(Pyramid diagram — original image no longer available.)

I draw a pyramid like this for my students in my first class and ask them to tell me what level they feel they fall in. It helps me shape some of the nuts & bolts classes I teach a bit, catering to each person’s specific level. It’s also a good reminder for programmers out there that when speaking to noncoders, they might not even be on this chart so rambling to an accounter manager about MVC will do about as much good for them as speaking to them in Latin.

The law is something I find totally fascinating. Why is it that when we’re learning to code, we KNOW we need to learn more but can’t wrap our heads around how the next level is better? Explaining the merits of taking that next step is one of the most challenging aspects of teaching.

The idea was inspired from the different types of skier charts you find in most ski rental shops… although I’ve always felt like Type II was a little too broad, personally.

Note: This post was originally published on jamie.kosoy.net in 2010.