1.0 Teaching Philosophy and Approach
I still remember the day when a student in my Java class said, "This is the first time any of this actually made sense." That moment summarized why I teach: to help learners move from confusion to clarity and from uncertainty to confidence. For me, teaching is not about delivering information but about fostering insight,building community, and helping students be capable thinkers and developers. My teaching philosophy is grounded in three fundamental principles: active learning, practical relevance, and continuous improvement.
1.1 Active Learning
Active learning is the cornerstone of my methodology. My classes are designed to encourage involvement, curiosity, and group problem-solving. Because they participate in peer reviews, pair programming, and live coding sessions,students are not passive note-takers. Additionally, I use real-time resources like interactive tests that enable self-evaluation and prompt feedback.
1.2 Practical Relevance
I bring practical, real-world industry insights to the classroom, having led engineering teams and shipped products to millions of users. I frequently include case studies, architecture diagrams, and technical stack walkthroughs from my work at Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon. Students acquire both technical and business-related skills, whether we are modeling RESTful APIs or talking about the trade-offs between microservices and monoliths. Students are prepared for engineering roles in the real world with this method.
1.3 Continuous Improvement
I view teaching as a craft that is always being improved. Through conversations,check-ins, and surveys, I aggressively seek out feedback. I review feedback from each iteration of the course and make necessary adjustments, such as revising assignments, updating resources, or coming up with fresh ideas for student engagement. I also constantly strive to advance my technical abilities by picking up new languages, technologies, and paradigms.
2.0 Teaching Experience
I currently teach classes at UCLA Extension on Java Programming and Data Structures. My courses consistently receive student evaluations averaging 4.7 out of 5. Students have praised the clarity of instruction, practical application of concepts, and supportive environment I cultivate.
2.1 Engaging the Broader Community
Outside of the classroom, I have given technical talks and workshops to industry cross-functional teams. These presentations covered subjects like creating scalable RESTful APIs, web ontology languages, and content modeling with LEGO bricks. I have a strong commitment to outreach that increases access to computer science outside of the classroom. Through the "Out for Undergrad Annual Conference," which gives young LGBTQ+ engineers the support they need to reach their full potential, I have mentored LGBTQIA+ students who are interested in technology. I believe that service and teaching are inextricably linked, particularly when it comes to fostering a sense of belonging in the digital world.
3.0 Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
I want every learning environment I oversee to be one where all students feel valued, encouraged, and empowered because innovation flourishes in inclusive settings. In every facet of my work, I have a strong commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.
3.1 Inclusive Learning Environment
I intentionally create my classes to represent a range of viewpoints and steer clear of presumptions regarding past knowledge or expertise. I employ inclusive examples, case studies that are culturally relevant, and open-ended questions that permit several approaches in my classes. In addition, I respect students' preferred names and pronouns, use inclusive language, and make sure all resources are usable by people of all abilities and devices.
3.2. Supporting Underrepresented Students
I take extra care to elevate voices that have historically been underrepresented in computer science, whether I'm mentoring young engineers or helping students navigate academic paths. I have pushed for more inclusive team cultures and hiring procedures in the industry. I create an environment in education where each student feels like a valued member of the community.
4.0 Conclusion
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my work is teaching. I approach it with the same zeal, diligence, and spirit of cooperation that I have used to lead engineering teams and initiate significant technical projects. I am eager to support your institution's mission andcontribute to the development of the next generation of computer scientists and engineers because I have a philosophy based on active learning, a history of effective and inclusive teaching, and a strong belief in the power of diverse perspectives.