Educator and engineer Jeff Casimir discusses the state of technology education (think: that stack of technology books collecting dust on your bookshelf), where it falls down, and how effective models can make all the difference in the learning experience. Rails for Zombies, the popular guide to learning Rails that was originally created as a proof-of-concept for the Code School approach, builds on the techniques used in the traditional classroom — and at a compelling price point.

Scott Ambler, is chief methodologist for Agile and Lean at IBM Rational, and author of several books on the Unified Process, Agile development, the Unified Modeling Language, and CMM-based development. In this interview he explains LEAN principles as they apply to software development, talks about how governance and a flatter organization are compatible, and describes what IBM has done with these approaches internally.

IBMers Andre Tost (Senior Tecnical Staff Member, SOA Technology and Software Services for WebSphere) and Robert Laird (an IBM Enterprise Architect focused on SOA governance and policy) are co-authors of the new Thomas Erl SOA series book, SOA Governance: Governing Shared Services On-Premise and in the Cloud. They talk about working on a project with such a large pool of contributing authors, the value of this large reference work, the reason for so many early failures in SOA implementations, and how good governance guides and protects the realization of service-oriented computing.

In this engaging discussion, Jon talks about building successful mobile applications and distinguishing yourself among the masses. He dives into the main mobile platforms, discusses native and HTML5 development, the issues that come with porting across platforms and devices, and the differences in the publishing process between Apple (review process) and Android (fragmentation). And if you're interested in how to turn a buck in this competitive market, you'll want to consider Optime's business model.

Program Manager for IBM Global Business Services talks about how social business strategies and Rational tools were utilized to vastly improve the way IBM GBS develops software systems that run the IBM business.

Kevin is the author of Trade-Off: Why Some Things Catch On, and Others Don't, The Maverick and His Machine: Thomas Watson Sr. and the Making of IBM and Megamedia Shakeout. He was a reporter, editor and columnist at USA Today for 22 years and a contributing editor at Conde Nast Portfolio. He has been a contributor to Fortune and Wired magazines, The Atlantic, NPR and ABC News.

Felicia Day is an actress and writer whose projects include The Guild, an original web series on the eccentric lives of online gamers. Gine Poole is VP of Marketing for IBM Rational. Both joined me at Innovate last week for some light-hearted chat about taking on Watson and Grady Booch in Jeopardy, hosting a big developer conference, social geeking, and the Innovate conference experience.

Charles Krueger is CEO for BigLever Software, Inc., creator of GEARS, a product line engineering tool and lifecycle framework for systems software. He joined me at Innovate 2011 to talk about the growing need for reducing production complexity and simultaneously increasing scalability, and sites examples of aerospace and automotive companies they have helped. BigLever utilizes numerous IBM Rational tools -- Doors, Rhapsody, Team Concert, ClearCase, and Synergy.

As PostgreSQL celebrates 15 years, EnterpriseDB's Ed Boyajian and Robin Schumacher talk about this popular open source database, its engaged community, how it differs MySQL, and where it fits in the world of big data.

Here are my interviews with three of the finalists, including the winner, at IBM SmartCamp Austin. Sam Fuller (Waldo Health), Matt Wensing (Stormpulse), and Barrett Taylor (SecureWaters, Inc. and SmartCamp Austin Winner) talk about their respective smarter planet solutions. Jim Corgel, Director of ISV and Developer Relations for IBM, wraps it up with a few words about the IBM SmartCamp experience.