Episode 152: High School CS with Quincy Tennyson

About this episode

Quincy Tennyson discusses his innovative approach to teaching computer science at Fern Creek High School, emphasizing high expectations and support for students.

In this episode, we sit down with Quincy Tennyson, who teaches an impressive four-year computer science pathway at Fern Creek High School. Quincy's background in the Marine Corps and as a network engineer brings a unique perspective to CS education. He discusses his curriculum progression from introductory courses through AP Computer Science Principles (heavily inspired by UC Berkeley's CS61A), AP Computer Science A (Java), and a culminating Project-Based Programming course. We dive deep into his philosophy of being a "warm demander" - setting high expectations while providing intensive coaching and support. The conversation touches on several compelling topics including teaching agile methodology to high school students, the importance of transparency about failure, and how behavioral economics concepts (from thinkers like Daniel Kahneman) inform his approach to helping students understand their own thinking processes. Quincy also shares insights on supporting underserved students, running a successful Girls Who Code chapter, and navigating the integration of AI tools in the classroom. His students' enthusiasm at PyCon 2024 was infectious, and this episode reveals the thoughtful…

People in this episode

Guest: Quincy Tennyson

Topics covered

• high school computer science
• curriculum development
• agile methodology
• behavioral economics
• supporting underserved students
• Girls Who Code
• AI in education

Keywords

• CS education
• AP Computer Science
• project-based learning
• transparency about failure

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Buttonpad, CS61A from UC Berkeley, CodeHS, Code.org

Books & works: Teach Students How to Learn

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