When dreams die

"Please write a function that reverses a string using the split and join method" 

2 years ago that was a very important thing to me, and I got to watch as multiple other students realized that coding was not for them. 

I spent around 45 minutes after class helping one student try and wrap their brain around it, and they never did. I had an easier time teaching dogs to climb ladders and slide down slides. Yeah, I am odd. 

Now I am at the level of "Please write a function that checks if a string is a palindrome, and if it is say 'No work is needed', and if it is not then reverse the string.", and I bet that you are as well.

Rubber Duck

 When you have problems, explain the problem to your rubber duck (It doesn't have to be a rubber duck. I've talked to AI, my dog, plants, even humans if I have to).

Explain the problem in as simple of terms as possible, like you want a 5-year-old to understand it (Oh, if I had a 5yo... no, no, no, way too disruptive to my home life.)
At some point in the process, you will come up with new ways to approach the problem. Or, you will keep talking to your rubber duck.
Wait...
while problem:
talk to rubber duck

I think while might be the solution I am looking for.
Thanks for the help, all you rubber duckies.

Get A Big Picture View

 One of the things that has come up when I am helping people is that they don't just need to create a solution, they need a solution that works well with what others are doing. Your solution shouldn't create headaches for others.

This isn't just a coding thing, but in all things. Moving the teapots to the 3rd shelf might be a solution, but some of the folks who use the teapots are not able to reach the 3rd shelf, and now they have to get the step stool to make tea.

Sometimes you need to step back for a minute and get a big picture view of what's going on.

9 Rounds project

 Since I am trying to come up with projects that I can make to improve my coding, and to show what I can do, here is an idea I have. 

You have 9 rounds of 3 minutes, with 30 seconds of rest between each round. 

Push the button, you get a countdown: 3, 2, 1, Beep! [start timer]

At 3 mins, Beep! [start rest timer]

At 27 seconds, 3, 2, 1, Beep! 

Must avoid having the 30-second break after the 9th round. 

After the MVP is made, go for being able to pick the number of rounds, length of round, and length of break. 

Nice easy JavaScript, HTML, CSS. Might add-in sounds to go with the countdown. 

Being a teacher... again

 Woke up, started the coffee, sat down at the computer. 

"Hey, I might be building an app for someone. How do I set up a full-stack project? Like, what did you use to set that up?" 

::: Blink blink :::

So I am trying to walk them through that on a high level.