Live coding at Qwasar is an integral part of our innovative approach to coding education. In these real-time coding sessions, participants work collaboratively to solve programming challenges, simulating the collaborative environment found in the tech industry. By engaging in live coding, learners develop essential skills in a supportive and interactive setting, enhancing their problem-solving abilities and coding proficiency.
Let’s dive into how and why we use live coding at Qwasar!
What Are Live Coding Sessions?
Live Coding Sessions are group meetings where one learner or Program Manager leads a group in solving and coding a problem or exercise in real-time. It’s an interactive and collaborative approach to programming where individuals work together to solve coding challenges that they haven’t seen before. It involves thinking through the problem, identifying use cases, identifying edge cases,, troubleshooting issues, writing an outline or doing pseudo code, then coding a solution. This method not only enhances coding skills but also fosters a collaborative learning environment that mirrors the teamwork required in the tech industry.
Live coding sessions are structured to maximize learning and engagement. Participants are divided into medium-sized groups, with each group tackling a specific challenge. These groups can range from beginners focusing on foundational skills to more advanced groups working on complex problems.
What Are the Goals of Live Coding Sessions?
Live coding sessions at Qwasar are designed with several key objectives in mind to enhance both technical and soft skills essential for students' growth.
Improve Your Teamwork and Critical Thinking Skills
Live coding sessions at Qwasar are designed to enhance students' ability to work effectively in teams. By collaborating on coding challenges, students learn to communicate their ideas clearly, listen to diverse perspectives, and integrate different approaches to problem-solving. This collaborative environment encourages critical thinking as students analyze problems, brainstorm solutions, and adapt their strategies in real time.
Develop Presentation Skills
A key component of live coding sessions is the requirement for participants to present their solutions and insights to their peers. This practice helps students build confidence in their public speaking and technical communication abilities.
Gain Exposure to Common Interview Questions
To prepare students for the job market, live coding sessions include a “Skills Check” quiz at the end of each session. These quizzes expose students to common interview questions and industry-specific terminology. This regular exposure helps students become familiar with the language and types of questions they might encounter in technical interviews.
Build a Sense of Community
Live coding sessions foster a strong sense of community among students. Working together to overcome challenges helps build camaraderie and mutual support. This sense of community is vital for creating a positive learning environment where students feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and offering assistance to their peers.
The Benefits of Live Coding Sessions
Live coding offers a range of advantages that are crucial for developing both technical skills and professional competencies.
Industry Preparation
Live coding sessions prepare students for the professional world by familiarizing them with coding collaboration practices commonly used in the industry.
Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills
Live Coding exposes students to diverse and challenging problems that they don’t have time to prepare in advance. This means solving the problem requires on-the-spot problem solving - and seeing how others think about and solve problems helps you build your own abilities.
Exposure to New Perspectives
Watching someone else think through, code, and solve a given problem is fascinating! You get an insight into how others think, how their brain works, what techniques they use - and in doing so, learners are exposed to new perspectives, new ways of thinking, etc.
Where You'll Find Live Coding in the Industry
While companies may not run live coding sessions like we do at Qwasar, you will undoubtedly have to code live, particularly when pair programming. Pair programming involves two developers working together at one workstation, allowing for continuous code review and real-time collaboration.
Additionally, live coding skills are crucial during presentations of work to engineering management or senior engineers. In these situations, developers are often interrogated on the spot about their code, requiring them to explain their logic, defend their design choices, and respond to feedback instantly. This ability to think on their feet and articulate their thought process is vital for career advancement and project success.
Another scenario where live coding is essential is during incident response. When a critical issue arises, developers must quickly diagnose and fix the problem, often while others watch and collaborate. This high-pressure environment demands strong live coding skills, as developers need to talk through the problem, explain their code, and implement solutions in real time. These situations highlight the importance of being able to code effectively and communicate clearly under stress, demonstrating the practical value of live coding in the industry.
Live Coding is Likely a Skill You Didn't Know You Needed!
Live coding is a great way to boost your coding skills and get ready for real-world challenges. It helps you work better with others, solve problems more effectively, and improve your communication. These sessions also give you a taste of what it's like to work in the industry, making you more confident and prepared. They can make a big difference in your growth as a coder, giving you the tools and confidence you need to succeed.
