SOFTWARE TRAINING for STUDENTS @ UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-MADISON
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Trainer Guide: VS Code Trainer Guide

Objective:

Equip participants with foundational knowledge of Visual Studio Code (VS Code), its essential features, customization options, and practical skills for software development.

Target Audience:

Beginners in programming or web development who want to improve their efficiency using VS Code.

Key Sections

  1. Introduction to VS Code
  2. Tools & Interface Overview
  3. Hands-on Activities (Navigating VS Code, Extensions, Terminal, Debugging)
  4. Advanced Features (Git Integration, Customization, Keyboard Shortcuts)
  5. Q&A and Additional Resources

Workshop Flow

Introduction

Key Points to Cover:

  • What is VS Code, and why is it popular?
  • How it compares to other editors (e.g., Notepad++, Atom, PyCharm).
  • Real-world applications:

Resources:

Slides – “Intro to VS Code.”

Demo – Show a pre-configured VS Code workspace with a real project.

Reminders:

  • Ask engaging questions to gauge familiarity:
  • Keep it interactive by showing a side-by-side comparison of a simple text editor vs. VS Code.

Tools & Interface Overview

Key Points to Cover:

VS Code Layout:

  • Explorer Panel: Managing files and folders.
  • Editor Window: Where code is written and edited.
  • Integrated Terminal: Running commands without leaving the editor.
  • Extensions Marketplace: Adding plugins to enhance functionality.
  • Status Bar: Git status, errors, and notifications.

Keyboard Shortcuts & Productivity Features:

  • Ctrl + P → Quick file search.
  • Ctrl + Shift + P → Open the Command Palette.
  • Ctrl + ~ → Open the integrated terminal.

Activity:

  • Open a project in VS Code.
  • Explore the interface, identify each component.

Resources:

  • Slides & Screenshots explaining interface components.
  • VS Code cheat sheet for shortcuts.

Resources:

  • Ensure everyone has VS Code installed in advance.
  • Encourage students to follow along on their own machines.