I spent a lot of time talking about what it means to be a “navigator” rather than a “driver”. We practiced how to help someone without giving away the solution, specifically what kinds of guiding questions to ask when someone is stuck. I emphasized the importance of patience and the value of allowing someone to persevere and figure it out on his/her own. I always related it back to their experiences when they were first introduced to code. For example, I asked, “How did you feel when you were stuck and you figured it out on your own, even if you got a hint? How did you feel when someone just told you the solution? Which is a better feeling?” The older students took so much pride in their role as “teachers” rather than “learners” and they really stepped up to the plate and were amazing hosts and navigators!
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