I'm currently researching how to build a better tool for remote coding instruction, and I'd love to hear from those who teach coding. I've had my share of frustrating experiences learning cybersecurity online, especially with laggy Zoom screen sharing and difficulties in interacting with instructors' code. For those teaching programming, whether you're in bootcamps, tutoring, or mentoring:
- What platforms or tools do you rely on for remote 1-on-1 lessons?
- What's the most frustrating part of the experience for you?
- If you could improve one aspect of the current setup, what would it be?
Looking forward to your insights! This isn't a sales pitch – I'm just trying to gauge if there's a real issue here worth tackling. Thanks!
3 Answers
The biggest hassle I've encountered is when students can’t share their screens properly or their setup gets messed up, which can lead to spending a long time just trying to get them set up right. I usually use Discord for voice and screen sharing along with Replit for collaborative coding, but Replit can be a bit slow sometimes. Ideally, I’d love a tool that lets me jump right into their coding environment without all the back-and-forth about screen sharing.
I mainly use Discord for screen sharing along with an option in VSCode for peer programming, though I can’t remember the exact name. Using Discord for voice and screen share combined with VSCode's live share feature works well for me! I find VSCode’s setup easier despite Replit having integrated voice features; it just streamlines my workflow a bit more.
I've got four years of experience teaching coding, two of those as a tutor and two working as a software developer on our web application. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need insight on this topic!
I love that balance of teaching and development experience you have! That’s exactly the perspective I’m looking for. Thanks for being open to questions!
Are you talking about VS Code Live Share? If you are, that's a solid combo! But I'm curious, why do you prefer that over Replit? Maybe it’s the setup hassle, or does Replit lack some features you need? If there was a web-based tool where you could just send a link and both be in the same editor with voice chat, would that be easier for your needs?