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Can you share your process for helping students debug their code in real time during online lessons, especially when working with more intricate or unfamiliar programming languages?

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  • Programming & Tech

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I am a Latex Programmer and it's a kind of unfamiliar programming language. When a student contacts me to debug their code during the online session I follow these steps: 

Understand the Issue: I ask the student what is the problem or how they want their output to look like

Code Review: Ask them to share the screenshot of the code or their code via screen sharing or Overleaf an online editor for Latex, I usually check for common latex problems such as missing braces or packages. 

Reproduce the Problem:  Then I try to compile the code in a safe environment, sometime we need to change the compiler

Break Down the Problem: For bigger problems, I also check by breaking down a code into smaller pieces or by commenting on the part of the document to check what's causing the actual problem. 

Suggest Fixes: Guide the student in resolving errors, such as replacing incompatible packages, fixing syntax errors, or restructuring the document. 

Reinforce Learning: After resolving the issue, I explain the root cause and suggest best practices, such as organizing code, adding comments, and choosing reliable packages.

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