Hi! On November 14, 2020, I had the honor of participating as a mentor in the extraordinary first online edition of Girls.js workshops. The COVID-19 pandemic turned our everyday lives upside down, also changing the way we learn and share knowledge.
Despite meeting in a virtual space, the energy, passion, and willingness to learn were as real as during in-person meetings. This experience showed me how fundamental the power of community and cooperation is, even when separated by a computer screen.
The Challenge of Virtual Mentoring
I am deeply convinced that in programming, cooperation and knowledge exchange are key. The pandemic tested our ability to adapt these values in a new digital reality. When I learned that the Girls.js workshops would be held online, I felt excitement but also uncertainty – would I be able to effectively support them through a computer screen?
Preparing for the workshops, I thought for a long time about how to provide each participant with individual support in an environment where there is no possibility of quickly looking over a shoulder at the code. Fortunately, the organizers took care of every logistical and technical detail, so we could focus on what was most important – learning and cooperation.
Preparation and Materials – The Foundation of Success
The materials prepared by the Girls.js organizers were a model of well-thought-out educational materials – clear, logical, and perfectly adapted to the level of the participants, who were often taking their first steps in programming. This allowed me to focus on what I love most: supporting participants in solving tasks, helping them overcome challenges, and celebrating every, even the smallest, success on the road to understanding the code.
I particularly appreciated the progressive nature of these materials – each subsequent task naturally built on the previous one, allowing participants to gradually develop skills without feeling overwhelmed. As a mentor, I could focus on helping with understanding nuances and solving specific problems that arose during work on tasks.
CodeSandbox Live – A Breakthrough Tool
Using the CodeSandbox platform with the “Live” option proved to be revolutionary in the context of virtual mentoring. This functionality enabled me to:
- Freely access the code of all participants in real-time
- Significantly speed up the support process
- Eliminate one of the main problems of remote programming – the need for complex development environment configuration
The ability to instantly switch between participants’ environments was key – it allowed for quick reaction to emerging errors and clear explanation of code fragments. In real-time, I saw what each person was working on, I could identify potential problems before they became a source of frustration, and propose solutions tailored to individual learning styles.
What’s more, CodeSandbox Live allowed me to show participants how I approach debugging and problem solving in practice. Instead of just saying “do this,” I could show the entire thought process leading to a solution – an invaluable lesson for beginning programmers.
Atmosphere and Interaction – Despite the Distance
One of my biggest fears before the workshops was the possibility of creating a warm, supportive atmosphere in an online environment. However, within the first minutes of the meeting, these doubts disappeared. The participants were engaged, asked questions, and were not afraid to experiment with the code, even if it sometimes led to errors.
Watching the learning process of my mentees and seeing how they overcame subsequent programming challenges was a great satisfaction for me. Every moment when a participant went from a shy “I think it doesn’t work” to an enthusiastic “oh, it works!”, reminded me why I value the opportunity to share knowledge so much.
These small victories are the foundation on which true passion for programming is built:
- Fixing the first bug – the first step to understanding debugging
- Understanding how a loop works – a key programming concept
- Successful styling of the first element – satisfaction from the visual effect
Reflections on Educational Accessibility
This experience taught me an important lesson about the accessibility of technological education. The online format, although initially forced by the pandemic, opened doors for participants who could not have appeared at on-site workshops. In this sense, the pandemic, despite all the difficulties, showed us new possibilities for democratizing access to knowledge.
At the same time, I noticed that online mentoring requires a different approach than traditional, on-site mentoring. You have to check more often if the participants are keeping up, ask questions, and create a space where they feel comfortable asking for help. In a virtual environment, it’s easier to get “lost” or fall behind, so as mentors, we had to be even more attentive and sensitive to each person’s needs.
The Value of Initiatives Like Girls.js
I deeply hope that the Girls.js workshops, well-prepared materials, and friendly atmosphere positively influenced the development of future programmers. In an IT industry that still struggles with a lack of diversity, initiatives like Girls.js are invaluable. They not only teach specific technical skills but above all build self-confidence and show that programming is available to everyone, regardless of gender or previous experience.
For me, personal participation in Girls.js as a mentor is a way of giving back to the community part of what I’ve learned in my career. Each such event reminds me of the importance of mentoring and sharing knowledge – it not only helps others start their journey in programming but also enriches myself, showing different perspectives and reminding me of the joy that discovering new concepts brings.
Reflections and Thanks
I would like to sincerely thank the Girls.js organizers for the perfect preparation of the event and the creation of a platform that helps many women start their adventure with programming. Thank you also to all the participants for their commitment, questions, and enthusiasm – it is your energy that makes mentoring such a rewarding experience.
I invite all people interested in learning programming to follow the Girls.js initiative and participate in future workshops. Whether they take place on-site or online, I guarantee it’s a great opportunity to start or continue your adventure with code in a supportive, friendly environment!
