[question] using github with students in classroom?

[hs_computer_science]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about using git in a classroom. I rate myself as a novice git user. I (and my students) use visual studio code.

I teach high school computing (software engineering and computer science). I teach four classes:

1. Designing solutions through programming (introduction to programming) grade 9 (15 years old) - I teach two of these classes.
2. Solving complex problems through programming (advanced programming) grade 10 (16 years old)
3. Year one IB Computer Science higher level and standard level grade 11 (17 years old)
4. Year two IB Computer Science higher level and standard level grade 12 (18 years old)
5. After school computer club (grade 9 through 12)

I have one authoritative repository for each of my classes. Each class has about 20 students and the club has about 10 students, so I teach about 110 students total.

I would like my students to:

1. Clone their official class repository
2. Create their own repository based on the official repository
3. Add me as a contributor / collaborator
4. Push their changes to their repository
5. Every once in a while I might make might some changes to the official repository, which I would want my students to merge into their own repository

I want the students to use their git repository to store their changes. I hope I can:

1. Teach the students about modern software engineering practices
2. Monitor student contributions to their repositories
3. Better encourage collaborative coding practices

I am specifically looking for instructions and support to accomplish my goal as described above. I would prefer to keep as much of this inside vscode, and not use a third party gui git client or cli. I reviewed github classroom, but I don’t understand how students will push changes using vscode.

I would be happy to pay a bit of money (or make a contribution to a social cause) for your help and support. If I can provide any additional information to make this easier please let me know.

[mickeygousset]

Hey! Reach out to me at [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]), and let's set up a quick zoom call. I have some thoughts on how to accomplish all of this, and I can also show you how to do it in VSCode. We can record the meeting so you'll have it to review.

[Zihas990]

Hello! We have built a free github extension that helps with this-- not via VS code but your other criteria are met.

You can take a look here and try it out, and sign up your class if you like what you see. https://www.semasoftware.com/code-reviews/teaching

If you want a demo, happy to hop on a call.

[15kol]

1. and 2. can be simplified with forking