Programming 2 Students Collaborate with Etherpad
Programming 2 students are currently learning how to define functions in Python. This is a perfect opportunity for them to both work independently and collaborate together on a project. In this project each person in a team of 3 is assigned one section (function) of code that they are responsible for writing individually, and another section that they must write together. They are allowed to collaborate with each other and help each other while still having their individual jobs to accomplish.
To accomplish this the students write their program in an Etherpad Document. Etherpad is an online software that lets all three users simultaneously write their code in one single document, while highlighting who is writing what parts of the code. It auto saves like a Google doc in addition to saving a recording of the entire progress from beginning to end. Also, it gives the students a private chat window to collaborate in while archiving the entire discussion.
Students love the challenge of this project, and are highly engaged during the course of the program. As a teacher I like that I can go back and revisit the chat room of their collaboration and track through their program from start to finish. It really helps paint a picture of their thought process and how they approach problem solving.
Screen Captures
Video Timeline
Students are also given 5 Minutes of "Face Time" at the beginning of each period to discuss the problem together. Here are some images from one of the periods today during that time.
