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@rwarbelow The learning curve to becoming a great developer is incredibly steep, especially when starting with no background knowledge. And it's not a smooth ride, either - trying to learn tools, concepts, syntax, and best practices simultaneously will inevitably result in hiccups along the way. As a DevBootcamp alumnus, Rachel knows what it's like to go from zero to developer in a very short time frame and the challenges that journey can present. Now as an instructor at the Turing School of Software and Design, she draws on her years of experience in the classroom to employ strategies that allow her students just the right balance between hand-holding and struggling. In this talk, Rachel will share tips to help people who are just getting started with programming overcome common struggles while also sharing proven teaching techniques that will help more experienced developers become effective mentors. Talk given at GORUCO 2015: http://goruco.com
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In her talk at GoRuCo 2015, Rachel Warbelow addresses the common pitfalls faced by junior developers as they transition into the programming field. Drawing on her experiences as a software development instructor at the Turing School of Software and Design, she emphasizes the challenges that those new to programming encounter, especially in environments with experienced colleagues. The focus of her presentation is not just on identifying these pitfalls but on offering actionable strategies for mentors and development teams to prevent them effectively. **Key Points Discussed:** - **Lack of Structure**: Many junior developers feel overwhelmed due to poorly structured onboarding processes. Rachel advises creating a long-term development plan that defines essential skills and milestones. This plan should include: - A roadmap for the junior developer's progress, detailing what they should achieve in the short and long term. - A pairing structure that encourages collaboration with both peers and senior developers. - Tagging tasks in project management tools to ensure they are appropriate for junior developers and facilitate learning through experience. - **Pressure to Excel**: Junior developers often face high expectations that can lead to feelings of inadequacy. It is important to foster a supportive culture where asking questions is not only acceptable but encouraged. Rachel suggests: - Setting realistic productivity expectations and clarifying that asking for help is an integral part of the learning process. - Allowing junior developers to see their more experienced colleagues struggle, thereby normalizing challenges in coding. - **Understanding Over Memorization**: Rachel stresses the need for junior developers to achieve a deeper understanding of coding concepts rather than just memorizing implementations. To facilitate this, she recommends effective teaching techniques including: - Use of visual aids and analogies to help connect abstract ideas to real-world situations, thereby enhancing comprehension. Finally, Rachel encourages the audience to actively engage with colleagues to discuss and implement mentoring strategies that support junior developers. She concludes her talk by thanking individuals that contributed insights and invites the audience to reach out for further discussion. Overall, the presentation provides valuable insights into developing a nurturing environment for junior developers while highlighting the importance of effective mentoring.
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