Learning WP7. Step 1: Imagine

I have already developed and delivered introductory training to Windows Phone 7 development. And it worked pretty well for .NET developers that attended it. I started it with...

When you are learning the new platform, you usually start with capabilities, tools and etc. One can create a large presentation on the topic and most trainers do. But what could be learned from it?

I did platform presentation too, but my focus is on learning. And learning means "being capable of something new".

Take away.

Attendees will have a practical task of imagining themselves almighty WP7 developer and describing the projects they would have implemented with platform capabilities. Real value:

• Project management practice of developing vision/scope document,
• Deeper understanding of platform capabilities,
• Training focus - have a project in mind will focus on required things to learn,
• Collaboration: share project descriptions in OneNote (for example) and people will communicate and discuss,
• Free ideas for future training tasks already described and evaluated.

2.5 months later

Time is passing by. The team is experienced in building WP7 Silverlight Apps.
Delivered 1 phase of the project, gathered Knowledge base, created Project template for future use and tested Marketplace submission strategy.

The team is ready. Just sent info to the Sales - hopefully we will get a billable project someday.

Meanwhile, Sandbox is expanding. We have several new members, User Group is forming and meeting is imminent. New mobile conferences on the way.

Summary.

If you work in the right direction - you will get results. We did, and we will continue working. First application is in the Marketplace, interest in Windows Phone platform is only growing and it is time to be starting a local community.

Next step

Now I have internal project at my disposal, a dedicated team, but still inexperienced in this field and a will to continue.

Just need to allocate enough time to do it.

The Holidays

The New Year holidays are not good for projects that are done in one's own time.
Lots of duties emerge and less and less time is left.

I will just wait till the end of the presents-party-sleep-watchTV time. And I will start anew.

It's great that tomorrow is the day.