Follow the Four Commandments
A look at the four commandments to keep in mind to help build an effective sample project.
- Keep it simple: It’s easy to get carried away with your sample project. Aim to keep it as simple as you can, while still accomplishing the goals you set out in your outline.
- Be practical: The best sample projects show how to “re-implement a cool behavior found in app X”, or “provide a solution to this common question/problem” because you know that is a useful thing that people want to know how to do. Don’t be abstract; be practical.
- Remember how it fits in: As you work on the sample project, always consider how it will fit into a teaching format. Think about the order in which you’ll implement features of the project, what parts will be challenges, etc.
Remember to keep your project focused on a single learning objective. Don’t let the project distract the student with unnecessary work unrelated to the main topic.
- Use the latest and greatest: You should always use the latest versions of any tools, libraries, OSs, etc. This will give your sample project the longest possible shelf life.