Tossaporn Saengja back

Thoughts on Teaching

(wrote on 2023-04-07)

Many people have questioned my decision to take this job, but I never have addressed them properly. I feel that this it the right time for me to do some of them. These are my opinions as a computer science graduate that took a high school teacher as the first job. Hopefully I can provide some insights on the job and make it more attractive for other people!

Before the job

Conditions

• Scholarship: I took an Olympiad Scholarship which I have to pay back in form of either money or work. The amount is 1:1. In my case, I studied for about six years, so I either need to work for six years or pay the amount of money used for the study or a combination of the two.
• Academia: I wanted to stay in academia, but there were limited options without a PhD. I also applied for PhD programs at the time but did not get accepted anywhere. I also was very undecided if I wanted to do a PhD as it would take 4-6 years to do so.
• Covid also happened.

Inspiration

I took many inspirations from others a lot. Below are the people who have big influences on the decision (and my life):

• Aj Jittat: I probably inherit unconsciously many characteristics from Aj Manao. He made me realized that teaching can be very fun.
• Aj Pitchayoot: In my last year in high school, Aj Ob came to work to fulfill the similar scholarship condition. This made me know that it is an option.
• Jirayu & Sorawit: I would not have came this far without the their help. Especially when it was completely unnecessary to help me. I wanted to recreate the atmosphere back in the school again.
• many others that I’m probably missing as I have been so fortunate and have got so many help.

On the job

Teaching

• Data science: my first class. I tried to arrange the content so that all 240 students are happy with the content and like computer science concepts more after taking class.

• Elective classes: I had a chance to offer three different elective classes during my time.

  • Machine Learning: based on An Introduction to Statistical Learning.
  • Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: based on 15.s12 Blockchain and Money.
  • Application Design and Development: based on Google UX Design Certificate and 6.S063 Design for the Web.

  Feedback on these classes are mixed. Teaching a class for the first time is difficult to make it well-organized. I took classes like this (first-time offer) in college and I liked them, so I just tried to do so. My professor said it was like building a plane while flying it at the same time and it’s not far from truth. These classes are challenging and fun (for me, at least).

• Competitive programming: I have experience in this, so it was like an obligation. It is not difficult to teach as I know the content well, but it is always tiring to do competitive programming. It is always fulfilling when I see the success of the students! (Great job Mok)

Teaching experience makes me appreciate education much deeper. Teaching teaches me how to learn a lot better. I encourage people to try teaching others (in multiple sittings on a new topic, if possible). Sometimes it feels that I was not a good student, and I regretted one of the best opportunities I have had in education. Maybe that is what life is about. We are all learning life anyway.

Tools

• Automatic grading tool:
  • cat-soop: I took inspiration from MIT class and was able to deploy this for the students.
  • grader: It is essential for competitive programming to have a place to practice. I took this open source online judge and deploy it, so we can have personalized problemsets for Olympiad camps.
• Video-editing:
  • Explain Everything: Not free, but the best tool I have tried to make lectures.
  • Losslesscut: Free, fast and easy to do simple video cutting.
  • MWIT media: example public video that I made.

Choosing tool is a big part of the job too. With time constraints as the semesters are set, you are always on the clock. Overthinking about the tools and you can’t get the job done. There were many decisions that had to be made to keep the classes going.

Advising

• Projects: I was very fortunate to get good, active students. These projects keep me update with the academia. I learned a lot with and from the students!
• College essays & Recommendations: Took me back in time. I believe that the process of writing college essays helps you get to know yourself. It was good to help students navigate their lives. Re-reading my college essay give me inspirations again too. Working with aspiring students will get you inspired too! (Big thanks to Pitchaya and Thanita)

Advising students is very enjoyable. My respected professor said that students are the best gifts you will ever have, and I strongly agree. You can see a lot of yourself in the past in them (both goods and mostly bads). It’s also tricky to give advices as you don’t know what’s best for everyone.

Fun

• Basketball is a big part of my life. It was actually a big factor when I decided to take the job knowing that I could play basketball after work.

Closing thoughts

• Boy Scout Rules: Leave things better than you found it. I hope I made the school better than before I took the job.
• Live your life and be kind to others. Happiness should come from internal factors and not external.