Hi. Despite my still quite ruby-newbie status, I've volunteered to hold a introductory course in Ruby for computer-enthusiastic students (www.pvv.org) at my university next year, to spread the gospel. I've started to look around on online tutorials, presentations etc for input, and I've started bouncing ideas around my head. ______________________ #1: Paper documents When I first followed a Python course thru the PVV, one of the things that I've kept is the printed up material provided at the course. As much as the wonderful book by Thomas and Hunt is on the web, I believe that the "hands on" material newbies get is very important to keep them interested until they buy a book. The Python course material was basically the Python Quick Reference + overheads from the course itself. Despite the chaotic nature of the quick ref, I've kept it and dug it out every time I've done semi-serious with Python. Are there any quick overview documents similar in nature to the Python Quick Reference ( http://www.brunningonline.net/simon/python/PQR.html ) that can be printed easily and legally? (Not that Ruby needs it as much, of course ;-) ______________________ #2: Similar work... The goal of the course, is to try to grab the students that are relatively new to programming and have just started learning Java here at university, and also catering to the more seasoned hackers who want to try a bite of Ruby. I've been looking around abit on tutorials, presentation etc for inspiration and ideas where to begin, but I haven't yet seen anything that addresses a similar audience. ______________________ #3: Advertising A while back there was some posts on a "motto" for Ruby, and various slogans... "Human-Oriented Programming" and such. I was hoping to combine one of the logos and a motto or slogan into something more eye-catching and ensnaring than the usual programming-course posters here at univ. Anyone tried something like this? (And yes, I'll try to avoid succumbing to using Ruby-chan...) My first efforts go towards a "telepathic" theme, with a face outline and computer outline face-to-screen, with interjoined thought and speak bubbles. Standard PR tricks with emphasising the words "telepathy", "computer" and "you" in a sentence below stating "Telepathy between your computer and you is not yet possible, but with Ruby you come close to talking the same language as your computer than ever before." ... but this may be too geeky. I'll bounce other "propaganda poster" ideas here, in search of constructive critique. ______________________ #4: Syntax Colouring Now I know of ruby-mode.el for Emacs, but I was wondering if there are any tools for making syntax coloured HTML of Ruby code? (Doesn't need to be HTML either, any commonly supported format would be nice) ....I don't like having to relying too much on the facilities where I hold presentations, so ruby-mode.el won't do the trick. ______________________ #5: Readability gimmick I have this overwhelming inclination of writing the entire presentation in Ruby to show its readability. Ruby.is_a?( ScriptingLanguage ) Ruby.is_a?( ObjectOrientedLanguage ) Ruby.learned_from( SmallTalk ) Please hit me over the head with why that is a bad idea... .... any input appreciated ... -- <[ Kent Dahl ]>================<[ http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~kentda/ ]> )____(stud.techn.;ind.шл.data)||(softwareDeveloper.at(Trustix))_( /"Opinions expressed are mine and not those of my Employer, "\ ( "the University, my girlfriend, stray cats, banana fruitflies, " ) \"nor the frontal lobe of my left cerebral hemisphere. "/