Our Intern Diera's Reflections

My name is Esther Diera, and I am a trained Mathematics and Chemistry teacher from Kisii University, Kenya. I had the privilege of teaching for almost three years before embarking on this internship.

Teaching is my passion, and I took this internship to acquire new skills and experiences that will enable me to become a better educator. During my three years of teaching, I worked in two sub-county schools within Kakamega County. 

At the beginning of my teaching journey, I had great aspirations and high hopes for my students. While I still firmly believe in their potential, I struggled with the schools' entrenched culture of underperformance in sciences, particularly in Mathematics.

This was disheartening because I grew up under similar circumstances in the same locality but managed to excel in Mathematics. I realized that as teachers, we need to change our students' attitudes and adopt new approaches to teaching Mathematics. The current methods were simply not working for them.

When the opportunity for this internship arose, I didn’t hesitate. It was a dream come true and a chance to be part of the change makers in the education system.

My First Month as an Intern.

Steve Jobs once said, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." This resonates deeply with me because, in just one month as an intern, I feel more fulfilled than I did during my years as a classroom teacher.

Although I enjoyed teaching and felt accomplished after lively and engaging lessons, this internship brings a fresh sense of purpose. Waking up each day excited to learn new skills has been an unparalleled experience. It breaks the monotony of traditional classroom teaching and fills me with joy.

I work with amazing colleagues whose patience and willingness to teach me new concepts humble me. I’ve had to rely on others for guidance in the past, but it’s nothing compared to how Emily Fleming, Zach Mbasu, and Sam Okoth have supported me during this internship. Their approachability and the organization’s supportive culture inspire me to keep learning without fear of judgment.

Key Activities and Learnings.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve participated in a variety of activities and learned a lot. Here are some highlights:

1. Learned to use PhET simulations and participated in a competition.

2. Designed a website using HTML and CSS; I look forward to refining and applying these skills.

3. Improved my skills in writing professional emails and Mathematics event reports.

4. Learned to code and create animations using the Scratch interface.

5. Engaged in robot assembly and continue to polish these skills.

6. I learned to play chess—a skill I’m progressively improving.

7. Created lesson plans for Mathematics events and simulated them.

8. I began learning programming with Python and advanced my skills.

9. Solved Mathematics puzzles using the SAMI Maths App, cards, and online sessions with Emily Fleming.

Learning is a process, and I’m confident that by the end of this internship, I’ll have gained enough knowledge and experiences to fill an entire book!

Workshop Experience: Coding with Scratch

One of the standout experiences during my internship was attending the Coding Using Scratch Workshop in Kisumu County on November 25th.

The workshop aimed to equip teachers—primarily those from junior secondary schools in Kisumu County and its environs—with skills to effectively use and teach Scratch. My main role was to help facilitate thesessions, and it was a fantastic learning opportunity.

Key Lessons Learned:

1. Social Values:

Working with people from diverse backgrounds can be challenging, especially when meeting for the first time. This experience taught me patience, humility, and the importance of collaboration. I made new friends, learned from my colleagues, and grew both personally and professionally.

2. Continuous Learning:

Teaching has shown me the importance of lifelong learning. Although I had been introduced to scratch two weeks prior (thanks to Sam), I still learned a lot from the workshop participants. Their creativity and unique perspectives were truly inspiring. This experience reminded me that teaching is a two-way street, where both teacher and student learn from each other.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. As an outdoor enthusiast, I appreciated the balance between classroom learning and interactive activities. Meeting like-minded individuals dedicated to improving Mathematics teaching was incredibly motivating.

Conclusion

Taking on this internship has been one of the best decisions I’ve made this year. I am committed to maximizing the resources and opportunities available to me during this period.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." I believe I am taking meaningful steps toward that goal. Are you?