SI204 Pair Programming Guidelines

Pair programming can make your learning more productive, effective, and enjoyable -- provided you follow some guidelines. In addition to what you learned from the article, here are some groundrules.

Individuals shall:

1. Notify the instructor AND partner via email if you know that you will be absent or late to lab. The course policy dictates stiff policies for failure on this.
2. Individually prepare and turn-in pre-lab homework.
3. Be knowledgable and up-to-date on course material.
4. Interact constructively with your partner. Treat your partner with respect.
5. When you are the navigator, actively review, critique, and comment. Otherwise, says Beck:
   Just watching someone program is about as interesting as watching grass die in a desert.
6. When you are the driver, describe what you are doing, ask questions, and be open to input.
7. Talk to the instructor if you are having difficulty with your partner.
8. At the end of a pairing (after several weeks), provide written anonymous feedback on your partner (see below).
9. Not work alone. If your partner is absent, you will be assigned to someone else. Groups of three will sometimes be necessary.
10. If you are absent from lab, complete the lab outside of lab time. Seek permission to use a partner for this if you wish.

Pairs shall:

1. Be logged into only one workstation between the two of you.
2. Regularly switch between being the navigator and the driver. At first, switching times will be dictated by the instructor.
3. Start each lab with roles reversed from the start of the previous week's lab.
4. Demonstrate (or submit) one copy of your lab to the instructor.
5. Vigorously discuss! The room should be buzzing with activity.
6. If you complete the lab, work together on the additional, non-required lab topics. If you finish this, consult your instructor for additional work.

You will be evaluated by your partner on the following. Instructions: rank your partner from 0(poor) to 20(excellent) on each of the following:

• Did your partner read the lab assignment and preparatory materials before coming to lab?
• Did your partner do their fair share of the work?
• Did your partner cooperatively follow the pair programming model (rotating and carrying out the roles of driver and navigator?)
• Did your partner make contributions to the completion of the lab assignment?
• Did your partner cooperate?

If your partner was making a strong effort in all these areas, assigning at total score of 100 (all 20's) is reasonable. Your final lab grade will be based on multiplying your average peer grade by your average lab score. So if you had a 95% lab grade but a peer grade of 80%, your lab grade would be 76%. The instructor reserves the right to adjust extreme peer grades.

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