayed or skipped. The narration and subtitles can be switched off, making the animation also a study tool.
|
Nicolas Brasseur explaining Hibernate second-level cache at J-Fall '06. |
Tech Sessions
|
Hibernate
 |
Hibernate: Extreme Visual Learning
TechAnims and TechMaps on Hibernate processes - Object/relational persistence, mapping strategies and caching scenarios
Presented by Nicolas Brasseur
ABOUT
Technologies like Hibernate are complex and time-consuming to learn — to teach. We never really got used to using only books while waving our hands around to illustrate complicated processes. (It felt kind of like air-guitar but a lot less fun.)
The technique of using visual presentation aids was extremely well received in our classrooms (and we could give our hands a rest.)
|
"The Hibernate online presentation was exactly what I needed — especially how it was taught. Using TechMaps is the best way to focus the lessons and adjust the exercises appropriately. By learning Hibernate with visual aids, I was able to succeed the exam easily."
~ Pierre Martin
|
SESSION MATERIALS
The presentation shows diagrams explained using animations (TechAnims), covering major topics of Hibernate. Up to 7 animations of 5 minutes each (or they can be longer with pauses and explanations) will be presented.
TechAnims:
- Types - Mapping Simple Types
- Types - User Types
- Relationships - Entity Relationships
- Relationships - Fetching strategies
- Concurrency - Optimistic locking
- Concurrency - Pessimisstic Locking
- Caching - 2nd Level Caching
10 large (A3) TechMaps will be given to session participants.
TechMaps used during this session:
- Simple Mapping example
- PK Generation sequence diagram
- Inheritance strategies
- ...
|
|
|
Spring |
|
Spring: Extreme Visual Learning
TechAnims and TechMaps on Spring IoC and Spring AOP
Presented by John Rizzo
ABOUT
The first time we taught about Spring Custom Properties to a classroom of junior Java developers it took an entire day.
This was one of the many reasons we devised tools for visual learning - TechMaps and TechAnims - tools that really prove "What a difference a day makes!"
"The Spring presentation carefully approaches the essential concepts that the TechMaps ensure. The use of these visual aids makes a major difference in assimilating the various concepts. TechMaps also ensure clear examples and relevant exercises."
~ Fabrice Claes
|
SESSION MATERIALS
Many programmers touch new concepts like IoC and AOP for the first time when using Spring. This presentation shows 8 diagrams explained using 5 minute animations, that cover the major topics of Spring Core and AOP.
TechAnims:
- IoC - applicationContext xml example
- IoC - applicationContext creation order
- IoC - bean lifecycle
- IoC - PropertyEditor
- AOP - 1 advice with interface
- AOP - 2 advices with CGLib
- AOP - ProxyFactoryBean
- AOP - AutoProxy
8 large (A3) TechMaps will be given to session participants.
TechMaps used during this session:
- IoC - applicationContext xml example
- IoC - applicationContext creation order
- IoC - bean lifecycle
- IoC - PropertyEditor
- AOP - 1 advice with interface
- AOP - 2 advices with CGLib
- AOP - ProxyFactoryBean
- AOP - AutoProxy
|
|
|
Sample materials
|
|
Animation (requires Flash v8) |
| |
|
|
The presenters
|
(l) John Rizzo; (r) Nicolas Brasseur, founders of JavaBlackBelt.com
Here's how they look and here's how they sound:
Read their bios HERE...
|
About
John is co-founder and managing director of JavaBlackBelt (formerly Loop Factory), a Java focused education company. John has taught a wide variety of Java related technologies; he's learned AS/400 and Dutch; has developed in Delphi; devised unique pedagogies for IT; co-authored a book in the US; been unemployed; started an IT training company to provide Java and related IT; is a father of three and a newlywed.
Nicolas, co-founder and managing director of JavaBlackBelt, teaches and coaches Java development teams. He not only teaches standard courses such as J2SE, Servlets/JSPs, JSFs, Hibernate, ... he also devises custom courses and specialized coaching.
John and Nicolas regularly consult on Java projects and assess development teams to improve application architecture, team processes, skills and advancement.
1998, they founded one of the most advanced and innovative Java and related technology training and skills assessment companies in Belgium.
In 2004, it was deployed as JavaBlackBelt.com: a one of a kind developers community and application for building learning exams cover many Java and related technologies. Thousands of certified -or soon to be- developers mass-collaborate to filter and improve thousands of exam questions. They also succeed the exams to remain on the belt track to one day earn a Java Black Belt.
Experience
John and Nicolas have been teaching to a variety of classrooms sizes, from one to two hundred developers.
|
They have presented at:
- J-Fall, the Netherlands (2006)
- JAOO, Denmark (2006)
- The Server Side Java Symposium, Las Vegas (2005)
- JavaPolis, Antwerp (2004)
- JavaOne afterglow for the BeJug (2004)
|
Attendees following an animation being explained with the help of printed (and distributed) TechMaps. |
Referrals
- Floyd Marinescu (InfoQ founder)
- Stephan Jannssens (JavaPolis organizer and BeJug chairman)
- Rick Ross (Javalobby, founder)
- Karsten Lenztsch (JGoodies founder)
- Theodord Danciou (JasperReports founder)
- Jeanne Boyarsky (JavaRanch bartender)
- Scott Ambler (Author of agile methodologies, UML,...)
- Howard Lewis Ship (Tapestry founder)
- Romain Guy (Swing insider and speaker)
- Vincent Massol (author of Maven books)
- Tom Baeyens (founder of jBPM)
- Juergen Hoeller (co-founder of the Spring framework)
- Gregor Hohpe (author of Enterprise Integration Patterns)
- Jonas Jacobi, John fallows (authors of Pro JSF and Ajax)
- Nitin Bharti (TechTarget - TheServerSide.com)
- Juliano Carniel (Editor, PortalJava.com editor)
|
|
