modular enablement

© 2013 IBM Corp.

Modular [email protected]

IBM Software Group | Security Division© 2013 IBM Corp.2

Objectives

When you complete this presentation, you can perform the following tasks:

Explain the advantages of modular training

Given a list of objectives, identify opportunities to make modular enablement

Write modular enablement material


The classes we have now

Generic “how do to stuff with this product”

Assume no starting knowledge• Students doing an implementation project• Students whose companies already use the product

Focus on what we think is important• Impossible to teach everything in five days• Companies use different subsets of product features• Installation and configuration typically done by IBM or a business partner

anyway


Modular education

We create self-contained modules that can be combined as needed• Prerequisites• Objectives• Materials to get from one to the other

Global training partners (GTPs) decide what classes to create out of those modules• Know what their customers need• Can differentiate their offerings

Delivery• Same mechanism, lectures and exercises• Advanced materials may be self-enablement

GTP A

Installation and configuration

Basic use

Reading the log file

GTP B


Troubleshooting


What to make into modules?

Each module:• Starts with students unable to do X• Ends with them able to do X• X should be something useful, not an

intermediate stepo Unless it is a step required for two

separate modules

Here is how it typically works forour products:

Basic

Function

Installation & Configuration

Feature 1

Feature 2Feature 3

Feature 4

Advanced

Feature

4B

Advanced

Feature

4A


Example: Modules for Apache HTTP Server

Some people in the organization need to be able to install and configure new web servers

Almost everybody involved with productneeds to know how it serves static pages

Administrators also need to be ableto read the log file

Web designers need to know how towrite HTML

Web developers need to know how to write PHP pages as well as HTML

Somebody needs to know howto install the PHP interpreter

Serving static web

pages



Writing HTML

PHP Interpreter

Installation

Writing PHP

Pages


Virtual machines and lab exercises

Not all of our delivery platforms support snapshots

Share between as many modules as possible

Start with the basic functionality available

This allows for teaching basic functionality and features directly from it

If at all possible, haveintermediate featuresalready configured to allow for the advanced features

Serving static web

pages



Writing HTML

PHP Interpreter

Installation

Writing PHP

Pages


Instead of snapshots

Changing between modules• Use scripts to create entities needed in modules

Installation and configuration• Install the product in a separate directory, using a separate LDAP suffix, etc.• Uninstall and reinstall the product• Use a separate image without the product installed


Dealing with product enhancements

Agile development products change frequently

New code requires updating modules• Verify labs• Rewrite labs (???)• Retake screen captures

No time to redo all the modules

Best we can do:• Create new image for each revision• Write modules for new features• Update modules every few image releases

Make it clear to instructors and students which image goes with which module


Narrative structure – the problem

In theory, not an issue• We don’t write fiction

In practice, always an issue• Students can pay attention … or not• Emotionally satisfying materials more likely to hold attention

Easy in our traditional training:1. The purpose of the product, the business problem we solve

2. Installing the product

3. Configuring the product

4. Using the product to solve the main business problem

5. Variations on the problem and their solutions

• Difficult in short modules• No module gives an entire picture of the product• Easy to fall back into feature-function training


Narrative structure – the solution

Every module answers a question

At the start of the module, ask the question explicitly• Possibly with a scenario • A lecture slide

Attempt to reinforce the scenario during the module

Close with the scenario concluded successfully• An exercise showing the needed functionality


Narrative structure – example

In the lecture:• An application the enterprise supposedly needs• What is PHP, and why is it important in the LAMP stack• Apache modules and how to install them• How do verify that PHP works

In the image prior to the exercises:• Preconfigured MySQL database (if needed for the application)• The installation files for the application• Of course, the PHP interpreter Apache module

In the exercises:• Install the PHP Apache module• Verify the PHP Apache module with a tiny “hello world” program• Install the application• Verify the application works

PHP Interpreter

Installation


Summary

Now that you have completed this presentation, you can perform the following tasks:

Explain the advantages of modular training

Given a list of objectives, identify opportunities to make modular enablement

Write modular enablement material

modular enablement

Education

modules installation

separate modules

product needs

short modules

selfcontained modules

product easy

product focus

new features update