Ask HN: Learning How to Teach

Re:Ask HN: Learning How to Teach by bloodorange on Monday September 21, 2020 @07:16AM (#24542013)

While my experience with teaching is next to nothing: informal mentoring at work and classroom teaching when I was myself a student, teaching younger classes (maths and science), I do feel that on the long run, it might be my calling. Every occasion where I was part of such an activity, I enjoyed it and seemed to be well liked by the students. However, of late, I have growing doubts about my ability and having the patience necessary for it. Also of course, classroom control seems to be something I don't have an aptitude for (or so says my self-talk). I don't know why but I have a lot of negative thoughts about my prospects in this area. Do you have any suggestions for how one can test the waters or in some way figure out if it's something one can do on the long run without feeling miserable?

I'm not really motivated much by material rewards but I love sharing what I know but I fear that with the passage of time, my patience for anything in general diminishes and with that, my confidence too...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Learning How to Teach by elonmollusc on Monday September 21, 2020 @09:24AM (#24543063)

My first experience was teaching a summer CS course for high school students. They came from around the state to the campus where I was a grad student for three weeks and we met for a total of about six hours every day. I did that for five summers and it was a great experience: very relational with small classes, but a lot of freedom and low pressure. It allowed me to get all of the standard first-time mistakes out of the way before I taught my first college classes.

I think you've hit on one of the main challenges of teaching as a profession: the good parts, like building relationships with engaged students, have to exist in a system with less-good parts, like tedious administrative work and grading. I don't have to worry about classroom control in my courses, but it's one of the hardest parts of K-12 teaching, depending on the school.

My advice is to just look for opportunities to get in the classroom (which might be virtual) and learn as you gain experience. If you are comfortable teaching in person right now, look at libraries, maker spaces, science centers, or any other public space that offers STEM-related programming. Virtual teaching can be harder (all of my classes are hybrid this semester), but there are platforms like Outschool than can allow you to offer your own small courses.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Learning How to Teach by bloodorange on Monday September 21, 2020 @09:36AM (#24543214)

Thank you so much for responding to me and for the advice. Much appreciated! I'll try and find a way to make something happen.

[ Parent | on HN ]