Richard Leahey

Richard Leahey

Location: altoona, pa

About me

I am a Computer Systems Technician instructor at the Altoona campus of YTI Career Institute.

Interests

sports, music, video games

Skills

html5, css, javascript, mysql, php

Activity

It is a good idea to have students start building their portfolios as soon as possible.  Employers will want to see examples of how the students are able to use the skills they have learned.  An easy way for students to get started is to create their own website (there are a bunch of free options), or their own blog.  Once they have that started they can upload examples of their work and write down their opinions on how the technology landscape is changing.  This will give potential employers an overview on the philosophies of the students as well as… >>>

Here is a great resources for learning computer programming (python) and math.

 

http://www.khanacademy.org/cs

I have worked with students with a variety of disabilities.  One thing I noticed is that even though the Disabilities Act helps them, most students do not like being labeled as disabled.  So it takes balance by the instructor to help students without singling them out.

When reading I saw a section on technical difficulties and I think those can be mostly avoided with enough practice. A lot of the difficulties stem from inexperience when trying to incorporate new technologies into the classroom. With enough testing, as well as a backup plan, such as bringing a flash drive with the materials as well as emailing a copy can prevent problems.
I think it is very important to be in a positive mood on the first day of class. I know it is hard to hard to fake being positive if you are having a bad day, but that extra effort can make all of the difference when trying to gain the respect of a class.
I find it hard to believe that some institutions are trying to implement a bring your own device policy when students are enrolled in the information technology program. It makes it hard to plan for a variety of devices when there are so many differences in hardware and software specifications.
Discussion Comment
I come from a background which involved teaching high risk students. I hope to use what I have learned over the years to help motivate my students and encourage them to take advantage of the opportunities they have. Being in the technology field, it will be hard teaching such a diverse curriculum to the depth of knowledge that will be needed for students to be successful.

Here is a great resources for learning computer programming (python) and math.

 

http://www.khanacademy.org/cs

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