Remember, do NOT spend more than an hour on a problem if you are not making progress. You can:
- Ask your professor - we WANT to see you in office hours.
- Ask your TAs - TAs also WANT to see you in office hours. Please do remember that TAs are also often students, so limit your request for assistance to the posted time(s).
- Work on another task for an hour or so, for the same class or a different one.
- Post a question on Piazza (for many courses). Remember not to post code. If you need to send code to ask your question, make sure it is a private message.
- Eat lunch (or dinner or breakfast or a snack).
- Send an email to your TAs or instructor.
- Ask the duck:
Nchima told us about a technique he has heard about where you pretend to explain your code to a rubber duck. Just the act of explaining it can often "reset" your brain and lead to an answer of how to move forward.
This is also called Rubber Duck Debugging. Wikipedia: Rubber Duck Debugging.
I have donated a rubber duck, "Dinasaur-Duck", and Nchima will be its caretaker. They (the duck) will live in the flex room. Feel free to drop in and ask them for assistance. :) Please do leave the duck in the flexroom for others to talk to.
- Have a nap.
- Take a walk.
My policy is that I will help you at any time, even if it is not office hours, unless I need to make a deadline of my own.