Meet Ethan Edgington, an enthusiastic and committed instructor at CodeWizardsHQ who exemplifies the ideal mentor for young, aspiring coders. Ethan’s journey with CodeWizardsHQ began in the summer of 2023, and he makes a significant impact through his passionate teaching. His story is not just about teaching code but also inspiring a new generation to embrace technology creatively and confidently.
Early Beginnings in Coding
Ethan’s coding adventure started at the age of eleven, when he discovered an online course that allowed him to mod Minecraft. This experience transformed his perspective on coding, turning it from an intimidating challenge into an accessible and enjoyable activity. “I remember thinking it was basically too far beyond my reach… But I learned how to mod my own items and blocks inside of Minecraft, and that was just like the coolest thing ever,” Ethan shares. This pivotal moment sparked his lifelong passion for coding, setting the stage for his future role as an educator. “All of a sudden, it was making sense to me. And all of a sudden, it was like the only thing I could think about,” he recalls about his early coding days.
Educational Journey and Teaching Philosophy
Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Ethan was homeschooled, which allowed him to explore his interests deeply, particularly in programming and technology. His personal learning experiences have profoundly shaped his teaching approach at CodeWizardsHQ. After his initial coding spark, Ethan continued to dabble in programming and animation, learning from online sources. His work progressed in complexity. He continued to mod in Minecraft and eventually created a Minecraft server with the goal of developing his own games. He supplemented his independent learning with AP Computer Science in high school.
When it came time to select a college, Ethan was drawn to Texas A&M. The electrical engineering student is now in his senior year. He is specifically interested in the hardware side of computing and the interconnectivity between devices. He is still fascinated by game development, though, and is president of the Game Developers Club at Texas A&M.
Ethan was searching for a summer position in 2023 when he stumbled upon CodeWizardsHQ. He found the idea of teaching kids to code to be very appealing. He comes from a family of teachers and has tutored previously. In his role in the Game Developers Club, Ethan regularly assists members with their code and teaches them how to make games. Ethan has become a summer fixture at CodeWizardsHQ, returning for his second season this year.
Ethan teaches all levels, elementary, middle, and high school, and concentrates mainly on Python classes. He likes teaching Python as well as Java. Ethan finds it most rewarding when students are driven to learn and understand, but he enjoys inspiring students with varying levels of interest. Ethan explains his teaching philosophy. “If a student really loves programming and wants to learn, I want to take that to the next level and give them ideas of how they can do more. How do we go above a hundred percent?”
For students who might not quite have a passion yet, Ethan has a different approach. “I’m not just trying to get them to pass. That’s the main goal, but I also want them to learn why they should care, why they should love programming, and how they can find this interesting in their own eyes.”
Ethan explains why he especially enjoys teaching kids how to code. “Children have so much potential that can be harnessed inside a classroom. I look forward to guiding them to harness it as they grow and being a catalyst for their development. I want to be the guy who gets to nurture the next future developer at Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook.”
Ethan has specific advice for parents interested in exploring a coding education for their children. First, it must stem from a child-directed interest, and then they must be motivated to learn.
“That’s where CodeWizards comes in. If you have the right teacher and the right activity, then all of a sudden, it’s not like they’re in school but learning a concept, and it’s something that they want to do. That’s their baby that they get to create, and I think CodeWizards nurtures that environment phenomenally. As a company, that’s what we’re founded on. We’re devoted to having a high standard of quality that I think we definitely meet.”
Hobbies and Downtime
Outside of his demanding electrical engineering courseload and teaching at CodeWizardsHQ, Ethan finds his work as President of the Game Developers Club very rewarding. He likes being around like-minded people and giving back to his community. He gains a great deal of satisfaction from serving the club members and improving their experiences. Ethan explains the high point of the club’s year.
“We hold a game jam throughout each semester. In week two, we’ll announce what the theme is, and then people just break into teams, and then they’re making a game throughout the semester alongside their schoolwork. We all present our games at the end of the semester.”
Exceptional Coding Educator
Ethan exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional educator at CodeWizardsHQ. His blend of personal coding passion, educational insight, and commitment to nurturing young minds aligns seamlessly with the organization’s mission to equip the next generation of coders. Ethan not only teaches coding; he inspires a new wave of thinkers, innovators, and creators, ready to explore the endless possibilities that coding and technology have to offer.
