Two recent high school graduates are now talented coding teachers.
Putting the focus on two very talented instructors: this time last year, Philip Luong and Kevin Guo were high school seniors taking their very first coding class. Their school used enCode create’s curriculum, and they quickly became talented programmers. After two semesters of building their own video games, they decided to spend their summer teaching younger students how to write code too.
Neither Kevin nor Philip had prior experience tutoring or managing a classroom, but they used the teacher training and resource guides on the Creation Suite learning platform.
They both regularly teach classes as big as twenty-five students, and have made the jump from talented student to teacher.
What do you enjoy most about teaching students coding and computer science?
Kevin: What I enjoy the most about teaching students coding/computer science is seeing the “eureka” moment. Being a computer science student myself, I often experience being stuck on a problem. Whether it be code not compiling or a difficult math problem, it is extremely gratifying to finally solve something you’ve spent a considerable amount of time on. While it can be hard to lead students without giving too much away, teaching has allowed me to share this moment.
Philip: I enjoy the aspect of helping others and trying to teach them a new skill. I have always had this motivation to help and teach others something valuable because it makes me feel fulfilled and that I am contributing to something greater than myself. Especially with coding and computer science, it is not an easy skill to learn. The ability for me to teach others and guide them through a difficult task not only boosts my morale, but others gain confidence to learn a new skill and are driven to continue improving. Additionally, not only am I teaching others about coding and computer science, but I am also learning throughout the entire teaching process. I will never know everything, and that is totally acceptable. That is what I enjoy most about teaching. Whether it is from my peers or students, I will always learn something new while I teach.
What do you find most challenging about leading a classroom through a coding project?
Kevin: I think the most challenging part about leading a coding project is trying to find the right method of teaching. Because everyone learns differently, it can be difficult to convey something in just one way. While someone may understand through analogies, another might need a more hands on approach. Sometimes, it can also be difficult to get students to wrap their head around coding/computer science concepts in general. Since most of the students do not have prior knowledge to coding, it is almost like teaching a new language. While it might not be as challenging, many aspects of coding are often completely foreign and unlike anything else they have learned before.
How have enCode Create’s instructor training and teaching resources been helpful to you?
Kevin: The instructor training/teaching resources are great references. As someone with no teaching experience, it gave me an idea of where to start. The walk-throughs showed me how to plan my lessons and were also very helpful if a student encountered a problem that was out of my knowledge. Even after I got more used to teaching, I would often go back to the teaching guides before I start a new project to get a general idea of what should be covered. It has also offered many general teaching tips that have helped my classes run smoothly.
Philip: EnCode Create’s instructor training and teaching resources helped me take my first step steps. They give me the initial foundation I needed to start teaching. During the first couple teaching sessions I instructed, I was a bit nervous since it was a new audience and environment. However, as I continued going to class to teach, my nervousness turned into confidence, and I was able to teach more efficiently. Training and teaching resources are a great help in learning the basics of becoming an instructor, but there’s no substitute for consistent practice.
What advice would you give to a new computer science teacher who wants to feel more confident?
Philip: The best advice I’d give new instructors is to prep for the material before you enter the classroom. Knowing the curriculum is a must if you want to teach other people. I often watch the teaching guides or familiarize myself with projects again before I teach it. This will save you a lot of time in the long run.
Kevin: The best advice I can give to a new computer science teacher is that it gets better with time and experience. You cannot expect your first teaching session to be the best and that is okay. I was the same way with my first class. I was nervous, I was reluctant to speak up, and I was afraid to offer my assistance when no one asked for it. However, as time went on and I began to teach more and more everyday, my teaching abilities improved, and I was more confident in myself to stand in front of a huge crowd of students. You will definitely be afraid and nervous on the first day of teaching, but you cannot expect to improve if you give in to that anxiety. You have to keep pushing yourself to teach, and you have to persevere through any mental or emotional obstacle you encounter. Once you are able to continue moving forward, you will be teaching all your classes with ease in no time.