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Motivation
I love computer science. I want to help other people learn as much about computer science as they can so that they can enjoy it as much as I do. I want them to not only learn the tools and techniques we teach in class, but also develop the discipline of thinking logically and the ability to learn on their own.
In order to do that, it is not enough to know the subject well. I also need to know how to teach effectively - how to engage and excite students, how to draw out their questions and guide them to answers. I want to be able to reach each student - not as a faceless, nameless crowd I teach to, but as individuals from whom I can learn and with whom I can share what I know.
It will not be easy. Not all my lessons will proceed according to plan. Not all the examples I use will be clear and understandable. But armed with a passion for the field and a desire to help people learn effectively, I hope to do the best I can.
Corporate training
Trainees or their managers are the experts on what they need to learn in order to do their job more effectively. However, they might not be able to:
- express their questions in the vocabulary used by the particular tool
- find and interpret relevant documentation
- identify, explain and fix common errors
- relate new concepts to their work
I see corporate training as an opportunity to
- share the knowledge I gained working on open source projects
- encourage companies to consider using open source
- prepare people for a rapidly changing industry by helping them develop independent learning skills
I do that through
- Real-world exercises, analogies and examples. I actively collect and develop creative, intuitive explanations for computing concepts. The exercises, analogies and examples I make attempt to address different learning styles and levels of skill.
- Attention to understanding. I don't just teach syntax or usage; I aim for understanding and mastery. Experience in programming and teaching programming has helped me develop skills in visually identify errors from code or output, mapping the errors to possible misconceptions the trainee has, and correct those misconceptions in plain English or Filipino.
I'd love to hear about any questions, comments, suggestions or links that you might have. Your comments will not be posted on this website immediately, but will be e-mailed to me first. You can use this form to get in touch with me, or e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com .
