Greyson Frazier knows that learning to code can be overwhelming, especially when you consider just how fast the tech world moves. But with years spent teaching at places like Code Immersives and Coding Temple, he’s made it his mission to break things down in a way that actually makes sense. We think this makes him an excellent instructor, while he believes it helps him connect more deeply with his students.
At Noble Desktop, Greyson teaches React, JavaScript, and full-stack development with a focus on real-world skills, up-to-date tools, and a learning environment that’s just as supportive as it is hands-in-the-dirt. We sat down with him to discuss how he keeps his courses fresh, how AI is impacting new developers, and why bringing the right energy to the classroom matters just as much as teaching the more technical, by-the-book skills.
Let’s see what he had to say.
Q: Hey, Greyson! Let’s start from the top for those who don’t know you. You teach React, JavaScript, and full-stack development - how do you keep your curriculum aligned with the fast pace of modern web technology?
A: Modern web technologies are releasing by the minute! Truly fascinating stuff, but luckily for developers, it's much rarer that something completely reinvents the wheel and becomes a new standard. When these relevant frameworks do see big changes, it's always worth diving into them to see if these new features alleviate problems at the beginner to intermediate level.
Hooks and Functional Components have fundamentally changed how React projects are coded. With React 19's introduction of stable Server Components, there's a lot we need to do as developers to adopt this change. I believe that it will make interacting with Databases much easier for front-end developers. Changes like this, where there's immediate value to be seen, are always worth trying to incorporate into the curriculum.
Q: Have you integrated any AI tools into your workflow or classroom instruction? How have students responded to them?
A: Not much beyond ChatGPT, honestly! I find it does all I need it to when it comes to organizing lesson content and creating problems. We'll go through the AI responses together as a class sometimes too and evaluate what's actually correct!
Q: What are your thoughts on using AI as a coding assistant during the learning process? Do you see it as a help or a hindrance for beginners?
A: I always tell my students that AI is a good tool for helping explain concepts, not for completing your code. If you can get AI to develop your code for you, but you can't explain any of that code, what value are you to a team where a knowledgeable developer can generate the same code with AI and also know exactly what it's doing and how to fix/modify it for the given scenario. As a beginner, use it to help you but if you want to really learn this stuff and become valuable in the job market, you cannot rely on it.
Q: How do you think AI is shifting the expectations for junior developers entering the workforce? Do you adapt your teaching to reflect that?
A: AI is raising the bar for what is expected. Junior developers need to prove that they are capable without relying on it, while also being able to integrate it into their daily workflow. It's harder to stand out these days, which is why I'm doing my best as a teacher to imbue my students with the essentials that make for a future-proof programmer.
Q: What are some of the key tools or frameworks you’re currently most excited to teach, and why?
A: I'm excited to give students a brief introduction to NextJS towards the end of the React course. It's a true game-changer for full-stack React development and my personal stack of choice!
Q: What do you want students to know before they walk into your class for the first time? Any mindset or skills they should bring with them?
A: When students come to my course, I want them to understand that I've been in the position they are. They have done the basics but are likely still in the early stages of perfecting them. I want them to know that's okay, and as we learn these new technologies, we'll always be building upon our JavaScript foundations!
Q: How do you make your classes engaging for students who may be intimidated by coding or web development?
A: I personally make sure I bring a certain energy/excitement that is all my own. Something that is hopefully a few steps from annoying/overbearing, but just enough to keep everyone responding!
To learn more about Greyson’s classes, check out Noble Desktop’s Web Development, JavaScript, or React courses.
