Teaching Future Web Developers
Teaching people without access to traditional education to be Junior Web Developers
Context
There’s still a huge demand for Web Developers, professionals creating websites and web applications. To me it’s always been fun and interesting to pass on important lessons when creating for the web, which I’ve previously done through a handful of talks and informal conversations.
Teaching has always been something that I wanted to do eventually. As it turns out I got an amazing chance to try and improve my teaching skills, which turned out to be quite a pleasant, but demanding volunteering decision.
Problem
While we see demand for Web Developers, only so many people acquire the skills needed each year. If you’re new to Denmark, coming as refugee or accompanying spouse of someone on a work visa, chances are you don’t even get the opportunity to study an exciting profession like this.
HackYourFuture
To tackle this problem, HackYourFuture as a non-profit offers free courses to refugees, asylum seekers and disadvantaged groups with limited access to further education and the Danish labour market. Through the work of volunteers and a small team of employees, HackYourFuture teaches the skills to become web developers and starting a career in this in-demand field.
Screenshot of a session presentation in preparation
Being a volunteer
Being a mentor at HackYourFuture has not only given me the opportunity to expand my network to amazing people in the coding community, but it’s also improved my skills in teaching and passing on knowledge. The role as a volunteer is in that sense quite demanding, but also very rewarding.
I’ve only realized after preparing and giving the very first session together with a co-mentor in autumn of 2021, how much fine-tuning is required for the class to be engaged and interested and ensuring everyone is meeting their learning goals.
Details
My tasks
Ongoing journey
My contribution to HackYourFuture isn’t really a project. I plan to keep volunteering as long as there is need for these kind of programs. Seeing and being part of the interesting journeys of the students and alumni is a huge reward to keep going.
Conclusion
Knowledge sharing is very interesting and a source of pride and motivation for me. It also makes me re-think if I’ve fully grasped a topic. One really needs to be an expert in a field to be able to explain it to others properly. Every session is a test for that, trying to explain in very limited time the key takeaways our students need. We strive to give them the skills and methods to land a job or internship as a Junior Web Developer and be as successful as possible from day one.
