Definitely poke local colleges/universities. Although rare, there are often some computing grad students (and maybe a few undergrads) with a passion for teaching that could greatly enjoy such an opportunity. I'd contact student advisors in the relevant departments as they'd probably know which students would have interest. Kate Deibel, PhD | Web Applications Specialist Information Technology Services University of Washington Libraries http://staff.washington.edu/deibel -- "When Thor shows up, it's always deus ex machina." On 2015-05-08 8:25 AM, Chad Nelson wrote: > Eliza, > > Looks like Girl Develop It has a Milwaukee outfit, and even looks like they > already run javascript classes. > http://www.meetup.com/Girl-Develop-It-Milwaukee > > I've heard nothing but good things about GDI classes in my neck of the > woods, but obviously can't speak specifically about folks from Milwaukee. > But seems like a decent possibility. > > hth, > Chad > > > > On Fri, May 8, 2015 at 11:14 AM Eliza Carrie Bettinger <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > >> Hello All, >> >> >> I received a grant from my university to organize a 7-month program for >> academic staff to build their Javascript skills. The idea is all the staff >> who participate will get together 1-2x per month to share their progress on >> individual projects they're developing, and get feedback and >> troubleshooting help from both a peer group AND a paid expert I'm calling a >> "coach." (Full description below.) >> >> >> The problem I'm having is finding anyone who is interested in taking the >> coaching the job. I have not made a public job ad, but I have emailed about >> 10 folks from campus and community, and asked them to notify their networks >> and affiliated lis-servs. For example: the leaders of Milwaukee MeetUp >> groups for tech women, for Javascript programmers, and open data; the web >> development professor at our iSchool; our campus app development lab; the >> leader of a local nonprofit that teaches coding to kids; etc. I've gotten >> positive responses form many of these folks, but I haven't received a >> nibble of interest from a single person in the job itself. I'm continuing >> to identify key people whose networks I can tap, but I'm discouraged by the >> apparent lack of interest I've encountered so far, and scratching my head >> over what I'm doing wrong. >> >> >> So I'm turning to you for advice -- specifically, two questions: >> >> 1) Do you know someone who might know someone in the Milwaukee area who >> might be interested in a gig like this? If so, please feel free to >> circulate this posting >> >> 2) Can you spot anything in the ad itself that I could improve? Anything >> that's a turn-off? Should I include the pay rate in the ad? >> >> (We have a total of about $1100; I figured I would negotiate the hourly >> rate and total number of hours with the person we found. Although I listed >> 6 hours/month, that's only the ideal; we could bring down the total number >> of hours, and pay a higher rate.) >> >> Any other suggestions or ideas? I'd love to get your feedback. >> >> >> Thank you!! >> >> Eliza >> >> >> Javascript Workshop Leader / "Coach" >> >> 6 hours per month, July - December, 2015 >> >> >> This summer, the Digital Humanities Lab at UWM will begin a professional >> development series for academic staff from across campus to improve their >> skills in coding for front-end Web development -- specifically, Javascript. >> Workshop participants will be professionals from diverse academic >> backgrounds who each have a real-life work-related project under >> development. They will have completed some basic training in Javascript >> (such as the JavaScript course in Codecademy), but are novice-level >> developers. In twice-monthly meetings with peers and an expert coach, up >> to 12 participants will meet for collaborative workshop sessions in which >> they present progress on their projects, get help on overcoming obstacles, >> receive short lessons on important topics, and gradually “level up” to >> become more proficient programming problem solvers. Our goal is to support >> staff who have already learned some basics of coding, but need help to >> start becoming fluent enough to apply those basics in order to design and >> build their desired products. >> >> >> We seek an expert front-end programmer with Javascript expertise who will >> act as coach, mentor, and troubleshooter for this group of learners. >> Overall, the goal of the workshop sessions will be to build a community of >> learners to support one another and provide motivation, camaraderie, and >> practical assistance in overcoming roadblocks. The paid expert will act a >> coach for the group, providing guidance in matters that are opaque to >> novice learners, and sharing strategies from his/her experience. Sessions >> may include short lessons prepared and presented by the coach, but we >> envision workshop sessions in which the focus of the majority of the >> meeting time is on individual participants' projects and questions. >> Participants could also take turns researching and presenting on relevant >> topics, with guidance from the coach. The exact format of the sessions >> will be designed in part with guidance from the coach, and will be subject >> to revision and changes with input from the group as the project progresses. >> >> >> The person we hire will: >> >> Be an expert developer of front-end interaction applications. Skilled in >> JavaScript, and in adopting specialized JS libraries. >> >> Have some experience (formal or informal) teaching, coaching, or mentoring >> beginner-level programmers. >> >> Have Interest in and competency with a wide range of subject and content >> applications. >> >> Have comfort with and interest in joining a learning environment that is >> flexible, collaborative, and open. >> >> >> To express interest in the position, or to learn more, please contact >> Eliza Bettinger, [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> >> >> >> -- >> Eliza Bettinger >> Digital Geo-Information Specialist >> American Geographical Society Library >> UW-Milwaukee >> Milwaukee WI USA >> 414-229-6282 >>