Elm Town 83 – Wonder: Meeting people where they are with Ryan Haskell

Apr 15, 2025

Ryan Haskell, a senior software engineer at Brilliant and creator of the 'Welcome to Elm' YouTube series, shares insights on teaching the Elm programming language. He recounts his gap year adventures and the development of his game, 'Turbo Champ,' using the Godot engine. Haskell emphasizes the importance of accessible learning materials and relatable language in programming. He also explores how interactivity can enhance learner engagement, and he shares resources that facilitate a deeper understanding of Elm.

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INSIGHT

Value of Collaborative Work

Being with people and collaborating brings joy and fulfillment beyond solitary creative projects.
Isolation during creative pursuits can feel counterproductive for those who thrive on social interactions.

ANECDOTE

Gap Year Game Development Story

Ryan took a gap year for personal growth, making a game using Godot Engine and learning new skills.
He experienced the challenge of creating good driving mechanics and realized he enjoys collaborating more than solo work.

ADVICE

Plan Teaching for Learner's Context

Plan your teaching content carefully to build knowledge progressively.
Speak the learner's language by relating concepts to what they already know.

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Dracula

Bram Stoker

The novel tells the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread terror and create more vampires. The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to finalize the sale of a property to Count Dracula. Upon discovering Dracula's true nature, Harker barely escapes with his life. Dracula then travels to England, where he targets Harker's fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy. A group of characters, including Professor Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, and Quincey Morris, band together to hunt down and destroy Dracula. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, modernity vs. tradition, and the fears and anxieties of the Victorian era, including immigration, sexual desire, and the role of women in society.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

The novel centers on the life of Dorian Gray, a young man who becomes infatuated with his own beauty and the hedonistic philosophies of Lord Henry Wotton. After wishing that his portrait would age instead of himself, Dorian embarks on a life of sensual excess and moral decay, while his portrait reflects the true state of his soul. The story delves into the duality of human nature, the allure of aestheticism, and the critique of Victorian society, highlighting the devastating effects of evil and debauchery on Dorian's life and those around him.

Elm in Action

Richard Feldman

Elm in Action, authored by Richard Feldman, serves as a comprehensive guide to Elm, a functional programming language known for its focus on building user interfaces. The book covers various aspects of Elm, from its core concepts to advanced techniques. It provides a practical approach to learning Elm, guiding readers through the process of building real-world applications. Feldman's expertise shines through as he explains complex topics in a clear and concise manner. The book is well-structured, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced developers looking to expand their knowledge of functional programming and web development. Readers will gain a solid understanding of Elm's strengths and how to leverage its features to create efficient and maintainable code.

Elm Town 83 – Wonder: Meeting people where they are with Ryan Haskell

Value of Collaborative Work

Gap Year Game Development Story

Plan Teaching for Learner's Context

Guest

Show notes

[00:00:21] Sponsored by Logistically

[00:00:43] Introduction

[00:01:34] Gap Year

[00:03:31] Building a game in Godot

[00:11:01] Welcome to Elm YouTube Series

[00:17:06] Teaching style

[00:24:52] From Wolfgang: Finding inspiration

[00:29:07] Remaking Ryan's website

[00:32:41] Working at Brilliant

[00:39:15] Picks

Ryan's picks

Jared's picks