Elevator Pitch
You’re mentoring at a programming workshop and your learner is having trouble with their code: what do you do?
Let’s learn how to be a good in-person code mentor!
Description
Mentoring is about code, yes, but it’s also about connection, empowerment, and encouragement. So here’s the challenge: you’re at a programming workshop and one of your learners needs your help to fix their code. What do you do? You know the technical solution, but how should you walk them through the problem?
Come to this talk and learn specific skills that will help you make your mentoring moments meaningful.
We’ll discuss:
- how to avoid backseat coding
- how to deal with blank expressions
- how to get your learners to ask questions
- when to be concerned with critiquing code style
Notes
Outline
- Introduction (5 minutes)
- My background
- Our objectives
- Our fears
- Focusing on the task at hand (5 minutes)
- Dealing with syntax errors
- Discussing code style
- Spotting bugs
- Getting side-tracked: when to do it
- Being a learning ally (5 minutes)
- Being a rubber duck
- Encouraging experimentation
- Looking things up
- Discussing learning
- Being deliberate (5 minutes)
- Phrasing things carefully
- Being positive
- Taking things step by step
- Dethroning yourself
- Wrap-up (5 minutes)
- Tying it all together
- Reminders & take-aways
- Final call-to-action
I have volunteered as a coach/mentor at over a dozen free programming workshops. I have also taught Python to hundreds of people through corporate Python/Django training sessions in a workshop-like environment.
I have talked many learners through struggles while sitting, standing, and crouching next to them. I try my best to be approachable and empathetic.