1. What are three new things you have learnt about yourself and your ego due to the core learning?

To be quite honest, during the core learning, I didn't learn anything new about myself or my ego. I've studied extensively in the past, and what I already understand about myself is accurate. It did, however, confirm my character as I know it to be.

I enjoy difficulties, to start. When I have to wait for the solution or cannot find it, it concerns me. Knowing the answer is more important than bragging or demonstrating my ability to complete the task. Even if someone shows it to me, I don't mind as long as I can resolve the situation mentally.

Second, I'm very careful with my time. I'll put in a lot of effort to achieve a personal goal that I set for myself to complete a particular challenge. Naturally, I had already factored work time for breaks and personal time while calculating this. But I don't mind going above and above to make it happen.

And last, I enjoy my independence. I enjoy having the freedom to discuss concepts with myself as I mull over a problem. This might discourage some individuals from trying to plan with me because I have a tendency to think tangentially hehe.

2. What are the role of values, empathy, and self-awareness in learning and programming?

In learning and programming, values, empathy, and self-awareness all play significant roles.

Values: Our behaviour and decision-making are shaped by our values, which serve as our guiding principles. Values like diligence, reliability, cognizance, and precision are crucial to performing well in both learning and programming. For instance, if a programmer values the importance of writing clear and readable code, they will prioritize writing code that is easy for others to understand and maintain. Additionally, when working in a team, values like respect, cooperation, and teamwork are critical since they foster a healthy workplace atmosphere.

Empathy: The capacity to comprehend and empathise with the emotions of others. Empathy is essential in programming to satisfy end-user needs. When creating software, a programmer who practises empathy will take the user's wants, preferences, and constraints into account. Additionally, empathy is crucial in a programming team because it promotes understanding and cooperation among team members, improving collaboration and problem-solving efficiency.

The capacity to recognise and comprehend one's own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours is known as self-awareness. Programmers that are self-aware are better able to identify their areas of strength and weakness and endeavour to strengthen those areas of their craft. For instance, a self-aware programmer would look for more training or mentorship to advance their programming abilities. A programming team needs people that are self-aware because it helps them see their own prejudices and limits and collaborate to get past them.

In conclusion, values, empathy, and self-awareness are significant elements that affect how well people learn and code. Programmers can create software that is of high quality, satisfies end-user needs, and promotes а happy and productive work environment by giving priority to these characteristics.

3. What has surprised you the most about the core learning?

The frequency of core learning surprised me the most. Every sprint has a core topic that is covered every week. I don't object to it. I like that this is covered in the curriculum. I just didn't think the course would include it. However, I can see why it is necessary for our schooling now.

4. What were the most challenging aspects of the core learning?

The core learning was rewarding and difficult for me as a student. It was occasionally challenging for me to identify places where I needed to grow and concentrate on improving my self-awareness.

Another challenging aspect of the core learning was learning to integrate my values into my technical skills. This required me to approach programming from a different perspective, where I was not only focused on the technical aspects of the code, but also on how the code would affect others.

Overall, the core learning forced me to think beyond programming's technical aspects and examine the wider implications of my work. It forced me to consider critically how I could apply my programming expertise to bring about change. Even though this kind of learning was difficult, it was also immensely rewarding and has changed the way I view my work as a programmer.

5. Why do you think we, a programming school, are spending so much time focusing on core learning in a web development Bootcamp course?

In web development Bootcamp classes, I think programming schools are spending more time concentrating on core learning because technical abilities alone do not produce a great programmer. While having strong technical skills is unquestionably essential, a programmer's success also depends on their interpersonal skills, communication skills, and awareness of how their job affects society.

By incorporating core learning into a web development Bootcamp course, programming schools are helping students develop the critical skills necessary to become well-rounded and effective programmers who can work collaboratively, communicate effectively, and create solutions that are beneficial for everyone.

6. Does the time you spent studying core learning here feel like a waste of time? Should you have just used that time to practise programming instead? Justify your answer.

No, I don't feel like the time I spent studying core learning was a waste of time. In fact, I believe that the time spent on core learning was just as important as the time spent practicing programming. Technical skills are important, but they are not the only factor that contributes to success as a programmer. Core learning helps students become a well-rounded and effective programmer which I want to be.

Additionally, core learning enables students to recognise their own prejudices to develop a more diverse and inclusive tech sector. As the tech sector recognises the need for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion, this is becoming more and more significant. As a result, I don't think the time spent on core learning was a waste. Instead, it was an investment in my future as a programmer both personally and professionally. The abilities I acquired through core learning will be useful to me in all facets of my life, not just in my programming profession.