- Sometimes it can be difficult to get students to collaborate with one another when they aren't pair programming.
- At times students find sharing a computer frustrating and the longer students pair program together, they more likely it is that conflicts will arise.
- By starting the day working together on one computer, it is natural for students to help each other out when they are working on their own, separate, computers.
- Students have an established partnership from pair programming to work off of so they feel comfortable getting help from their buddy.
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Halfway through class, have students switch to buddy programming.
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Buddy Programming is when two students work independently on a project, but have a designated partner they can call on for help, feedback, and input.
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Unlike pair programming, buddy programmings do not share a computer. Each student works at their own station, ideally right next to their partner.
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The goal is for students to have a partner they’ll go to for help while affording them the opportunity to working on their own.
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When student switch to buddy programming, they can use the same shared code base they created together in the beginning of class.
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Students would make copies of their shared code base and then work on these separate documents individually.
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Note: Transferring the files once the students split can be a challenge.
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It’s best to define a protocol for how to do this before class begins.
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This technique is really useful because kids get annoyed sharing a computer with each other. It is HARD!
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The following is one way to switch the codes when students are working in Scratch.
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Have the student who is logged into Scratch download the project to the desktop.
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Then have this student log out of their account.
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Now, have the student who was logged into the shared computer move to a different machine and continue working.
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Lastly, have the other student log into their account on the shared computer and upload this file.
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This can happen when the student who used to be logged in on this computer is logging into the new computer.
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This allows both students to start working individually at around the same time.
- Provide students with step by step instructions so they can do this on their own.