Teaching the We Connect The Dots AI Summer Program was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve ever had. From early planning in the winter, to building lessons in the spring, to finally teaching in the summer, every phase taught me something new. It was unlike any other teaching experience and gave me skills I still use in every part of my life. Watching students go from knowing almost nothing about Artificial Intelligence and programming to becoming confident learners who could teach others was truly inspiring. I felt like I was helping shape the future while also growing myself.
My success in creating, teaching, and learning through this program was made possible by the people who supported me. The teachers, who had experience running summer programs, guided me at every step. Their mentorship helped me design a teaching framework that others can now follow in future years. During the program, they stayed with me the entire time, ready to step in if anything went wrong. Their presence gave me confidence and allowed me to focus on connecting with the students.
One of the biggest challenges was finding the courage to speak in front of a group of students who were my own age. As a high schooler teaching other high schoolers, it felt intimidating. But with my teachers’ encouragement, I learned how to lead confidently, even on a topic as complex as AI. Another challenge was getting participation. At first, typing in the chat didn’t feel the same as talking in person. But with strategies like “brain boards” and interactive prompts, we got everyone engaged. These are ideas I never would’ve thought of on my own, but they made a huge difference.
Another highlight of the summer was the curriculum I helped develop. It was structured in a way that made it easy to reuse and covered everything from basic concepts to more advanced topics. I was impressed by how much ground we covered, from coding to critical thinking and problem-solving. The curriculum made sure that everyone, no matter their experience level, could learn and grow.
Throughout the program, I had many proud moments. It meant a lot to create something meaningful for people my own age. One day, a few students asked me how I managed to teach this kind of class. I didn’t know exactly what to say except: We Connect The Dots made it possible. This is a program full of people, both kids and adults, who truly want to make the future better and more equitable through technology and education.
In the end, the AI Summer Program is something I’ll always treasure. It was filled with energy, learning, and connection. Each day, I grew closer to the students, and the excitement in our virtual classroom grew stronger. I hope to continue being part of this program and help it grow to reach hundreds of students every summer.
Did we connect the dots?
"What am I doing with my life?" I asked myself constantly this year. I was stuck, and nothing made sense. I had some tech experience, but I wasn't up to date in this vastly AI-changing world. I was at a juncture. That's when We Connect The Dots appeared. I fell in love with the name of the program and was intrigued, and I am so impressed with what I have learned in just two quick months.
Through small classrooms, individual mentoring, group work, presentations, a capstone project, and—last but most definitely not least—an internship, it has been just what the doctor ordered. The staff has been fantastic, with a special shoutout to Jonathan Thus for teaching us Power Platform, which I think is a game changer. I loved learning about automation, app development, AI graphic design, website building, and everything else that is needed to run any business, from startup CEO to employee of a Fortune 500. I feel fully equipped to enter the workforce and enjoy a side hustle.
There were many fun moments, but the highlight would be the capstone project. If you had asked me just one month before to accomplish what we did in Canva, Power Apps, and Power Automate, I'm not sure I would have been able to do so. We really built a small business—from an internal website to a database, to forms, to automated flows, to an app, to a marketing video. It truly was a milestone.
This program didn't just focus on tech skills but emphasized the importance of soft skills. Through the soft skills training, Anam reviewed some emotional intelligence challenges and helped us self-reflect for better communication. I found it very helpful, particularly thinking about a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed one. It helped me realize all the opportunity around me!
This program didn't just focus on tech skills but emphasized the importance of soft skills. Through the soft skills training, Anam reviewed some emotional intelligence challenges and helped us self-reflect for better communication. I found it very helpful, particularly thinking about a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed one. It helped me realize all the opportunity around me!
This program most definitely connected the dots, and I cannot wait for my future!