Paired programming

Paired programming is useful when a student’s Chromebook isn’t working or one student is helping another where they’re stuck.

Driver: The student who is working on the Chromebook.

Navigator: The student who is helping. Does not touch the Chromebook.

If the 2 students will be working together the whole period:

To get students pair programming:

1. Form pairs.

2. The person whose Chromebook they are using is the initial driver.

3. The driver logs in. They click on their name in the upper right corner. A drop-down list appears. The driver chooses “Pair programming” and then selects the name of the other student. (If Pair programming won’t show up in the list, type in their address bar: studio.code.org/sections/######, replacing ###### with the 6-letter code for that class. Now try the drop-down list. Pair programming should appear.)

4. Have students start working.

5. Ensure that students switch roles at regular intervals (every 3 to 5 minutes).

6. Ensure that navigators remain active participants.

If the 2 students are just working together until the problem is solved:

1. Ask the struggling student if they’re ok if (name of student) comes and helps. 

2. When asking the named student to come help, remind them that they are just the navigator. They do not grab the Chromebook.

Videos: 

• For Teachers: youtu.be/sxToW3ixrwo

• For Students: youtu.be/vgkahOzFH2Q I highly recommend showing the students this video at the beginning of the curriculum because you’ll have students getting stuck and needing help right from the first lesson. These are the expectations outlined in the video: