Building Trust and Mastery: Matthew Philip on XP, Agile, and Psychological Safety in Higher Education

The Mob Mentality Show

It's back to school, everyone! Dive into a transformative journey of education with Matthew Philip, an experienced Organizational Refactorer and educator, as he shares his innovative approach to integrating XP (Extreme Programming) and Agile methodologies into the classroom. In this episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we explore how Matthew's dynamic teaching methods are applied to software engineering education, fostering an environment where trust, mastery, and psychological safety are paramount.

**XP and Agile in the Classroom**

Matthew Philip's unique perspective as both an educator and coach provides a compelling narrative on how XP and Agile principles can be implemented in higher education. From his history of teaching Agile in orgs and universities to leading hands-on learning experiences that go beyond traditional lectures, Matthew's methods challenge the conventional constraints of the classroom.

Discover how Matthew creates a WAR room environment in the classroom, fostering high energy and positivity to encourage active participation. Learn about the use of information radiators, pairing, and mob programming to ensure students not only grasp theoretical concepts but also excel in real-world applications. Matthew also delves into the challenges of teaching Agile content as part of a master's program in software engineering, where students are exposed to the intricacies of refactoring to patterns and leading through facilitation.

In this episode, we discuss the critical differences between being a crafter versus just a coder, and how Matthew helps students navigate the transition from the academic world to the corporate environment. We explore the importance of understanding short-term school code versus long-term maintainability, and how working with real customers in a classroom setting can profoundly impact students' learning experiences and feedback loops.

**Mastery-Based Learning and Psychological Safety**

Matthew is a strong advocate for mastery-based learning, where the focus shifts from simply passing quizzes to deeply understanding and applying knowledge. We discuss how students can assess their own understanding, whether through techniques like Test-Driven Development (TDD) or experiencing the consequences of poor practices. Matthew emphasizes the significance of psychological safety in the classroom, where students learn how to fail safely and collaborate effectively.

Explore how the pressure of pacing in large classrooms can conflict with mastery learning, and how assessment strategies can be adapted to ensure that learning sticks and isn't lost over time. Matthew shares insights on fostering peer assessments and creating systems where even when students "game" the system, true mastery is still achieved.

**The Role of AI and Future of Education**

In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, Matthew addresses the impact of generative AI in the classroom. How can AI be leveraged to enhance learning, and what are the risks of its misuse? We discuss the importance of correct prompting, the authenticity of AI-generated content, and whether mob programming could be the solution to these challenges—while also questioning whether this approach could disrupt current educational and industry standards due to teacher-to-student ratios.

**Psychological Safety and Building Trust**

Finally, we delve into the role of psychological safety in the classroom, exploring how activities like group juggling can teach students to fail and learn together. Matthew shares strategies for establishing trust and the correlation between high energy, positivity, and psychological safety. We also consider whether in-person interactions are essential for fostering trust, or if remote environments can replicate these conditions.

Don't miss this episode as we uncover the future of education, one where trust, mastery, and psychological safety take center stage. To stay updated on this and other insightful episodes, subscribe to the Mob Mentality Show on your favorite platform.

Video and show Notes: https://youtu.be/IkqRI2GQ4MY