[Fwd: NetBeans/Education]

Hello everyone, I am writing to you with the aim of revamping the NetBeans EDU program with your help.

This is an email that I have seen that thinks that "... one of the more valuable things you (Rob Demmer) could do is act as 'broker' to 
enable interested parties to work together."

This person, Mr. Foster has performed a check in his organization on how teachers are going with Netbeans. 

Here are the replies:

As discussed only two problems noted with Netbeans, or rather the students use of Netbeans

- Mounting lots of working directories with the files that have been named the same. Netbeans gets confused as to which ones it should be
compiling.
- Mounting the directory above the working directory and then getting the java files automatically put into packages. As you said, introduce
packages earlier.
Cheers
Karen

Hi Rich
Re NetBeans for 1st time programmers, the umpire is still out on that one but my gut feeling is it should be ok if we keep its use simple and
provided the staff have a sound knowledge and understanding of it to be able to "rescue" any situations that students might get themselves into.
Regards,
Janet

Hi Richard
In internet programming, I have no problems using netbeans. I think it should be ok to introduce it. The students were using Visual Studio for VB anyway.
Cheers
Zankhana

So I am asking you, the EDU community how would you like to see the program proceed?

    * Is is best to try an collect a base of information to get new
      users/students started?
    * Should we put up course work for other professors to share?
    * Would you like to see NB based projects/assignments hosted on
      NetBeans where teams would:
          o maintain there module site (home page, documentations,
            goals, etc.
          o maybe keep a blog of their activities and learning with NB &
            Java
          o a competition could be held for more advanced students: a
            sort-of best awards - best NB plugin, most unique use of NB
            platform, etc.

There are many opportunities surrounding NetBeans.  Students learn real 
time with todays technologies with user and some professional support. 
 You Can have influence on the IDE.  What would make the IDE better for 
teaching?

I hope that this conversation is just getting started, so let's continue 
and make a program that works for you!

-Rob