Coding Lab Educator Feature: Interview with Lakshmi
Today, we get to know our educator, Lakshmi!
With a love for working with people, Lakshmi’s foray into the tech industry to empower and educate her students definitely makes for an interesting story. Find out more about the fun that Lakshmi brings to the classroom at Coding Lab!
Hi Lakshmi, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey into teaching?
I didn’t exactly choose teaching, teaching chose me; it bumped into my path when I was in my first year of university. Back then, I was eager to break into the tech world but not quite ready for a full-blown software developer role. I'm more of a people person, thriving in fast-paced and unpredictable environments.
Incidentally, I stumbled upon the Coding Lab internship position. My journey truly began when I accepted the offer. The moment I started explaining tricky concepts to a Python class, and they finally got it, I felt an incredible rush of satisfaction and, dare I say, euphoria. It was a feeling I wanted to savour more.
As I ventured into my career after graduating, I craved a path filled with meaning and impact. And being part of moulding the tech leaders of tomorrow turned out to be just the adventure I was seeking!
What have you learned from your previous experiences in school and work that continue to be relevant in your current role as an educator at Coding Lab?
I joined Coding Lab as part of the prestigious NUS Overseas Colleges Programme, and it provided me with an eye-opening, holistic view of how Coding Lab operates. I saw multiple teams, including marketing, operations, finances, and curriculum development, working in unison to keep the campuses running seamlessly.
My previous job at a tech startup, where I was directly involved in B2B sales of distributed SQL databases, allowed me to interact with a diverse set of people, from developers to C-suite executives. The global exposure I have received has enabled me to approach any student, parent or potential partners with confidence. It also aids me in my daily work as a business developer, and even when I represent Coding Lab in press interviews. I am deeply passionate about expanding Coding Lab’s international outreach.
What are some of your passions and hobbies outside of the classroom?
Outside of class, you'll often find me reading non-fiction books or spending time with friends (lots of whom have also been with Coding Lab in some way!). I also enjoy discovering aesthetic inspirations on Pinterest, whether it’s for clothing or home decor. You can also find me discussing various industry trends and technologies with my dearest husband!
How long have you been at Coding Lab, and what classes do you teach there?
I've been a part of the Coding Lab family since 2019, which adds up to almost 5 years now! I completed multiple internships with Coding Lab, have worked as an adjunct tutor, and am currently one of the newer additions to the primary teaching team.
As for the classes, I teach a wide range of students aged 5-18, from the Junior Coders Program all the way to Python Perfect.
What are the current and future trends in coding education for children that you find exciting? OR Why do you think it's important to teach coding to the next generation?
Personally, I believe in teaching the world to code. However, achieving such a feat with live classes alone is not feasible due to constraints like manpower, logistics, and time. This is why I'm genuinely excited about our self-paced learning system, codinglab.co. It offers an interactive and personalised learning experience, allowing students with varying levels of exposure to coding to find something new to learn at their own pace.
How do you normally conduct your classes?
This meme serves for an unconventional but fun and visual way of understanding the concept of recursion!
I believe in getting to know my students as much as possible to make class enjoyable for them. For instance, I integrate their favourite characters as sprites in Scratch and define Python variables based on their hobbies. In fact, I even let my students bring their favourite toys to class during holiday camps, as part of a show-and-tell session! I've seen everything from cute stuffed penguins to 5x5 Rubik's Cubes solved in under a minute with a competitive timer!
I also enjoy using memes in my classes and sharing them with my students during break time for some laughs. Here’s one for you, right now! 👉
I usually use this meme to illustrate to my S102 (Python 1) students how the concept of functions can be employed to address real-world challenges, like the Tower of Hanoi and the Fibonacci sequence. It also piques their enthusiasm for S112 (Python 2), where they typically return to delve into topics such as lists, dictionaries, and object-oriented programming as part of their ongoing learning journey.
Do you have any memorable stories from your classes that you would like to share?
One of my favourite stories to tell is about a student who was deeply passionate about mathematics, logical thinking, and coding exposure. As she happened to be the only student in my class at the time, we had a lot of fun exploring topics like underground cables and the first computer, understanding how it worked. Remarkably, we even found an algorithm with the same name as hers! The sheer joy in her eyes as I explained more about the algorithm warms my heart to this day. I have to thank my husband for that one!
If you weren't teaching coding, what other profession or hobby do you think you'd be passionate about?
I love engaging with different people. If I were not using my voice to teach and interact with the children, I would like to be in sales and business development. I enjoy crafting copy and finding ways to engage potential clients through different media, based on our unique selling propositions.
Regarding hobbies, I hope to become an audiobook narrator one day! I love reading books on my own, and I'd love to try being the voice behind someone's enjoyable reading experience.
Do you have any advice for others who may be looking to transition into being an Educator?
Life is too short to do something you don't enjoy. My advice would be to follow your heart and make time for reflection in your life. If you’re passionate about teaching, a valuable step would be to reach out and network with those already in the teaching industry. I've brought many friends in for internships or short stints with Coding Lab, and they've all enjoyed their experience here!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Lakshmi. We look forward to seeing you inspire and nurture the future generation into becoming future leaders!
(Written by Rohini, edited by Thinzar)