JavaInEducationDraft.html

<center><h1>Java in Education</h1>
<h2>Garden State Java User Group</h2>
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<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>The <a href="https://acgnj.org/">ACGNJ</a> Java Users Group was formed in February 2001 by <a href="https://redlich.net/">Michael Redlich</a>. In October 2020, the Java group become independent of ACGNJ and rebranded itself the <a href="http://javasig.org">Garden State Java Users Group (GSJUG)</a>. GSJUG conducts monthly meetings for education related to the Java programming language. The group welcomes all skill levels and there is no charge to attend meetings. The group has hosted a number of well-known Java luminaries and has encouraged attendees to present on a topic for which he/she is passionate. Leadership of the group is composed of Michael Redlich, Barry Burd, and Chandra Guntur.</p>
<h3>How Our JUG Leaders Participate in Education</h3>
<h4>InfoQ Articles</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.infoq.com">InfoQ</a> (a part of <a href="https://c4media.com">C4Media</a>) is one of the best resources for students and developers, new and experienced, who wish to learn and adopt new technologies. InfoQ provides content created by eminent software engineering luminaries who are subject matter experts. Such content is curated by InfoQ community editors. InfoQ seeks out such engineers and practitioners, provides them with training and support to help them express their expertise. Feedback for the content states it being very relevant and helpful in triggering innovation and implementation of technologies by the target readers at their respective places of work. Michael Redlich is one of the well-known editors at InfoQ, having been in the role since May 2016.</p>
<h4>Authoring Books and Articles</h4>
<p>One of the primary means of learning for students and new developers is to use books on software. As an author of several popular books on Java, Android, Eclipse, Ruby, and XML, Barry Burd has helped several developers learn and also overcome difficulties that they face. Barry has also authored several articles on IoT, Virtual Reality, Android, and Java. In addition, Michael Redlich as editor and contributor at InfoQ, and Chandra Guntur on his personal blog, have authored several technical articles.</p>
<h4>Hosting meetup events at Drew University</h4>
<p>After 17 years at the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, the group moved its monthly meetings to Drew University in Madison, New Jersey in February 2018. Members of the Drew community are regularly invited to attend the group’s meetings. Special meeting announcements go out to students in the university’s Computer Science courses, and students are encouraged to ask questions about material that hasn’t been covered in their courses. In this way, students network with computer professionals and get exposure to topics that can’t be covered in the time allotted for their regular classes.</p>

<h4>Java Code Katas</h4>
<p>One of the best tools in learning is hands-on exercises. Several code katas on Eclipse Collections, Obevo, and Java Fundamentals have been shared at the meetups. These code katas actively encourage students and developers to learn and practice development.</p>
<h3>Leadership</h3>

<p><a href="https://redlich.net/">Michael Redlich</a> is a Senior Research Technician at ExxonMobil Research & Engineering and Java Queue senior editor at <a href="https://www.infoq.com/">InfoQ</a>. He founded the <a href="https://javasig.org/">ACGNJ</a> Java Users Group in February 2001 that has been in continuous operation ever since.</p>

<p><a href="https://users.drew.edu/bburd/">Barry Burd</a> is a professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Drew University He started attending ACGNJ JUG meetings in May 2003 and has been attending and contributing to the group ever since. Barry became Vice-Chair in April 2014 after Paul Furbacher, the original Vice-Chair of the group, had moved to Boston. Barry became a co-facilitator of the group when the monthly in-person meetings (pre-COVID 19) were moved from the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad (Scotch Plains, New Jersey) to <a href="http://www.drew.edu">Drew University</a> (Madison, New Jersey) in February 2018. Along with Chandra Guntur, Barry helps run NYJavaSIG and co-leads the NYJavaSIG Hands-On-Workshops.</p>

<p><a href="https://cguntur.me/">Chandra Guntur</a> is a technologist in the financial services industry since 2003 and programming with Java since 1998. Chandra was selected as a 2019 Java Champion. He is a Java User Group (JUG) Leader, and in 
addition to his new responsibilities at NJ JavaSIG, helps run one of the largest Java user groups, NYJavaSIG, and co-leads the NYJavaSIG Hands-On-Workshops (HOW), conducting code workshops and creating Code Katas on core Java features. He is a frequent speaker at Java user groups, and technology conferences including Oracle CodeOne, Oracle Code NY, QCon New York, Devnexus, DawsCon, and GIDS India.</p>

<h3>Education Highlights</h3>

<p>Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Rutgers University. He has written numerous news items on MicroProfile and Jakarta EE for InfoQ. He also has a long history of presenting Java-related topics at venues such as Oracle Code One, Emerging Technologies for the Enterprise Conference, Trenton Computer Festival, Princeton Java Users Group, and Capital District Java Developers Network. Mike recently organized a collection of core presentations ready to present at any venue.</p>

<p>Barry has a Ph.D. in Mathematics and a master’s degree in Computer Science. He's the author of eleven books including <i>Java For Dummies</i> and <i>Java Programming for Android Developers For Dummies</i>.</p>

<p>Chandra has a Bachelor’s in Technology from Sri Venkateswara University in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. At work, he heads the Java Platform training curricula and is engaged in training programs, teaching Java, Maven, Spring, and Spring Boot as well as SDLC best practices. Chandra also blogs on various topics of interest as a series covering multiple aspects of the technology being blogged about.</p>