In what ways can PHP developers balance providing assistance with homework assignments while promoting independent problem-solving skills?

PHP developers can balance providing assistance with homework assignments while promoting independent problem-solving skills by guiding students through the problem-solving process rather than directly giving them the solution. They can offer hints, suggestions, and resources to help students figure out the solution on their own. Additionally, developers can encourage students to break down the problem into smaller, more manageable parts and to test their solutions to ensure they are working correctly.

// Example code snippet demonstrating how to guide a student through solving a PHP homework assignment

// Given problem: Write a PHP function that calculates the sum of an array of numbers

// Guide the student through the problem-solving process
function calculateSum($numbers) {
    // Hint: Start by initializing a variable to store the sum
    $sum = 0;
    
    // Hint: Use a loop to iterate through the array and add each number to the sum
    foreach ($numbers as $number) {
        $sum += $number;
    }
    
    // Hint: Return the final sum
    return $sum;
}

// Example usage
$numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
echo calculateSum($numbers); // Output: 15