General Information

Software Carpentry and Data Carpentry's mission is to help scientists and engineers get more research done in less time and with less pain by teaching them basic lab skills for scientific computing. This hands-on two-day workshop covers the basics of educational psychology and instructional design, and looks at how to use these ideas in both intensive workshops and regular classes.

The workshop is a mix of lectures and hands-on lessons where you practice giving a short lesson using approaches learned and implement some of the teaching techniques which we will discuss. This is training for teaching, not technical training; you do not need any particular technical background, and we will not be teaching that. This workshop is based on the constantly revised and updated curriculum.

The workshop will co-incide with the last phase of the 12-month programme for building computing skills in Africa developed in 2016. Instructors who have qualified as part of this programme will be joining new instructor trainees on day 3 to discuss their experience over the past 12 months. Dr Kari Jordan, Deputy Director of Assessment (Data Carpentry) will be leading this session. We would like to thank DIRISA for funding this part of the workshop.

Who: The course is aimed at researchers, postgraduates, postdocs, and research support staff affiliated with South African academic or research institutes who is interested in becoming a better teacher. In particular, this training is aimed at those who want to become Software and Data Carpentry instructors, run workshops and contribute to the Carpentry training materials. You don't currently have to be an instructor or a teacher to attend this workshop, but you do need to be willing and committed to becoming one and to improving your teaching techniques.

Cost: R1000 registration fee will be charged to cover travel and accommodation of instructors. Sponsorships may be available upon request with motivation. Participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation. Lunch and coffee will be provided daily.

Application form: Limited seats are available. Applications will be evaluated by a selection panel consisting of local and international members of the Carpentry community. Please complete the Application Form before 17:00 SAST on Monday 13 March. Successful applicants will be notified via email by Friday 17 March at the latest.

Enquiries: eresearch@nwu.ac.za The workshop is jointly organised by the North-West University's eResearch Initiative, DIRISA, and Takealot. Sponsorship has also been made available by the DHET through the Rural Campus Connectivity Project II.

Where: 12th Floor, 10 Rua Vasco Da Gama Plain, 8001, Foreshore, Cape Townn. Get directions with OpenStreetMap or Google Maps.

Requirements: Participants should bring a laptop that is Internet connected and has a functioning browser. If you have it, a device for recording audio and video (mobile phones and laptops are OK) is useful as throughout the two days, we are going to record one another teaching in pairs or threes. It does not have to be high-quality, but it should be good enough that you can understand what someone is saying.

Please note that after this course is over, you will be asked to do three short follow-up exercises online in order to finish qualifying as an instructor: the details are available at https://swcarpentry.github.io/instructor-training/checkout/. If you have any questions about the workshop, the reading material, or anything else, please get in touch.

All participants are required to abide by Software Carpentry's Code of Conduct.

Accessibility: We are committed to making this workshop accessible to everybody. The workshop organisers have checked that:

• The room is wheelchair / scooter accessible.
• Accessible restrooms are available.

Materials will be provided in advance of the workshop and large-print handouts are available if needed by notifying the organizers in advance. If we can help making learning easier for you (e.g. sign-language interpreters, lactation facilities) please get in touch and we will attempt to provide them.

Contact: Please mail eresearch@nwu.ac.za for more information.

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Preparation

Please read the following before the workshop begins:

1. Success in Introductory Programming: What Works?
2. The Science of Learning

Please also read through one of the episodes below carefully, so that you can do some exercises based on it on the first day of the class.

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Schedule

Please see this site for course material.

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Etherpad: http://pad.software-carpentry.org/2017-04-30-eResearchAfrica-ttt.
We will use this Etherpad for chatting, taking notes, and sharing URLs and bits of code.