Talk: Pair Programming: Better Than Adderall
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Speaker:
Matthew Kleiman
Talk description
Title:
Pair Programming: Better Than Adderall
Short synopsis:
For years Matt Kleiman’s Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other learning disabilities deterred his success on traditional software development teams. Working alone, on globally distributed teams, and on amorphous tasks, Matt found himself struggling to meet the expectations of a software engineer. In an endless showdown against distractions, Matt almost gave up on his career. This is the story of how Pivotal Labs’ Extreme Programming practices empowered Matt. Pair programming provides Matt with a feedback loop for his thoughts and a partner to hold him accountable eight hours a day. Test driven development provides him with a disciplined structure for operating and is the perfect counterweight to inevitable distractions. Matt’s journey has taught him why it’s so important to work in ways that allow individuals to flourish and for us to have empathy for the learning styles of our peers.
Max size: 500 chars
Long synopsis (optional):
I've given this talk several times over the last few years, most recently at A11yNYC Accessibility Meetup. You can view a recording, recap, and transcript at https://equalentry.com/accessibility-nyc-meetup-recap-pair-programming-better-than-adderall/. I debuted this talk at the Ability in Tech Summit in San Francisco, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_PI_nyEXY. I use the story arc of my life and career, as a developer with ADD and learning disabilities, in order to share a message that we should all be seeking work environments that nourish our strengths. Specifically I go in-depth into some of the core practices of Extreme Programming, such as Pair Programming, Test Driven Development, and Empathy. It would be great to have a room or auditorium that would allow for questions at the end. I find that to be a great way to engage people after I have told this story.
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