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 help them feel empowered to take risks and tackle challenges — ultimately becoming 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.