After the success of my first teaching experience at Ironhack, I was excited to guide my second cohort of UX/UI design students. This time, however, I faced new challenges—primarily the scale of the class. With 40 students, managing such a diverse group meant encountering different dynamics, and as I quickly learned, the larger the class, the more complex those dynamics became. Here’s a reflection on my experience, including the highs and lows of managing a larger cohort, the impact of diversity, and the lessons learned from a holiday break that didn’t go as planned.
A Larger Class and TA Dynamics
With such a large class, I was fortunate to have two Teaching Assistants (TAs) and two Central Teaching Assistants (CTAs) supporting me. Once again, I was thrilled to work alongside Melanie da Silva, my trusted TA from the previous cohort. Melanie and I were in sync from day one, which made the fast-paced environment of the bootcamp more manageable.
However, introducing a second TA, Zeynep, into the mix presented new challenges. Zeynep was less experienced and unfamiliar with my teaching style, and I admittedly leaned more on Melanie for crucial tasks. This imbalance led to some hierarchy issues, with Zeynep understandably feeling overshadowed. In hindsight, I realize I could have distributed responsibilities more evenly to allow Zeynep to grow and feel more involved, despite her being new to the team.
The Diversity Challenge: Backgrounds and Inclinations
One of the unique aspects of this cohort was the diversity of the students. Not only were there students from different cultural backgrounds, but they also came from a variety of professional and educational fields—some with creative inclinations, others more analytical. While diversity can be a tremendous asset in group work, it also posed significant challenges. Certain students clashed, both in terms of their personalities and working styles, leading to some early conflicts and frustrations.
These differences, while initially problematic, were also moments of growth. I encouraged students to find common ground, teaching them that the diversity of perspectives, when harnessed correctly, could result in innovative solutions and richer learning experiences.
Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the cohort saw four students drop out by week four, which was disappointing. In a bootcamp of this intensity, it’s not uncommon to lose students, but it was still a reminder of how important it is to constantly adapt teaching methods to keep everyone engaged and motivated.
The Holiday Break: A Critical Misstep
One of the more frustrating aspects of this cohort was the timing of the holiday break, which fell right before the penultimate project of the bootcamp. Being so close to the finish line, I had hoped the students would use the break to reflect on their progress and focus on their portfolios. I had even told them, “Don’t work too hard, but focus on your portfolio.”
Unfortunately, most students seemed to take that advice to heart—too much, in fact. When we reconvened after the break, I was disappointed to find that many had regressed, and their project presentations were of a much lower quality than I expected. It was clear that the momentum had been lost, and the two-week gap had led to them forgetting much of what they had learned. I had hoped the students would come back refreshed and ready to finish strong, but instead, it felt like we were starting from scratch.
This was particularly disappointing because this break occurred during the penultimate project—one of the most important stages of the bootcamp. It was a crucial point for students to showcase their growth and readiness for the final push. Instead, the break had a negative impact on their progress.
Lessons for Future Cohorts
This cohort was challenging in ways I hadn’t anticipated, but the experience left me with valuable lessons for the future:
- Balancing TA Responsibilities: Going forward, I’ll be more mindful of how I distribute responsibilities among the teaching team. It’s important to ensure that newer members like Zeynep have the opportunity to develop their skills and feel equally valued.
- Managing Diversity Effectively: Diversity, whether in background or approach, is a double-edged sword. While it can lead to creative breakthroughs, it also requires active management to prevent friction from derailing progress. Moving forward, I’ll look for more ways to foster collaboration among students with different perspectives and inclinations.
- Maintaining Momentum Over Breaks: The biggest lesson from this cohort was the need to set clear expectations during breaks. In the future, I’ll provide more structured guidance to ensure students remain engaged and productive, without allowing too much downtime to erode their progress.
Despite the setbacks, this cohort still saw moments of growth and accomplishment, and I’m grateful for the lessons it taught me as an educator. As I look ahead to future cohorts, I’ll carry these insights forward, ensuring that I continue to improve both as a teacher and as a leader for my students.
