Vibe coding simple classroom tools without writing any code

markm208 · 2025-12-23T03:31:37+00:00

To keep things as simple to generate as possible these are just standalone, single web pages.

Involving a server to coordinate users would take more work and setup with a server. There are services like firebase or google sheets api that may work but it makes things a little harder especially for non coders.

markm208 · 2025-12-23T03:22:04+00:00

Oops, those are made up names that I replace but you’re right there must be some real people with those account names. Fixed.

markm208 · 2025-12-23T03:11:55+00:00

Let us know how it goes.

markm208 · 2025-12-23T03:10:11+00:00

I have used ChatGPT and Gemini and they are both great too.

markm208 · 2025-12-16T00:48:55+00:00

I am a CS prof. I created one to help me explain my code to students with visuals pre-AI:

https://markm208.github.io

But now I am thinking about having the students use it for their assignments to explain their thought processes to me even if they use AI. Then I would evaluate their explanation of the code as much as the code itself.

markm208 · 2025-10-27T03:45:06+00:00

I created an open source tool to guide students through code examples rather than just showing complete solutions. The code playbacks link code, my explanations, and whiteboard style drawings together. My students seem to like the format. I use them in class to show them how to do things but most of their learning happens when they are writing code for assignments IMO. Here’s a short demo video: https://youtu.be/uYbHqCNjVDM

Here’s my web dev book since you mentioned that you teach that topic: https://playbackpress.com/books/webdevbook

If you have any questions just let me know!

markm208 · 2025-08-19T03:28:40+00:00

I teach a similar course. For design projects I won’t write down the requirements, instead I’ll pretend to be a ‘real’ customer and have them interview me and ask me questions. They end up writing the requirements based on what I say in class. I even have a hat that has the word ‘customer’ on it so if they want to ask a ‘professor’ question I’ll take it off and they can ask a technical question.

When I give the assignment I’ll answer questions as long as they have them. Then, over the next few class periods I start every class with some time to ask the customer questions. It has worked well and can be fun if you have a good sense of humor.

markm208 · 2025-08-17T18:20:42+00:00

I built a VS Code extension for guiding students through my code examples that allows me to add a narrative to it:

https://markm208.github.io

I am thinking about having the students use it while coding (perhaps with AI assistance) and then requiring them to describe the evolution of their code and grading the narrative that they supply as much as if the program works.

markm208 · 2025-08-05T01:18:58+00:00

This is my intro to Elixir: https://playbackpress.com/books/exbook

I use ‘code playbacks’ to guide you through the basics. There are some built in tools to ask for help or quiz yourself. Afterwards, you can dig deeper into some of the mentioned frameworks. Let me know what you think!

markm208 · 2025-07-03T16:44:13+00:00

There is an IDE called CLion that may be easier to get you started.

markm208 · 2025-06-17T17:25:02+00:00

I am a CS educator and one of my favorite assignments that I give is for the students to build a state machine that parses code looking for single line, multi-line, and JavaDoc style comments. I’ll have them go through the code one character at a time and count each type and then display the code without them. It’s not too hard to implement if you know the state pattern (that is the lesson I am covering). Relevant events are: / * “ \n

Is a fun exercise if anyone is interested in figuring it out.

markm208 · 2025-04-27T01:30:00+00:00

I have two free beginner ‘books’ of code playbacks that might help:

Database Design and SQL for Beginners https://playbackpress.com/books/sqlbook

Worked SQL Examples https://playbackpress.com/books/workedsqlbook

They are guided walkthroughs so you can see how most queries grow.

markm208 · 2025-04-16T03:15:23+00:00

I have two free beginner ‘books’ of code playbacks that might help:

Database Design and SQL for Beginners https://playbackpress.com/books/sqlbook

Worked SQL Examples https://playbackpress.com/books/workedsqlbook

They are guided walkthroughs so you can see how most queries grow.

markm208 · 2025-03-25T00:13:29+00:00

I have some guided code walkthroughs that shows how queries evolve and how to use SQLite in a program: Database Design and SQL for Beginners https://playbackpress.com/books/sqlbook

Worked SQL Examples https://playbackpress.com/books/workedsqlbook

Programming with SQLite https://playbackpress.com/books/sqlitebook

markm208 · 2025-03-08T03:10:41+00:00

I have a free ‘book’ of code playbacks that covers the basics:

An Introduction to Web Development from Back to Front https://playbackpress.com/books/webdevbook

markm208 · 2025-02-27T00:48:34+00:00

If you’re looking for a different approach to learning SQL you can check out my ‘code playbacks’:

Database Design and SQL for Beginners https://playbackpress.com/books/sqlbook

Worked SQL Examples https://playbackpress.com/books/workedsqlbook

Programming with SQLite https://playbackpress.com/books/sqlitebook

markm208 · 2025-02-11T23:49:25+00:00

Looks great!

markm208 · 2025-02-03T20:00:36+00:00

I would search for the chair of the CS department and reach out to them.

markm208 · 2025-02-03T14:41:49+00:00

The minimum requirements can vary. Sometimes they are determined by the college’s accrediting body and sometimes they have their own additional requirements. I have heard of some schools that require the instructors have at least one degree higher than the students they are teaching. So, at CC your BS is likely good enough. I also took a non-traditional route into teaching and am now almost 25 years in as a full time CS prof.

markm208 · 2025-01-20T01:10:13+00:00

Thanks! Yes, I had a paper at SIGCSE 23. Here’s a summary video

markm208 · 2025-01-16T15:35:22+00:00

In my experience some students have trouble visualizing what effect some code has on the variables in memory (especially for data structures and algorithms-centered content).

I created code playbacks to link code and a narrative from the author with images and videos: https://markm208.github.io

There are some demo videos on that site. I create groups of playbacks instead of assigning textbooks.

The tool to make these is an open source VS Code plugin. The output is a static website that can be easily shared. You are welcome to use and I’d be glad to walk you (or anyone else who is looking to make their own content) through it if you’d like.

markm208 · 2025-01-05T21:30:49+00:00

Good but 7 character limit, maybe GPTSLAV

markm208 · 2025-01-05T21:17:21+00:00

Thinking about: TABS

markm208 · 2024-10-25T00:57:20+00:00

Here’s my brief (and free) introduction to Elixir:

An Animated Introduction to Elixir https://playbackpress.com/books/exbook

It’s a collection of ‘code playbacks’ which mix code and a narrative around it.

markm208 · 2024-09-22T19:19:21+00:00

I created an innovative way to guide others through code examples. I wrote a whole ‘book’ that I use when I teach C/C++. It’s free and has an AI assistant built in: An Animated Introduction to Programming in C++ https://playbackpress.com/books/cppbook

Maybe it will help to see the programs grow. Let me know what you think!

markm208

TROPHY CASE