[wengzilla]

I'd probably structure it a lot like a bootcamp. Check out Flatiron, gSchool, or Dev Bootcamp's curriculum for some good ideas. To summarize, though, typically it's a few weeks of learning a high-level language (Python or Ruby). From there, it's typically a solid couple of months of learning the corresponding framework (Django or Rails). All the while, sprinkling in some JS and CSS magic.

They're usually able to churn out some pretty decent full-stack programmers after 3 months, or so (granted they meet a lot more frequently than 3 hours per week). You'll have to be super diligent about giving them assignments, but the nice thing is that there are so many resources around Ruby and Python... Codecademy, Treehouse, Rails for Zombies, etc.

Come back and let us know how it worked out!

[danoc]

Thanks!

My main concern is that 2/3 of the people signed up don't have any programming experience, so it will be hard to keep it interesting for CS majors and slow enough for everyone else.

We were thinking of starting off with HTML/CSS since it's not taught in classes then progressing to a server-side language + framework.

I've recommended all of the non-CS majors to go through the JavaScript Codecademy lessons over break to learn the programming fundamentals so they can keep up when we dive into Ruby and RoR (or some other language/framework).

[wengzilla]

Not sure this is a legitimate concern though... The experienced CS majors will be able to blaze through HTML/CSS just as they would be able to blaze through Ruby. I also think they'll find themselves sufficiently occupied helping their classmates and/or implementing more challenging projects.

It's fine to start with HTML, but recognize that it's a markup language, not a programming language. Aside from that, you'll be able to cover most of the HTML/CSS within the span of a week (hopefully faster with the CS majors).