Clear Communication is Paramount

Posted by Edwin Lynch on April 28, 2008 in Communication

I just received a whole bunch of programming assignments. I’m only halfway through marking because most of my time has been taken up opening some of them. Huge file sizes, cumbersome files with unknown extension types, PDF documents designed for print houses – not for dowloading off the web! Grrr!

Many students did the work or got an okay mark or passed. Thankfully, a small percentage of the assignments I received wouldn’t even open!

But the best assignments by far were the ones that communicated with me. Very few students wrote about the trials and tribulations of their programming adventures. The ones that did helped me understand their plight by carefully holding my hand all the way.

In this web-based topsy-turvy industry, it’s hard to find good communicators. If you are clear on paper (and in person of course) the floor is yours. Flattery will get you nowhere. Strong, clear communication (starting with small file sizes, labeled and commented work, links and illustrations whenever necessary, students) will get you anywhere.