Problem Solving

Sept 2025

Pseudocode

I feel confident in breaking down problems and turning them into pseudocode. I have been doing that for most of the JavaScript Kata in Sprint 4 and found it super useful overall. Where I am feeling challenged currently is actually starting to write the code and where to begin.

// Example of how I start
// 1. Break problem into steps
// 2. Write each step in plain English
// 3. Translate step-by-step into code

Trying Something

I am reasonably confident with trying something, looking at npm test or console logs, and debugging from there. Although I feel it's going to take more time until I feel more confident in what I try and what outcome I expect from trying it.

Rubber Ducky Method

Talking aloud as I study, especially after having broken down the problem, has been reasonably helpful and I feel quite confident in doing this.

Reading Error Messages

While it was difficult at the beginning to interpret error messages and what to do with them, I am starting to feel way more confident about reading them and trying something - or Googling/asking ChatGPT for help with deciphering them, to find out what the issue is.

Console.logging

I haven't been doing this much but had a great chat with Facilitator David who helped me figure out the best ways of using console.log to better visualise each step of my code and connect the abstract to the code itself. So my confidence is definitely higher now with console logging.

console.log("Step 1:", myVariable)
console.log("After loop:", array)

Googling

I use W3Schools and MDN mainly for reference, but ultimately I have been using ChatGPT-prompting it deliberately to help nudge me, reword the question, or explain the why and how, not just provide the answer straight away. I feel pretty confident with this process, especially after running it through David (Facilitator) and getting his reassurance about my process.

Asking Your Peers for Help

I don't feel confident doing this yet as I feel I cannot help anyone at this point, so how could someone help me? I also don't want to be a bother to them, definitely something I will work on actively.

Asking Coaches for Help

I feel very confident when I have tried all avenues before bringing an issue forward. I feel confident with this because I have had feedback that my questions are formatted in an easy-to-understand way that makes the coaches/facilitators' job easier when helping me.

Improving Your Process With Reflection

Reflection has been an interesting one. I am definitely feeling more confident with doing reflections, but I feel I am yet to fully bear the fruits of my labour. I do find it helpful just to offload anything mentally and gather my thoughts at the end of something. My confidence is definitely building slowly with self-reflection.