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Today I ran my final two labs for the term, numbers 49 and 50.
Going into the TAship, I kind of expected it to be a big drag, something I just had to do. And it certainly wasn't fun. It was tedious and exhausting. I felt an obligation to always be on for the students in the lab, always smiling and encouraging, completely patient. I can do that, when I want to, but it's draining. I had a real fear of turning someone off of CS by being accidentally irritable or dismissive.
But I also found considerable pleasure in it too. There were a couple of students who came in with basically no real computer experience, who I don't think had ever been interested in technical subjects before, who completely got programming. Watching them realize just how powerful the tools we were giving them were was amazing. Their sudden understanding of, wow, you can really do anything with a computer once you know how. It's pure creation, shaping form from void. You either get it or you don't, and they got it, when they were obviously expecting a rather boring class. They left planning to continue in CS.
People shook my hand and thanked me as they left this week. Lots asked which section I'd be TAing next term. I set out to fake being a really friendly and encouraging, and it kind of came true. It's all very weird. I don't think teaching will ever be a great passion for me, but it's a pleasant discovery to find out that I don't absolutely hate it. It's kind of silly, but I'm really looking forward to reading my review forms.
Going into the TAship, I kind of expected it to be a big drag, something I just had to do. And it certainly wasn't fun. It was tedious and exhausting. I felt an obligation to always be on for the students in the lab, always smiling and encouraging, completely patient. I can do that, when I want to, but it's draining. I had a real fear of turning someone off of CS by being accidentally irritable or dismissive.
But I also found considerable pleasure in it too. There were a couple of students who came in with basically no real computer experience, who I don't think had ever been interested in technical subjects before, who completely got programming. Watching them realize just how powerful the tools we were giving them were was amazing. Their sudden understanding of, wow, you can really do anything with a computer once you know how. It's pure creation, shaping form from void. You either get it or you don't, and they got it, when they were obviously expecting a rather boring class. They left planning to continue in CS.
People shook my hand and thanked me as they left this week. Lots asked which section I'd be TAing next term. I set out to fake being a really friendly and encouraging, and it kind of came true. It's all very weird. I don't think teaching will ever be a great passion for me, but it's a pleasant discovery to find out that I don't absolutely hate it. It's kind of silly, but I'm really looking forward to reading my review forms.
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Instructor's Creed, which we recide every black belt class (even though most of the black belts don't teach): I will teach this class as if it is the most important class I will ever teach. I am patient and enthusiastic. I lead by example. When I teach, every student must leave the do-jang feeling better than when they came.
It is a nice reminder.