My teaching philosophy centers on encouraging students to bring their own interests and passions into coding projects. This creates a supportive, student‑centered environment where they feel ownership of their work and a personal connection to the material. By learning about my students through their projects, I empower them to take risks and tackle challenges. This ultimately helps them become effective problem solvers, skilled coders, and confident programmers.
Take the Trivia Project, my favorite example. When students write questions about something they genuinely love, whether it's a hobby, a sports team, or a favorite movie, I get to learn about who they are. That builds strong rapport and boosts their engagement in computer science.