Product Feedback
Posted by Fran MckeagneyEvery week I get a compiled list of all the product feedback we have received during the week from users. A lot of it is complimentary which is great and I love to see it. Some if it is not. Some of the stuff that is not complimentary is fair. And some if it - well, if not exactly unfair - is the result of misconceptions about our InnerWorkings Developer product. Two misconceptions came to mind as I read through this week’s feedback:
1. We don’t teach syntax. We assume that you are a working developer, a practitioner. We don’t try to recreate the many resources and methods (classes, books, e-learning courses) that are available for beginners. There are so many great things out there at that level and, anyway, it isn’t really the issue we are interested in. We are VERY interested in the next stage and in the stages after that.
2. It’s not really about ‘passing’ the code judging engine. Of course, at one level it is, but that is not the really significant part. The point is to help you develop your capabilities (and career) by having you solve problems in Visual Studio as you do, day-to-day, on projects. The significant part is the work you do while working on those problems. The outcome is the validation (to yourself or to others) that you can apply the techniques appropriately and efficiently. Building higher levels of performance and problem-solving.
Irrespective of the feedback, we really like to get it. We give it a lot of attention so please keep it coming!
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Hi Fran,
Good post and welcome to the blogosphere!
It’s true, we don’t teach syntax (at least not yet), and there is no doubt that our method is still pretty difficult and perhaps inappropriate for absolute beginners.
One one side, we could always strive to make certain drills simpler without being boring.
On the other side, our methodology may simply not be ideal for developers who are not already relatively self-sufficient in using their problem solving skills.
I think there is a good analogy with babies vs. adults.
Absolute beginners are like babies: Babies are highly dependent on their parents…beginners are highly dependent on their peers or the material that is given to them, and the all concept of being “challenged” can be quite scary. As you say, it is not really about “passing” the code judging engine…it is about doing what it takes to solve a problem…read references, ask, search on google, scream and kill (ehrm…ok I went a bit too far :-))
As you mature, you become much more independent and self-reliant. Although you may not have all the answers, you surely have few ways to find out more.
Maybe this is the reason why our approach is much more suitable for intermediate/advanced developers.