Teaching-old

Teaching Philosophy:

Ever since my adolescent days’ exposure tutoring my younger brother and sometimes my classmates, teaching has been my fascination. I have found teaching an exciting venue to share knowledge and expand my own. It has been an integral part of my experience that has spanned two countries and cultures and provided me ample opportunities to learn from some very exceptional teachers and fellow students.

I have extensive teaching experience working with diverse students, ranging from undergraduates and graduates, to adult English language learners, and elementary school children. During my graduate years at MIT, I was teaching assistant for courses Sensor Technology in Civil-Engineering (1 semester) and Introduction to Computers and Engineering Problem Solving (3 semesters). The former was a graduate-level project-based course. I actively interacted with students and encouraged them to use team diverse knowledge as an asset in project selection and implementation. As a result, for one of the group students with backgrounds in hydrology, electronics, and computer networks were successful in implementing a project for web based wireless monitoring and data collection system for water quality measurement. In my teaching evaluation, I was ranked high for “encourages question, stimulates interest, and speaks well”. For the undergraduate/graduate level course Introduction to Computers and Engineering Problem Solving, I developed course materials, quizzes and homework problems. I delivered lectures, both in small groups of ten to twelve students during weekly tutorials and in large groups of 100+ students during review sessions. Through regular feedback, I quickly learned to adapt my teaching presentations and problem examples to better suit student’s learning style and interest. This was reflected in high scores for “well-organized presentations, encouraged participation, used good examples” for my teaching evaluations.

As a tutor for the ATLAS program for adult education, I have worked with people of diverse ages and backgrounds. In the process, I witnessed one of the core awards of the profession when one of my students thanked me for helping him clear the state’s teaching credentials exam. Interacting with kindergarteners of local schools for Science is Elementary reinvigorated my passion of science and teaching.

These experiences, together with my industry experience have greatly enhanced my teaching and inter-personal skills essential for engaging students. I have learnt that effective teaching is a form of art where the same fundamental principles and ideas need to be packaged in different ways to work best for the students. I have and will always strive to be available to students, keep a friendly atmosphere for feedback and criticism, and develop in my students the ability of critical thinking and professional competency. Finally, as the ancient Indian script the Bhagvad Gita says, “A man’s karma is to forever turn the wheel of life towards a better future for all”, the profession of teaching provides a means to do exactly that. I hope to keep that core principal in mind in my mentoring activities.

Courses:

Instructor, IIT-Patna

Teaching Assistant, MIT

Volunteer Teaching/Community Service