Code Nation

I provide mentorship for high school students learning learning to code.

For the past 3 years at time of writing this, I’ve been volunteering with an organization called Code Nation (formerly ScriptEd) trying to make programming interesting, relatable, and fun for teenagers. As you could imagine, this is no easy task. So beyond the few hours per week I spend in the classroom, I often spend just as much time preparing lesson materials and dreaming up relevant analogies. I also provide support at hackathons, run workshops, and contribute to related open-source tools. Why do I do all this? Check out my article on Medium.

Code Nation students and I at a hackathon being silly.

The Classroom

I use analogies, interactive lessons, and genuine enthusiasm to make my students successful.

While Code Nation offers a solid curriculum and comprehensive training sessions for volunteers, there are infinite opportunities for me to bring my own creativity and experience into the classroom. My keen use of analogies, interactive lessons, and genuine enthusiasm allow me to keep my students' attention and help them be successful.

Slide explaining the difference between ID and class.

Slide displaying a game related to learning about functions.

Slide explaining how HTML indentation works.

Design Workshop

I led a design-oriented workshop at a summer bootcamp.

While Code Nation's curriculum is centered around web development, I think it's important that students understand that being a software developer is only one of many opportunities in tech. To bring design into the Code Nation curriculum, I led a full-day design-oriented workshop in the summer of 2018. I went over some basics about UX/UI, provided some practical knowledge, and facilitated interactive sessions where students could practice their skills. I was flattered when they voted my session as their favorite among 6 others within this program. Check out the full presentation on LinkedIn.

Slide displaying the difference between product managers, designers, and developers.

Slide defining what user interface design is.

Slide defining what user experience design is.

Slide showcasing what a wireframe looks like.

Slide showcasing practical application of design for beginners.

Slide explaining a design critique activity.

Popcode

I used my design and coding skills to contribute to Popcode, an open-source coding platform used by Code Nation students. Check out my Github profile to learn more.