#268 Felienne Hermans rethinking how to teach kids to program with Hedy

Stepping into the tech world is one thing, but embracing it with a passion for teaching and enhancing the way technology is learned represents a calling of a different order. Felienne Hermans' life has been a vibrant blend of software development, advocating for better ways of teaching coding and recognizing the importance of guiding the young generation into the programming world. Her journey from receiving her first computer and experiencing unique educational opportunities to her innovative software projects speaks volumes of her dedication.

Interestingly, Felienne placed the start of her journey right when she got her Ph.D. in Computer Science and faced the "now what?" She told us how she enrolled as a high-school computer science teacher and failed flat on her face, teaching 12 years old kids the same way she used to teach 18 years olds. We then explored how we learn, becoming less and less terrible at teaching 12-year-olds and gradually building Hedy, a programming language designed for kids to learn programming.

In this episode, Felienne discusses her foray into the world of tech and how she transformed from perceiving herself as a genius child to realizing the privileges she was afforded. She delves into the importance of teaching, her six-year tenure as a high school teacher, and her involvement in the Headey software project. She emphasizes understanding one's interests and skills to find a sustainable and impactful career path.

If you are interested to learn more about the evolution of tech education and get inspiration from Felienne's incredible journey, then tune in to this episode!

Three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

• Discover Felienne's unique perspective on the importance of recognizing early privileges and their pivotal role in one's professional journey.
• Gain insights into the art of adaptable teaching and how pushing students beyond their comfort zones can lead to significant growth and understanding.
• Learn the importance of aligning passion with skills and sustainability, guiding principles that Felienne believes are key to forging a successful and impactful career.

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