Instructor Q&A: Joe Burgess
UCI x Flatiron School Web Development Instructor
Winter 2020
“Teaching combines both
the joy I get from being
a part of the success of
others with the problem
solving required to explain
something effectively.”
Joe Burgess
Instructor
Q. Why did you decide to become
an instructor?
A. My first teaching job was in high
school, teaching Photoshop to kids at
a summer camp. Funnily enough, I took
that job in high school because it was
the highest paying job I could find, but
after a few weeks I realized that I loved
it. Teaching combines both the joy I get
from being a part of the success of
others with the problem solving required
to explain something effectively. As an
instructor at Flatiron School, I get the
opportunity to witness when students
start to understand something, and also
when they receive life-changing job
offers. It's a very visceral feeling of
impact.
Q. What's your favorite lesson to
teach and why?
A. I believe Flatiron School's style is
an extension of my personal teaching
style. At Flatiron School, we believe the
following are essential keys to successful
teaching: teacher to student relationships
matter, knowledge requires context, and
students must learn to love the topic.
First, and I believe most importantly, is
that teacher-student relationships matter.
Understanding each person and their
unique learning style allows our teachers
to tailor our message. Whether it's in a
lecture, a 1:1, or while giving feedback
on an assessment, we want every
message our teachers are conveying
to be fully understood by our students.
Relationships are how we make sure
that happens.
Second, for students to ascend beyond
information gathering to applied knowledge
they must understand the context
of what they are learning. We do this at
Flatiron School through explanations
of how tools and techniques fit into
the history and ecosystem of the topic.
Throughout their careers, our students
will need all sorts of skills and techniques.
By providing context, we help ease the
transition from topics we taught into
what students are actually learning and
doing on the job.
Finally, we have to teach students how
to love what they are learning. Whether
it's programming or knitting, learning is
hard. It can be so easy to devolve into
negativity when learning. The only way
to counteract that is by showing the joy
in your teaching. Joy is infectious, and
it's our job to spread joy as much as
possible.
Q. What's unique about your
teaching style?
A. How the internet works. We teach
that lesson as students transition from
the pure programming module, into
writing software for the internet. It's my first opportunity to really reveal what's
behind the curtain on a tool that every
student uses all the time. Students are
always shocked by the amount of
physical and software infrastructure that
goes into an experience that they use
every day. Did you know sharks used
to be a major problem for the internet?
They were attracted to the electromagnetic
fields around the undersea cables
that connect the continents. The internet
is incredible, and I love getting to share
that with students every semester.
Q. What do you find most
rewarding about being an
instructor?
A. Just like baking a cake, the most
rewarding experience is the outcome.
Hearing success stories from former
students is magical. Now that I've been
teaching for a while, I have a number
of students who are beyond their first
job. I have alums who progressed from
junior engineers to senior managers
and directors of engineering teams.
This is equally true for the new Web
Development program we are offering
at UCI. We are thrilled to offer flexible
course options that teach people the
practical programming skills they need to
accelerate their career – all while earning
academic credit, and a Certificate from
UCI. Getting the opportunity to have
such a visceral impact on another
person's life is the best thing in the
world.