Episode #26 - A Conversation with BlackPenRedPen (Steve Chow)
Audio Brief
Show transcript
This episode explores the journey of Steve Chow, a dedicated community college math teacher who also became the YouTube sensation blackpenredpen, and his insights into the evolving landscape of mathematics education.
There are three key takeaways from this conversation.
First, an educator holds profound power to shape a student's entire relationship with a subject. Steve Chow's own passion for teaching was directly ignited by inspirational high school teachers. He emphasizes preferring in-person instruction for immediate student feedback and connection, underscoring how great teachers foster lifelong passion or lasting aversion to a subject.
Second, practical, career-focused side projects can unexpectedly grow into highly successful and impactful endeavors. Steve initially created his now-famous blackpenredpen YouTube channel simply to add a link to his resume when applying for teaching jobs. This accidental genesis transformed into a globally recognized platform, even leading to the serendipitous discovery of his signature two-marker writing style during a class.
Third, embracing non-traditional educational paths and leveraging modern online resources can be highly effective, often surpassing conventional methods. The discussion highlights how the accessibility of online content, like Steve's videos, has fundamentally changed how students learn complex topics such as calculus. Host Parker recounted learning integrals directly from blackpenredpen videos before ever starting university, illustrating the transformative power of digital education over sole reliance on traditional textbooks.
This conversation powerfully underscores the lasting impact of passionate educators and the transformative, accessible nature of modern online learning platforms.
Episode Overview
- An introduction to Steve Chow, the community college math teacher behind the popular YouTube channel, blackpenredpen.
- A discussion on Steve's personal journey, from his own education at a community college and UC Berkeley to his motivations for becoming a teacher.
- An exploration of the evolution of math education, contrasting traditional textbook-based learning with the wealth of modern online resources.
- The origin story of the blackpenredpen channel, including why it was created, its early inspirations, and how Steve developed his signature two-marker style.
Key Concepts
- Steve Chow's Dual Career: He is a full-time community college math professor who also runs the successful mathematics YouTube channel, blackpenredpen.
- Teaching Philosophy: Steve prefers in-person teaching for the immediate student feedback and connection, and he was inspired to become an educator by the positive impact his own high school teachers had on him.
- The Impact of Educators: The conversation highlights how a great teacher can inspire a lifelong passion for a subject, while a poor one can completely deter a student's interest.
- Evolution of Learning: The discussion contrasts the past reliance on textbooks and tutors with the current accessibility of online educational content, which has fundamentally changed how students learn complex topics like calculus.
- YouTube Channel Origins: Steve initially started his channel not out of a desire for fame, but as a practical tool to add a link to his resume while applying for teaching jobs.
- Signature Style: The "blackpenredpen" name and two-marker writing technique were discovered by accident during a class session where Steve was trying to look cool and entertain his students.
Quotes
- At 1:20 - "Of course, I still prefer the in-person setting so I can see the students, I can get the immediate response from the students and we can laugh together." - Steve explains why he finds in-person teaching more fulfilling than online instruction.
- At 4:24 - "I always knew that my focus was going to be a teacher... I was just more focusing on how to improve my teaching skills and also my presentation skills to students." - Steve clarifies that his passion for teaching has always been the driving force behind his mathematical pursuits.
- At 7:36 - "That's how I actually learned how to do integrals for the very first time, was just watching your videos and just listening to what you were saying." - Host Parker explains the direct impact Steve's YouTube channel had on his own education before he even started university.
- At 15:37 - "I believe a lot of teachers who want to be teachers, it's all because they had some teachers in the past that inspired them. And I am one of the cases." - Steve Chow explains that his inspiration to teach came directly from the influential teachers he had in his youth.
- At 30:14 - "I started my channel mainly so I can put the link to my channel... on my resume." - Steve reveals the practical, career-oriented reason he initially created his now-famous YouTube channel.
- At 32:32 - "I wanted to look cool... and I realized that, hey, I can actually write with two markers." - Steve explains the accidental discovery of his signature two-marker writing technique.
Takeaways
- An educator holds the power to profoundly shape a student's entire relationship with a subject, either fostering passion or creating lasting aversion.
- Practical, career-focused side projects, like starting a YouTube channel to bolster a resume, can unexpectedly grow into highly successful and impactful endeavors.
- Embracing non-traditional educational paths and leveraging modern online resources can be just as effective, if not more so, than conventional learning methods.
