Link to the coursework

https://programming.codeyourfuture.io/onboarding/sprints/1/prep

Why are we doing this?

https://programming.codeyourfuture.io/how-this-works/sprints/self-educate/prep/#importance-of-prep

The first thing you should do every week is the prep. The prep will help you do everything else. The prep teaches you the main concepts of the week and then the coursework provides projects and exercises to help you consolidate and practice that learning.

Maximum time in hours

4

How to get help

1. Share your blockers in #cyf-questions-support. Take the opportunity to practice asking your question like a developer: https://curriculum.codeyourfuture.io/guides/asking-questions
2. Book a pair programming session with a mentor in the #cyf-pair-programming channel
3. Attend a mid-week study session online
4. Write down your questions and bring them to class

Coursework content

Depends on #73

You should have analysed your weekly patterns and started identifying improvement areas by now. In this exercise, we’ll create a few positive areas for your performance and well-being and convert those into a plan.

Areas that matter most:

• Time to learn: You reserve enough time and energy to learn
• Start of the day: You start the day with a clear mind
• Income: You create a stable financial income (if possible)
• Boundaries: You set clear boundaries between work, study, family and other responsibilities
• Distractions: You minimise distractions from the internet
• Teamwork: You learn to work with others and ask for help
• Food: You eat food that enhances energy and concentration
• Daily Learning: you manage to concentrate and work on your training daily, even if for a short amount of time

Considering these areas, which are the 2-3 you struggle with most? Choose them and add them to your “Development Career Plan” spreadsheet as a “Theme”.

Now, read this text about your area so that you can define your goals for each theme. Be as SMART as possible with your goals.

Example of learning/development needs:

• Daily 20 min walk to reduce my anxiety
• Make sure I finish my shift on time so I can study
• Sleep by X so I can get up early and study
• Make notes of the number of hours I am studying so that I can have evidence of my development
• Practice mindfulness 5 minutes a day to enhance my focus

The next step is to define your actions to achieve that goal. Remember to challenge yourself, but at the same time, be realistic. Thinking about small steps to reach your bigger goal is also good. With every little (maybe daily, weekly) achievement, you get closer to it.

Write these actions on the same spreadsheet so you can assess them regularly.

If you have some time, share this with your pair so that you can give each other insights.

Estimated time in hours

1

What is the purpose of this assignment?

We all have to make changes and adapt our routines to achieve goals. But we cannot change everything at once and will change different things according to our reality. This exercise is for you to take the first step to planning these actions. It’s not about size but about the impact it will have in your life as a developer.

How to submit

Add the following to this ticket:

• The link to your development plan. *Make a copy of this template._ Make sure anyone can comment on it.

Anything else?

The Development Plan is not a one-off exercise. It is a plan you should review constantly with your new knowledge and when you have developed new skills.

Link to the coursework

https://github.com/CodeYourFuture/Module-Onboarding/tree/main/Form-Controls

Learning objectives

For this project, you will need to make decisions yourself and explore your own code with Devtools. What blockers will you encounter? How will you get help to solve them? Come to class with questions.

Maximum time in hours

4

How to get help

Share your blockers in your class channel. Use the opportunity to refine your skill in Asking Questions like a developer.

How to submit

Remember that you should switch to the main branch before creating a new branch.

1. Fork to your Github account.
2. Switch to the main branch
3. Make a branch for this project
4. Make regular small commits in this branch with clear messages.
5. When you are ready, open a PR to the CYF repo, following the instructions in the PR template.

There are several projects in this repo. Make a new branch for each project. This might feel challenging at first, so this is a good problem to bring to class to work on in groups with mentors.

How to review

1. Complete your PR template
2. Ask for review from a classmate or mentor
3. Make changes based on their feedback
4. Review and refactor again next week

Link to the coursework

https://github.com/CodeYourFuture/CYF-Workshops/tree/main/asking-questions

Why are we doing this?

Before you come to class, you need to make sure you are ready to participate in the workshop.

For this workshop you will need:

• Chrome with Devtools
• A ChatGPT account
• This Asking Questions Workshop page
• To read this article about Mental Models
• And bookmark this one: thinking better

Make sure you come to class having looked over what you will be doing.

Maximum time in hours

0.25

How to get help

Share your blockers in your class channel. Practice asking good questions, with links and context.

✍️ Enrol as a Trainee

You are progressing through this module! Well done! 💪

You are currently enrolled as a CYF Learner. Once you have completed this Onboarding Module, you should enrol as a Trainee.

Use the success criteria for this module to help you complete it.

https://programming.codeyourfuture.io/onboarding/success/

Enroll as a trainee to:

• claim course expenses if you need them to continue your learning
• access unlimited Udemy for Business courses
• access GitHub Student Developer Pack
• access any further CYF courses

Want to know more? Complete this module and enrol as a Trainee. You can enrol as soon as you complete the work listed in the success criteria. You do not need to wait.

✨ Code Your Future

Pick one piece of programming you’re doing and pair up with a volunteer to work on it together.

See the mentored pair programming guide for guidance.

Book time with a community member using one of the Scheduling links in the #cyf-pair-programming slack channel’s canvas. If there are no available times, please post in #cyf-pair-programming.

Remember, as a learner, you will need to explain your thought process, plan out what to do, write the code and check it works

Why are we doing this?

Pair programming is an excellent way to develop programming and communication skills. It is often much easier to work through something when working on something 1-to-1. It is also helps our learners to prepare for technical interviews when they’ll need to code in front of other people.

Acceptance criteria

• You have pair programmed on a piece of programming with another person for at least thirty minutes this sprint.

Objectives

• Talk aloud when thinking about a problem.
• Write code in front of someone else.
• Analyse your strategies for solving problems in code.

Coursework content

To enrol as a Trainee and claim financial support, your English level must be B2 or higher - which is a score of at least 100.

Take the Duolingo English practice test and make sure you are achieving a score of at last 100 BEFORE taking this official test.

We will send you a voucher to take the Duolingo English Test for free.

Do not pay for this test. CYF provides this for free. Use the voucher we send you.

1. This email will be sent to the email address you signed up with.
2. Check your spam folder.
3. If you cannot find the voucher, post it on the #general Slack channel.

Set-up for the test

• You can’t use Linux for this test. If you have a Linux laptop, either use the library or come to class and borrow a computer for an hour.
• The computer must have a working camera and microphone
• You must have a valid ID. List of accepted IDs. If you don’t have one, please talk to your cohort founders to arrange a different voucher.
• Do not enter the voucher number until you are ready with everything: it is only valid for 20 days. This information is only available after the voucher is entered, and pausing is impossible.
• Before doing the real test, do this Practice Test. This helps you to understand the limited time you have to reply to the questions.
• You can also watch this video about the test.
• You will receive the voucher on your email address

Format of the test:

1. Quick setup: 5 MINUTES An introduction that walks you through the test rules and requirements. You must have a valid ID with you. List of accepted IDs

2. Adaptive test; 45 MINUTES A series of questions that evaluate your English skills

3. Writing and speaking sample - 10 MINUTES Open-ended prompts that are shared with institutions alongside your score

Estimated time in hours

1

What is the purpose of this assignment?

Assess your level of English.

How to submit

• Create an account on the Duolingo page
• You will receive a voucher on your email address
• “Buy” a test using the Coupon Code CYF will give you
  • Login to your Duolingo account
  • Use the route “Purchase a test”
  • Select “1 test” option
  • Do not pay extra for fast results (CYF won’t cover that cost)
  • Do NOT add your credit card information, use the “Apply Coupon Code” option
• Take the test
• Add the screenshot of your test outcome to this ticket and then close this ticket.
• Add the screenshot to the trainee enrollment

Link

https://github.com/CodeYourFuture/Module-Onboarding/pulls

Why are we doing this?

Code review is an essential part of self-evaluation.

Get a code review for a piece of work; then reply and iterate on this feedback.

We’re using GitHub Labels in our Code Review process. In order for a volunteer to review your pull request, you will need to add a “Needs Review” label to it.

• Open your pull request
• In the right sidebar, click Labels, then select “Needs Review”

Take a look at our code review process from beginning to end. Let us know if you have any questions or need help!

You can also use any solutions to review your code independently.

Maximum time in hours

1

Link to the coursework

Build, organize, and format a spreadsheet using Google Sheets.

Why are we doing this?

Being confident and fluent with spreadsheets is necessary for all knowledge workers.

Maximum time in hours

1

How to get help

Don’t forget to read the docs

How to submit

• Make your spreadsheet public
• Attach a link to your copy of this ticket on your own board

Coursework content

Think about what short, medium, and long-term goals you may want to set around reducing your hours, quitting a job, or getting a different job, and what a different job may look like.

In a private Google sheet, make a budget of how much money you make on average on your shift work, including the hours you work and all the expenses related to it (transportation, fuel, repair costs).

Is your shift work worthwhile doing compared to other types of work?
Check out this link to understand the differences.

Reflect on what changes you might need to bring to your life.
- Summary of my current situation - My current plan - What distractions do I have / My energy levels during the study - Original plans I had after I finished the training
- Define them in short/medium/long-term goals

Estimated time in hours

0.5

What is the purpose of this assignment?

This exercise is for you to get a job in tech, whilst focusing on the right things and still having enough money to pay your bills.

How to submit

Optional: you can discuss it with a peer or volunteer to get their feedback and insights. You do not need to share your private financial situation.

Link to the coursework

https://github.com/CodeYourFuture/Module-Onboarding/issues/

Why are we doing this?

The CYF curriculum is an open source project. Like all software, it is continually revised and improved in iterations.

Help improve the curriculum by giving quick emoji feedback on any assignment.

Feedback on this assignment by pressing the emoji reaction button on the top comment.

Emoji Key

👍 = Useful 👎 = Not useful

🚀 = Way too much time given 😕 = Not enough time given

You are invited to give feedback on any assignment in this way. Do this on the CYF issue, not your copy, so CYF can track it using the GitHub reactions API.

Maximum time in hours

.05

How to submit

Click the emoji button on the first post on any coursework assignment. Please do this regularly.