I can’t believe how quickly Week 2 has flown by! Each day was packed with excitement, and it’s been incredible seeing the students so engaged. We split the day into two parts: mornings were all about me teaching Python, and in the afternoons, my colleague Oliver took over, introducing them to Fusion 360 for 3D modeling. It’s amazing watching the students grasp how coding and 3D design come together to build prototypes – they’re picking up so much, so quickly.

During the Python lessons, I decided to use Jupyter Notebooks to give the students immediate feedback on their code, and that really helped keep the energy up. We started with the basics—things like string and number representations, variables—and worked our way up to more complex topics like conditionals, loops, functions, and even creating graphs. Honestly, I was blown away by how quickly they picked it up. These are 9th and 10th graders, but they’re understanding concepts I only started learning in university! Seeing their curiosity and progress makes me feel proud that I’m giving them this early head start. It’s a reminder of how powerful coding can be for their future.

Of course, it wasn’t without its challenges. The students came in with different levels of experience. Some had never seen Python before, while one or two already had a bit of coding knowledge. Others had done block-based programming but had never written lines of code before. This mix of abilities taught me an important lesson about teaching: it’s not about sticking rigidly to a plan, it’s about meeting the students where they are and helping them grow from that point. That meant a lot of interaction, figuring out where each student was comfortable, and then building up their understanding step by step.

It wasn’t easy, but I had a lot of help from my colleagues Oliver and Willow, who both know Python. Their support with one-on-one guidance made a huge difference, especially for students who needed a bit more attention. I was grateful to have them in the room because, at times, it felt like we were running a mini startup, constantly troubleshooting and collaborating with the students to keep everyone on track.

By the end of the week, I could see their confidence building. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love teaching. When a student figures something out after struggling with it, the excitement in their eyes is priceless. It feels like I’m not just teaching them Python, but I’m opening doors to a whole world of possibilities.

Next week is going to be another exciting chapter as we dive into electronics and circuit design. I’m really looking forward to combining what they’ve learned in coding with hands-on projects. The plan is to have them working on real-world prototypes, integrating Python with hardware. I think it’s going to be eye-opening for them to see how coding interacts with the physical world. And selfishly, I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they build something from scratch and see it work!

Being part of this project has been a deeply rewarding experience. It’s teaching me just as much as I’m teaching the students—about patience, adaptability, and how to make learning fun. I feel lucky to be on this journey with such a great group of students and colleagues, and I can’t wait to see what we achieve in the coming weeks.