Discover effective strategies for pair programming as a mentorship tool in this RubyConf 2021 talk. Explore the benefits of using the Socratic method, fostering two-way knowledge transfer, and building trust with mentees. Learn how to navigate initial pairing sessions, facilitate open dialogues, and conduct live code reviews. Gain insights on switching roles, addressing accessibility concerns, and creating an inclusive pairing environment. Acquire practical advice for more productive, educational, and enjoyable pairing sessions that result in higher quality code and accelerated skill development for mentees.
Overview
Syllabus
Problem Solving Through Pair Programming
The Socratic Method: Asking leading questions and starting a thoughtful dialogue instead of providing direct answers or solutions
Pairing with my own mentor
Eventually, a natural progression from mentor/mentee to peers happens, but the pairing never goes away...
Pair Programming as Mentorship: Solving interesting and difficult technical problems under more experienced guidance provides greater benefit than the typical mentorship structure
The knowledge transfer that happens through a pair programming session and through mentorship ultimately flows in both directions.
Pair programming is a high-contact and high- fidelity way to hit the ground running and build trust with your mentee.
Building trust and confidence through pairing
Effective Pair Programming
As a mentor, your initial role should always be to navigate
Every pairing session should be an open dialogue and live code review, with discussion and productive debate around your implementation and solutions
Eventually, you can switch roles more frequently, and provide your mentee with more opportunities to both work on the implementation and planning sides of pairing
Tooling and Accessibility...
Pairing can bring up all kinds of accessibility concerns...
Always ask about access needs up front and adjust your pairing practices accordingly
Without asking about access needs and making adjustments, pairing could be completely inaccessible to members of your team
Taught by
Ruby Central
