Teaching a class on data structures (using STL and ANSI C++)

First exercise:

Code works in VC++ 6
Code works in RH 7.3 (GCC)
Code barfs with segmentation fault on 10.2.

Mmmmm....

Okay, well then, LOOKIT THE PURTY COLORS!

Seriously, I like this OS but it's not perfect yet by any means.

I agree that C++ is not the ideal language for teaching OOP. However, the curriculum committee decided that our two main teaching languages are Java and C++ and that C++ (Using Visual Studio) would be our student's "beginning" language.

I suggested Smalltalk at one of the meetings, based on discussions here, and got a set of disgusted/confused looks.

At least I managed to make VB 'campus-optional'. In other words, you can teach VB or you can teach Perl. Guess which one I selected for *our* campus? <grin>

So, I satisfy myself with small victories.
- I got the HTML class to use our Sun (with Apache) as their server. (Samba is installed so they can mount their home directories on their Win2K desktops.)
- I'm pushing VNC as a desktop sharing solution for instructors. Everyone who's seen it is extremely impressed and I've documented the installation and configuration for both Windows and Linux. Our tech guy is already using it for remote Windows admin based on my work.
- I documented in detail how to image Linux machines (The Windows side has Ghost and I didn't want our UNIX classes to be second-class citizens.)
- In our UNIX admin class, I've introduced labs on encryption, Kerberos, WebDAV and others that aren't even mentioned in all of the Windows classes. (In fact, I've had students tell me that they learned more in this one class than they did in all of their other networking courses.)
- I document all of my solutions and make them publically available to anyone who's interested. Instructors who come to me for info get pointed to my Web page.
- I do semi-regular training for our support people on UNIX and other OSS support topics.
- I'm working with the Graphic Design department to help them transition to OS X as well as switch file server platforms from Windows NT to Linux (with netatalk)
- I created and presented an Intermediate Programming class using Linux and Kdevelop.
- I developed and presented courses in directory services and TCP/IP networking using Linux. (They're usually done with W2K.)
- Our librarian is searching for a good library management package and I hooked her up with a group that is putting together an OSS solution.

It's slow but steady. However, as a technical school, we're still way too vendor-driven, especially in the networking department. What works to my advantage is that, as a school, our budgets are perpetually tight so OSS solutions have at least a chance to sneak into the cracks.