Quality Guidelines for teaching at TechSpark Academy:
Please keep the below quality guidelines in mind when teaching for TechSpark Academy. These guidelines are to be reviewed by each TechSpark Academy instructor before each new camp or other educational event as of June 2019.
✔ On Day 1 ask students what their course expectations are and write them on a flip chart.
✔ If they have no idea, that's OK too…(but the probably will)
✔ Camps - Revisit on last day after the electronic survey to see how objectives were met. (NB: It is important that this be done after the survey, as you want survey feedback to be spontaneous and not influenced by the feedback of another student)
✔ Coding Clubs – Revisit, review and update objectives regularly
✔ You do not need to spend much time on theory. The courses are focused on practical learning. Encourage students to attempt tasks and projects before asking for help
✔ However, always, always, always define terms before using them
Make your logic overt (i.e. known to your audience)
✔ Tell then WHAT you are going to do before you do it
✔ Tell them WHY you are doing it, and WHY it is important
✔ When someone asks a good question, stop the class for a few minutes, repeat the question, and see if someone wants to explain it – very important
✔ Then explain the concept of the question and answer it
✔ Validate student understanding; if not yet clear, explain it in another way, use schematics/imagery and examples as may be needed
✔ NB: this is a good way to share learning
Slow down to the ability of your audience
✔ Do not try to go forward too fast. If you cannot finish the module no problem. Very important!
✔ Remember, “less can be more”
✔ You do not have to meet a specific “deadline or destination; there is no test or formal evaluation at the end (only a survey to get general feedback)
✔ You want your audience to take away something tangible (i.e. a project with a simple game for ex.) even if very limited…not confusion!
✔ Allow better students to help others (if they wish, no need to push them to do so)
Make appropriate use of breaks
✔ Take appropriate breaks and encourage students to go outside, get fresh air, kick a ball or go for a walk (not too far!!)
