Teaching Philosophy & Experience
My Teaching Philosophy
I view teaching as an evolving practice that benefits from reflection, feedback, and ongoing professional development. I regularly seek feedback from my students to understand their needs and adjust my teaching strategies. I stay current with computer science and pedagogy advances, integrating new tools and approaches that enhance student learning.
My teaching philosophy is based on the belief that effective computer science education should combine theory and practice, foster inclusivity, and empower students to become independent, collaborative problem-solvers and lifelong learners. This philosophy is achieved through active learning, practical experiences, and inclusive and diverse learning environments.
Core Teaching Principles
As an instructor, I integrate active learning practices to help students gain a deeper understanding of lessons and grasp lecture materials. Rather than blending teaching lectures for students to only receive information, I design lessons and learning experiences that engage students through hands-on projects and practice solving real-world problems by collaborating in groups.
Example: A lesson on for-loops in Java includes a presentation starting with a real-life example, explanation of structure and syntax, demonstration with hands-on practice, and group activities where students work together to implement Java programs integrating for-loops.
I believe the most effective way to prepare students for industry careers is by providing authentic, hands-on practice that simulates real-world software development. I integrate practical software engineering tools and practices into my courses, including version control, unit testing, and code reviews—critical skills required in the software development industry.
Students engage in realistic programming projects and collaborative exercises such as pair programming, debugging sessions, and peer code reviews, simulating the teamwork and communication required in professional environments. I also incorporate relevant software engineering research findings to inform students of current trends and cutting-edge developments.
Having taught students from varied educational and cultural backgrounds—from middle school and high school in Ghana to undergraduate and graduate courses at Virginia Tech—I am equipped with the skills and experiences to create an inclusive, diverse, and conducive classroom environment where every student feels welcomed, valued, and supported.
I create accessible course materials that accommodate different learning styles and preferences, make course requirements and expectations clear, and employ differentiated instruction to provide multiple pathways for engagement. This ensures that all students can succeed regardless of their starting point, race, gender, sexual orientation, or background.
Graduate Teaching Assistant - Virginia Tech
Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering | 2023 – Present
Courses Taught
Spring, and Fall 2025 | Java | 95 Students for the two semesters
Led two lab sections per week, emphasizing concepts from lectures. Hold office hours to assist students by debugging programming assignments and resolving challenges.
Fall 2024 | Java | 35 Students
Supported advanced software engineering concepts, reviewed students' application development processes to ensure alignment with project requirements.
Fall 2023 & Spring 2024 | 92 Students Total (2 Semesters)
Guided students through professional development topics including ethics, communication, and career preparation in computing.
Summer 2023 | HTML, CSS, JavaScript | 76 Students
Led programming lab sessions on full-stack web development, modern frameworks, and best practices.
Spring 2023 | Kotlin | 45 Students
Taught mobile development for Android using Kotlin, focusing on modern mobile architectures and user experience design.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading programming lab sessions twice per week for the entire semester
- Holding office hours to assist students in overcoming challenges in course projects
- Reviewing students' application development processes to ensure alignment with project requirements
- Grading assignments and projects with detailed feedback
- Responding to student questions through emails, Piazza, Discord, and Slack
- Providing debugging assistance and guidance on best practices
Teaching Experience in Ghana
Information Technology Instructor
Obuasi Senior High Technical School, Obuasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana
October 2019 – December 2022
As an IT teacher, I was responsible for preparing and delivering lessons to high school students in QBasic programming, Web Technologies (HTML, CSS), MySQL, Access Database, and Spreadsheet data processing.
I incorporated active learning practices such as demonstration with live coding, multimedia presentations, group collaboration, and project-based assignments. These practices intrinsically and extrinsically motivated students and helped them grasp the content and concepts of almost every lesson.
Professional ICT Instructor/Teacher
Ghana Education Service, Ashanti Region, Ghana
September 2012 – August 2015
Taught computer literacy to 200+ junior high school students (ages 11-15) at Fahiakobo D/A Junior High School.
Assistant Examiner
West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Obuasi, Ghana
November 2020 – December 2022
- Evaluated 1,000+ ICT examination scripts annually
- Maintained 99.5% accuracy in grading with quality assurance protocols
- Contributed to examination standards development for the national ICT curriculum
- Attended grading conferences and workshops
Instructional Materials Available on Amazon
Obeng, F. (2022). Information and Communications Technology for Senior High School Students.
Developed and compiled two comprehensive instructional books for high school ICT education. These books were used as classroom resources at Obuasi Senior High Technical School.
200+ pages covering fundamental computing concepts, data representation, introduction to programming languages, and algorithms. View Book
180+ pages focused on hands-on programming exercises in QBasic programming, HTML, CSS, and Access database management. View Book
Courses I Am Prepared to Teach
My education, teaching background, and experience align well with computer science curriculum at both undergraduate and graduate levels. I am prepared to teach the following courses:
Undergraduate Level Courses
- CS1054: Introduction to Programming in Java
- CS1114: Introduction to Software Design
- CS2114: Software Design and Data Structures
- CS3114: Data Structures and Algorithms
- CS3604: Professionalism and Ethics in Computing
Graduate Level Courses
- CS5244: Web Application Development
- CS5254: Mobile Application Development
- CS5704: Software Engineering
- CS6704: Software Engineering Research Seminar
Pedagogical Training & Professional Development
Virginia Tech University | Expected: 2025
I am committed to continuous improvement in teaching practice through engagement with teaching centers, attending workshops, and collaborating with colleagues. I plan to continue evolving my teaching practices by incorporating active learning strategies that support and prepare students to gain real-world experiences through lectures, assignments, and programming projects.