Why are we doing this?

Code review is an essential part of self-evaluation. Get a code review for a piece of work; then reply and iterate on this feedback.

You can also use any solutions to review your code independently.

Maximum time in hours

1

Instructions

1. Pair up with a volunteer and work on a kata together
2. As a trainee, you will need to explain your thought process, plan out what to do, write the code and check it works
3. Volunteers will need to ask questions to check your understanding, provide guidance if you stuck, give honest and meaningful feedback

🧭 Guidance for volunteers

• Don’t take over! It’s important trainees get used to figuring things out. Provide guidance and assistance but trainees need to struggle to overcome any obstacles with understanding and technical communication
• Give honest feedback. Trainees can’t develop if they don’t receive honest feedback about their progress.
• Ask questions. Sometimes asking a clarifying question can help learners discover errors and often promotes more thoughtful responses.
• Encourage best practices. Reinforce good practices like reading error messages carefully sessions and checking documentation.

Why are we doing this?

Pair programming is an excellent way to develop programming and communication skills. It is often much easier to work through something when working on something 1 to 1. It is also helps our trainees to prepare for technical interviews when they’ll need to code in front of other people.

Acceptance criteria

• You have pair programmed on a kata with a volunteer for at least one hour

Link to the coursework

https://www.codewars.com/users/CodeYourFuture/authored_collections

Why are we doing this?

Every week you need to complete at least three kata. Spend at least 20 minutes, three times a week, on your kata workout.

Find the Collection for this module on the CodeYourFuture account.

You should be able to complete level 6 kata during this module. Make sure to start trying some 5kyu as well.

Maximum time in hours (Tech has max 16 per week total)

1

How to get help

• Join the #cyf-codewars Slack channel
• Read the CYF Codewars docs
• Read Codewars advice from CYFers
• Read Codewars advice from mentors

Remember, after 20 minutes, take a break.

How to submit

Your codewars progress is tracked automatically and is available on the public API. You don’t need to submit it.

How to review

Once you have completed your kata, look at the other solutions in the solutions view. Consider how many different approaches there are. Is there something you would adopt for yourself? Revise your own solution.

Link to the coursework

https://github.com/CodeYourFuture/Module-Data-Flows/debugging/book-library/

Why are we doing this?

Making a simpler version of the upcoming TV Show Project, that has some similar concerns, can help you design your application.

Maximum time in hours (Tech has max 16 per week total)

3

How to get help

Share your blockers in your class channel. Use the opportunity to refine your skill in Asking Questions like a developer.

How to submit

1. Fork to your Github account.
2. Make a branch for this project.
3. Make regular small commits in this branch with clear messages.
4. When you are ready, open a PR to the CYF repo, following the instructions in the PR template.

There are several projects in this repo. Make a new branch for each project.

How to review

1. Complete your PR template
2. Ask for review from a classmate or mentor
3. Make changes based on their feedback
4. Review and refactor again next week.

Link to the coursework

https://github.com/CodeYourFuture/CodeAlong-NumberFacts

Why are we doing this?

Now that you’ve learned about APIs and how to connect with them, let’s apply it in the context of a complete application. In the following assignment, you’ll be coding along with somebody as they make an API call to an external, public API.

Don’t just watch this video. You must code along for active learning. This will help you to understand what exactly the presenter is doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUE2Nic21BA

Maximum time in hours

2

How to get help

Try this codealong in a study group.

How to submit

    Fork the repo to your own GitHub account
    Make regular small commits with clear messages
    When you are ready, open a Pull Request to the CYF repo
    Make sure you fill in the PR template provided

How to review

1. Complete your PR template
2. Ask for review from a classmate or mentor
3. Make changes based on their feedback
4. Review and refactor again once the coursework solutions are released.

Coursework content

Conduct a personal SDOT analysis. By answering the following questions, consider the key areas you want to improve. Remember to refer to the development plan you have already been working on:

• Strengths: What are you great at? What makes you stand out? What positive comments do people say about your strengths? What are your greatest achievements?
• Weaknesses: What hard and soft skills do you need to work on? Where do you need to improve? What holds you back? What key habits do you want to overcome? What do others say about your development areas?
• Opportunities: Who can help you achieve your goals? What can you do differently to become more employable? How can you go the extra mile? How can you create opportunities?
• Threats: What could stop you from achieving your career goals? What do you need to stop doing now? What’s out of your control?

Write your analysis down.

Estimated time in hours (PD has max 4 per week total)

0.75

What is the purpose of this assignment?

This analysis will provide you with insights into your personal strengths and development points. It will also help you identify external support opportunities and risks.

How to submit

• Share the link to the doc with your SWOT analysis on your issue. Make sure anyone with this link can comment on it.
• Review your Career Development Plan if it is applicable.

Coursework content

Being on LinkedIn isn’t enough to get noticed. You also need to make sure that you are active on it.

LinkedIn created a Social Selling Index (https://www.linkedin.com/sales/ssi.) which shows how you are in relationship to others in your industry or your network. You can use this as a key performance indicator to ensure you are being ranked higher after your actions.

Think about your strategy to get more active on LinkedIn. Some examples are below, but you can use your creativity. Start with one action and then build upon it.

• Repost interesting articles at least once a week
• React to one of your connections’ posts daily
• Share an important Professional Development learning of this week
• Share an important Technical Education learning of this week (not on the same day as the PD one)
• Comment on one of your connections’ posts daily

Estimated time in hours (PD has max 4 per week total)

0.5

What is the purpose of this assignment?

To create a strong presence on a professional network platform - LinkedIn.

How to submit

• Share the screenshot of your LinkedIn Social Selling Index on this issue.
• Add what is the one action you will commit to. Write it using in a SMART way and add it as a comment on this issue.

Coursework content

Write a 100-word text with the top 3 tips you have learnt about LinkedIn and how to use it effectively.

Review the text with an automated grammar tool.

Estimated time in hours (PD has max 4 per week total)

1

What is the purpose of this assignment?

Reflect on your learnings about communication and selling yourself on LinkedIn. To practice writing in English.

How to submit

• Share the link to the doc on this issue. Make sure anyone can add comments to it.

Anything else?

n/a

Coursework content

Work on your Career Development plan, so that it reflects your learnings and where you evolved. Your goals might be different now, and writing them down can keep your focus and give you a tool to discuss them with anyone you trust who would like an opinion.

Remember: 2-3 areas are enough to change in such a short time, so it’s better to focus on a few, get them nailed, and then choose another area.

Technical knowledge is important, but the skills and processes are also important so you can get a job in tech. So think about both sides.

Examples of goals

• Short term: Practicing coding = Code 1 hour a day on weekdays
• Medium-term: Enhance my written English = Trying to correct by myself the errors that the automated grammar tool is showing in my text
• Long term: Get a job in tech = Send 1 tailored CV per day when I have graduated from Code Your Future

Estimated time in hours

0.5

What is the purpose of this assignment?

Define where you want to be in the short, medium and long term. This helps give you perspective and clarity of where your direction is and if you are doing the right things to get there.

How to submit

• Share your development plan link as a comment, open to anyone to comment
• Write a paragraph, as a comment on this issue, about what you have learned/changed