Teaching

Instructor Prep

Instructor Training materials, community discussions, mentoring groups
Practice with video!
Have clear install / setup solutions
- bring USB with required downloads
- include instructions for all OS and emergency alternatives
- learn from others about common problems
Session leader + helpers

Establish a safe space for learning

Code of Conduct - foster a welcoming, supportive environment to learn (and fail)
Peer teachers create a more comfortable learning environment
- instructors and helpers are often peer researchers, and are learners as well
- participants pair up on exercises, encourage helping each other
- pair programming
Prep your vocabulary
- Avoid “easy” and “just” - recognize barriers and demystify, sensitive to impostor syndrome
- Avoid “dismissive language” of experts - don’t demean certain applications, OS, etc.
- “What questions do people have?”
- Acknowledge confusion
- Demotivating
Understand learner motivations
- Not CS. Teach what is useful!

Participants receive red and green sticky notes used for communicating feedback during the sessions.

Red sticky note = non-intrusive, discreet means to get help
Once you get to X put up your Green sticky…
Instant assessment questions
- identify misconceptions
“Minute Cards”
- Continuous feedback built in to the end of each session
- Write down one positive, one negative, remaining questions
- instructors review during breaks and address = responsive to learners. Be explicit so learners know you are listening!

BYO Device - participants are most comfortable with their own machine, plus need to get it set up correctly for further research and learning.
Real data - walk through concrete examples with realistic scenarios rather than abstract concepts. “media computing”
Live Coding + Code-along
- Continuous practice-feedback loop - teach from mistakes, the art of troubleshooting
- Speak out loud about everything you are doing!
- Model behavior, e.g. common shortcuts
- Go Slow! Help participants build “mental models” of how coding works, not cram them full of information.
- Prep your machine: big fonts, accessible colors, notifications off, non-customized look
Collaborative note taking
- Etherpad, Google Doc
- Peer support, chat
- links, resources, quiz answers
- keep accessible after the session
Reduce cognitive load
- Minimize window / app switching!
- Structure lessons to introduce only a handful of concepts at a time (use concept mapping to figure out how many things you are actually trying to introduce!)
- Guided practice