Dev Bootcamp Phase 0 - Week Five: Students Log

Pair Programming so far in Phase 0 of Dev Bootcamp

With Pair Programming being such an integral part of the Dev Bootcamp Experience, I was initially a little apprehensive and I wanted to ensure that I really did everything that I could to ensure that I was successful in both the driver and navigator roles. So far, I have found that Pair Programming is not as difficult as I feared. While some pairing sessions have been easier that others, they have all helped me to learn new things as well as helped me see how I adjust my style to ensure an effective working relationship with my pair. Over the first 5 weeks, I have definitly seen my approach during pairing sessions change both based on the specific challenge as well as my pair.

One of the developmental challenges that peer programming help me to identify is my ability to function effectivly as a navigator, specifically when my pair is struggling with the challenge. As it turns out, I can be a bit of a control freak and my first instinct was to just jump in and take control. As I progress with pair programming, I will need to ensure that I slow down and help my pair truly understand the issues that they are uncofortable with before push forward.

Giving and Receiving Feedback in Dev Bootcamp

I have a very developmental personality and I have always welcomed feedback and/or critisim in my personal and professional life as I genuinly feel that feedback is a major building block to personal growrth. In reading the feedback that I have received from both my peers as well as the guides, I have found that the feedback closely mirrors the developmental areas that I have identified. For me, the biggest challenge that I need to work on specific to feedback is giving actionable and specific feedback, particulary when the pairing session went good. With a backgroupd in management, it is easier for me to provide actionable feedback when the pairing session didn't go great. Going forward, I need to look for feedback opportunities even when things went well.