Reflective Essay on Computer Science Tutor

Introduction of Computer Science Tutor

We all need improvement in our interpersonal skills to be an effective and successful professional entity in our life. For this purpose, we sometimes face challenges and hurdles that should be addressed properly in order to ensure success in the future. Particularly, in the field of teaching, we face many challenging situations as changes occurred in the educational system. Teaching is a highly important task in our national development and personality development of the new generation. Considering, the importance of teaching we have to pay attention to the identification of the areas in our personality that need improvement if we are intended to be an effective and reflective teacher (Richards & Armstrong, 2015). Additionally, we have to accept challenges and learn something new each time. In this present work, my reflection regarding my teaching experience as well as experience of attending professional certificate in teaching and learning program is discussed in detail.                  

Computer Science Tutor

            Computer science tutor teach technology that is quietly dynamic and advancing with time. To teach such subjects and course tutor must have to understand modern technologies thus they would be able to teach in a better way. Computer sciences is a practical subject line that encourages a teacher to teach students each component of the course with practical demonstration and experiences. I have been teaching from last two years. I have taught different courses to undergraduate students and high-school students in this teaching duration.

However, as I was not a professionally trained teacher therefore my overall teaching style was not enough effective. I had faced challenges regarding classroom management and lecture delivery. Particularly, technology related courses were quite difficult for me to teach these students. Although I was ever focused on improvement in teaching styles and practices therefore I took participation in this professional training program to learn more about teaching and effective strategies of teaching. I paid attention to the quote of Victoria Arlen regarding facing challenges:

“We all have challenges. We have to face them, embrace them, defy them and conquer them”            - Victoria Arlen. of Computer Science Tutor

 Considering this interest, I took participation in the professional certificate in teaching and learning courses. In this course, I learn how I can improve my educational and teaching philosophy. Teaching and educational philosophy relate to ideals and personal belief about something. According to this course, being an educator or teacher I must have to be aware of my values, beliefs, and intentions. After learning this teaching and educational philosophy I tried to use it in my teaching. I identified my intentions regarding teaching and created special values for my computer training classes. This teaching philosophy supported me to understand how and why to lead in a particular area of skills. In accordance with my personal experiences and learning of this professional teaching training course, a teacher should be fully reflective for students. Reflective teachers having a clear idea about their vision and intonations can perform relatively better in their classroom. According to the learnt knowledge from this training course, a reflective teacher is the one who has the capability to conduct self-assessment and interpersonal skills. Moreover, a reflective teacher must have self-development and professional development (Pollard & Collins, 2005).

Keeping in mind this knowledge, I brought changes in my behaviour and teaching style because of which now I am habitual to conduct self-assessment to get awareness about myself. Because of this self-awareness, I am capable to get understanding about my interest and qualities. Moreover, what are my key skills and core areas of expertise? How I can improve these skills and areas of interest. By following this reflective practice I feel that I am bringing positive change in my teaching styles. Now, as a computer science tutor, I have made an improvement in my teaching styles. For instance, from self-assessment, I learnt what interpersonal skills are must to be developed for me because of my lacking in these areas (Lussier, 2011; Qaralleh & Darabkh, 2015).

 Somehow, from this interpersonal skills, I found that my communication skill requires improvement and development as it was less interactive. Because of my poor communication skills, my classroom interaction was limited to students. While in the computer science course classrooms should be engaging and interactive for the students. Student centered teaching classroom and two-way interaction (from teacher to student and vice versa) in the computer sciences classrooms are highly important. Thus, from these lectures, I learned how I should develop my communication skills to be effective as well as a reflective teacher for my students. Thus, learning communication skills is also proved as a strategy for my professional development as well as personal development. Communication skills have resulted in the improvement of my personality because of which I will also take benefit in future while participating in professional teaching (Chaita, 2016; wfm.noaa.gov, 2018).

In the professional teaching training course, I learned various models, theories, as well as learning cycles which can contribute to the improvement of my teaching skills in computer sciences. According to the information presented in the course material, different levels of depth within reflection are descriptive writing, the descriptive account with some reflection, reflective writing 1, and reflective writing 2. In this course, I also learned about the views and suggestions of Rolfe, Freshwater and Jasper regarding improvement in the teaching system. Moreover, I also learned that failure has some room in the reflective process therefore, I should be afraid of failure.                  

Conclusion  of Computer Science Tutor

The whole discussion concludes that teaching in computer sciences course is not quite simple as teachers have to deal with changes and challenges associated with this course. I have taught students in past however at that time I was not a professionally trained teacher. Moreover, my communication skills were also not enough good for teaching. Although after attending this program, I learned how I can improve my skills and qualifications to be a reflective teacher for the course of computer sciences. Conclusively, I found this course of professional training highly effective and supportive for my professional as well as interpersonal development. Moreover, it supported me to learn how to demonstrate in the classroom.    

References of Computer Science Tutor

Chaita, M. V. (2016). Developing Graduate Employability Skills: Your Pathway to Employment. Universal-Publishers

  Lussier, R. (2011). Management Fundamentals: Concepts, Applications, Skill Development (5 ed.). Cengage Learning.

Pollard, A., & Collins, J. (2005). Reflective Teaching. A&C Black.

Qaralleh, E. A., & Darabkh, K. A. (2015). A new method for teaching microprocessors course using emulation. Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 23(3), 455-463.

 Richards, G., & Armstrong, F. (2015). Teaching and Learning in Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms: Key issues for new teachers. Routledge.

wfm.noaa.gov. (2018). Communication Skills for Healthy Relationships. Retrieved 06 05, 2018, from www.wfm.noaa.gov: http://www.wfm.noaa.gov/workplace/EffectivePresentation_Handout_1.pdf