Week 2 as a Tutor: Overcoming Challenges and Building Problem-Solving Skills

Week two as a tutor for the DATA6222 module started off as planned, but I faced an unexpected challenge: I had to work more hours than initially expected. This meant being ready to handle the whole class on my own. Despite this, I would say I did a wonderful job.

The Challenge of Debugging

Most of my work involved debugging students' code, a skill that significantly enhances my problem-solving abilities in programming. Here's the process I followed to debug different people's code effectively:

1. Understanding the Objective:

   • First, I needed to grasp what the students were trying to achieve and what the question required them to do to get the correct output.

2. Evaluating the Method:

   • Next, I looked at the method they were using to accomplish their goal. Often, the method itself wasn't correct. If the method was not the issue, I then examined the error or problem they were encountering.

3. Isolating the Issue:

   • I went through the method step by step to locate the real issue. Once I identified it, I started solving it. My approach was to isolate the problematic part from the working sections of the code.

4. Applying Knowledge and Resources:

   • I used my own knowledge and experience to address the issue. If that didn't work, I turned to AI tools or performed a Google search for additional help.

Key Takeaways

The second week was a significant learning experience for me. It taught me how to prioritize tasks, be ready for unexpected challenges, and filter what needs to be done first. Debugging students' code not only helped them but also enhanced my own programming skills.

Overall, week two was a success, filled with opportunities to improve my problem-solving skills and adapt to new situations.