University of Rhode Island on The Carpentries

Keeping the Bootcamp Fun Alive!

Thu, 05 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

This post originally appeared on the Software Carpentry website.

In the later part of 2013, I started the process of co-hosting a Bootcamp with Peter August and Judith Swift both from the University of Rhode Island (URI). During our discussions it became quite clear that as fantastic as the bootcamps are, it would be even better if we could extend the opportunities for learning. We tossed around several ideas but eventually decided we would try a special topics course at URI. Thus, Scientific Computing and Programming for Coastal Resource Managment was born. We opened the course up to any of the bootcamp participants who had an interest; official enrollment in the course was not required. In the end we had about 10 participants who attendend regularly, including a few students who enrolled for credit. Pete August (URI), Adam Smith (URI), and myself co-taught the course.

Wrapping Up in Narrangasett

Sat, 18 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

This post originally appeared on the Software Carpentry website.

I've just came back from the Software Carpentry bootcamp at Narrangasett, RI, held at the Coastal Institute of the University of Rhode Island and the US Enviromental Protection Agency. I taught with Patrick Fuller and Jeff Hollister, who was also the organizer. The local helpers were Betty Kreakie and Bryan Milstead.

The bootcamp was R-based and lasted two and a half days. The people at the Coastal Institute are using this bootcamp as the starting point for a class on "Computing for Natural Resources" during the next semester, so the extra half-day was used to talk about this coming class and to add a lesson on data visualization using R. Besides the standard syllabus, we extended a bit the lessons on R, added a short lesson on databases, and made a longer than usual session on testing.