Learning how to learn: Start your own internship program Jeffrey Spies COS | SHARE | UVA @jeffspies

Learning-efficient stack API Open Modular Harvesters Normalizers Processors Learning-efficient stack API

Assumption Technology is important to us.

Assumption Technology continually evolves.

Therefore We must continually learn in order to keep up with technology.

Recommendation Do not learn new technology.

Recommendation Learn how to learn new technology.

Recommendation Do not teach new technology Recommendation Do not teach new technology. Teach how to learn technology.

Assumption While something is being learned, that something may not be appreciated.

Recommendation Use pedagogy that considers motivations, both local and long-term. What I care about now. I’ll probably get a job in the real world.

Assumption In the real world, we (mostly) work independently.

Assumption In the real world, we (mostly) learn independently.

Recommendation Create learning environments that emulate the real world and thus support independent learning.

Assumptions In the real world, we work on real-world projects.

Assumptions In the real world, we learn on real-world projects. We problem solve We architect

Recommendation Learn using real-world projects.

Recommendations Learn how to learn. Teach how to learn Recommendations Learn how to learn. Teach how to learn. Consider motivations. Support independent learning. Use real-world projects.

Service learning Balances instruction with a pragmatic, real-life opportunity to serve in the community.

The Pedagogy Learning how to learn via big, meaningful, real-world projects in a supportive environment that fosters independence and ownership.

The Pedagogy Learning how to learn via big, meaningful, real-world projects in a supportive environment that fosters independence and ownership.

*gulp* “Big? Meaningful? Real-world? Mine?”

Learning is scary. Learning is lonely Learning is scary. Learning is lonely. Responsibility is scary and lonely.

Learning how to learn Everyone feels this way Learning how to learn Everyone feels this way. This is a supportive environment. You are no longer under-resourced.

Independent is not alone Google Stack Overflow Mailing lists/forums/chat Read open source code (e.g., Github) Read local code Ask other interns Ask local experts Ask for help breaking down problems Code review

Learning is frustrating. Frustration undermines learning Learning is frustrating. Frustration undermines learning. This is a cyclic process.

A Lot to Learn Knowledge Problem solving Breaking down problems Evaluating solutions Comparing solutions Evaluating success

When learning how to learn Frustration is normal When learning how to learn Frustration is normal. Everyone feels this way. Make it work for you rather than against you.

Repeat the following: Frustration is normal. Frustration is expected Repeat the following: Frustration is normal. Frustration is expected. I am not different. Repeat this.

The role of frustration Frustration is a cue that we need help. Repeat this.

Frustration as a heuristic Just starting out: 45-60 minutes Advanced: 90 minutes Novel: 180 minutes Repeat this.

What doesn’t work: Too many questions. Not enough questions. Repeat this.

Questions Don’t provide answers. Provide tips to find answers. Repeat this.

The role of frustration: Frustration is a cue that we need help The role of frustration: Frustration is a cue that we need help. the problem is too big. Repeat this.

The Goal

You are here. The problem is now consumable based upon where you are in your learning.

Spiraling around the solution--being frustrated--helped you solve the next problem.

Bonus: Practice problem solving Break down problem into incremental, consumable problems Solve consumable problem Evaluate constraints of solution and interactions with future consumables Repeat

History In the classroom. Introduced pre-COS. Applied at scale at COS.

Internships & Independent Studies

COS Internship Program Total since May 2013: 115 Hired full-time: 19 Multiple semesters/summers: 52%

Independent studies and internships require learning. Again mission…but the basic problem we solve is....

Common goals build trust in the pedagogy. Goals at COS… This is not a means of getting free work without putting time into it.

Internship Goals Provide value to COS Provide value to interns

COS Goals To hire you Get stuff done Improve scholarship

Intern Goals Learn something Learn real-world skills Build resume Change science

Common Goals You learn so you can build stuff You build stuff to put it on your resume You build your resume so you’re more hirable (by us)

Your job To learn To be frustrated

Repeat the following: Frustration is normal. Frustration is expected Repeat the following: Frustration is normal. Frustration is expected. I am not different. Repeat this.

Diversity

Meaningful, real-world projects attract diversity. Repeat this.

Some people care more about the problem helping the community that needs the solution than the technology used to solve the problem (but it still attracts them too)

Minorities in the space will face different challenges than non-minorities. Be attentive to the signs. Repeat this.

Tips

How to choose tech Community Inclusivity Diversity Learn-/Teach-ability Functionality

You don’t have to be technical to be a mentor to technical interns. The Pragmattic Programmer ELIZA

Ask how it’s going and don’t accept a single word answer. The Pragmattic Programmer

Practice Pitches “Every time we meet, I want you tell me why what you’re doing is the most important thing that anyone at the organization can be doing to improve scholarship.” You should believe this as well. If you don’t, the projects may not be big or meaningful enough. The Pragmattic Programmer

Compensate your interns With money or credits Compensate your interns With money or credits. If you can’t give credits, find a faculty member who can that wants a very easy independent study mentoring experience (because you’re going to do all the work). Repeat this.

Open source is not only good for scholarship; it’s good for interns. Repeat this.

Good mentorship will sometimes feel mean. The Pragmattic Programmer

Train Mentors It requires buy-in, but helps you scale. Repeat this.

Internship in Practice Saman Ehsan Hi, my name is Saman Ehsan. I’m a software developer here at COS and I’m going to talk to you about what the pedagogy looks like in practice. I began as an intern two summers ago, and this summer I am mentoring teams of interns so I have experienced both sides of the internship program. So before I do that I’m going to give you some context around when I started. Saman Ehsan

Biochemistry Computer Science Biochem major at UVA, graduated in 2014 Took some computer science classes. And after graduating I decided to just try out programming to see if it’s something I would like, which is how I ended up applying to COS as an intern.

What I Learned COS tech stack How to… Learn & tackle difficult problems Work on a codebase with many collaborators At COS, I learned A LOT I learned basically the entire tech stack: python, flask, more advanced JS, knockout.js, mako, etc. But I also learned non-technical skills: how to tackle difficult problems, how to work on an existing codebase with LOTS of code & multiple contributors

The Process Project-based learning Incremental Process Constructive Feedback I learned a lot, and there are a few components of the process that I felt were key here: 1.Centered around project-based learning The ideal project is a combination of what needs to get done, what the student is interested in and what they are capable of doing, and whether it is something They can learn from. Got assigned real projects that were both interesting and challenging, I learned skills that I actually needed. 2. Incremental Process For example, I didn’t know python when I started so my first project just used python I was then able to do other, more complicated projects that required knowing python Even though I did not meet the checklist of requirements for the internship, that didn’t matter as much because I was able to learn what I needed Having this growth mindset is really important as an employer because that means you don’t have to limit yourself to finding the most experienced students 3. Constructive feedback As you review the work that interns have done, let them know where they can improve to help improve the quality of the work that they do.

Thanks!

Credits Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free: Presentation template by SlidesCarnival Photographs by Unsplash & Death to the Stock Photo (license)

@jeffspies | jeff@cos.io @samanehsan| saman@cos.io Find this presentation at http://osf.io/r6fvc 20160714_share_pedagogy_spies.pptx Learning how to learn: Start your own internship program @jeffspies | jeff@cos.io @samanehsan| saman@cos.io