Programmer Questionnaire

Background

Becoming a professional computer programmer takes a lot of work and everyone’s path is different. It’s important for me as your teacher to understand your goals and background so I don’t waste your time teaching things your already know / don’t care about. But it is even more important for YOU to know, as you are the one who ultimately has to make the decision what to learn.

  • WHAT are your goals
  • WHY are these your goals
  • HOW will you work to achieve your goals

Short Answer / Essay

  1. List what you have already worked on to learn to program. (ex: codecademy.com, books, articles, youtube videos …)

  2. What computer software do you have experience with (professional or non-professional)? Which of these did you like or NOT like? (ex: Microsoft Excel, PhotoShop, iMovie, PC games, mobile apps …)

  3. What computer hardware experience do you have? (ex: taking apart PC / building a PC, looking for smart-phone)

  4. What was your favorite subject in high school? (ex: Math, Language, History, Art, Gym …)

  5. Do you enjoy learning? What styles of learning work best for you? (ex: reading, building with hands, talking/discussing, listening to lectures …)

  6. Why do you want to become a programmer? (ex: earn more money, computers/software are interesting, want to work from home …)

Programming Talent / Skill Gauge

(Taken from https://www.owlguru.com/career/robotics-technicians/quiz/)

Rate each statement on a scale of 1-5

  • 1: NOT TRUE AT ALL
  • 5: VERY TRUE
  1. You are interested in circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  2. You are interested in the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  3. Write, analyze, review, and rewrite programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
  4. Correct errors by making appropriate changes and rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
  5. You like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking.
  6. You like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  7. You like following set procedures and routines.
  8. You like working with data and details more than with ideas.
  9. You like work that includes practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
  10. You like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.