About Me

Hello, my name is Alfie Swan. I will be your instructor for this upcoming semester. I have been teaching mathematics for over the past 29 years. Although I've instructed mathematics primarily at the community college level, I have also taught briefly in high school and the California State level. My interest in mathematics began when I was young. I was good at math ever since I was in junior high school, but I never seriously contemplating majoring in mathematics. While studying at Rio Hondo College, I was hired as a math tutor. It was this job that made me want to become an educator. I encountered numerous students who really struggled to learn mathematical concepts, and I was able to help them grasp the concepts in a clear manner. After transferring to Cal. State LA, I became a math major and completed both my bachelor’s in science and master’s in science in Mathematics there. Much later, I went back to Cal State LA to complete a second bachelor’s degree in finance. 

Overall, I believe everyone has the capacity to learn mathematics. A few things I notice where people struggle is the following.

• Fear of mathematics

• Procrastination in mathematics

• Lack of interest in mathematics.

Many students have a fear of mathematics. In fact, some people even state that they "hate math." There are many reasons for this. My attitude is to think of math as a puzzle or game that has logical rules associated with the game. You can't play the game if you don't know the rules. That is why so many people struggle. They don't spend time understanding the rules or the associated vocabulary. When learning math, I recommend writing down key vocabulary theories and rules. Have them handy when you work out problems. Eventually, you will see the connections. 

Procrastination is a problem that even teachers suffer from. The goal is to plan out events in the class so that you are not trying to learn everything at the last minute. Many times, students lose points because they start a two-hour exam a half-hour before the exam closes. Make a commitment to yourself that you will not fall into this trap during the semester. Push yourself to get the work done first, and then reward yourself once the work is completed. I know it is challenging given our hectic lives, but please make time for this class, and prepare for all assessments adequately. 

Some people are under the impression that they will never do math. Don't think that way. You should embrace the subject and retain the rudiments of it. You never know in your future career when a promotion may become available that requires good analytical skills. Remember that many of the skills you learn in school are applicable in the real world. Thus, try to retain some of the main concepts in this class. In the future, it will make you a well-rounded individual who will have the capability to solve problems using these skill sets.

Hobbies:

My hobbies include the following.

• Reading non-fiction work. I love to read history and general information books like illustrated dictionaries that cover various topics. 

• I enjoy lifting weights and exercising on a regular basis. My informal motto stolen from the Renaissance era is "health of body, wealth of mind, and strength of character!"

• Traveling is something I enjoy doing as well. I have been to many key cities in the United States, Europe several times, and Mexico. My future travel goals are to visit China and Egypt.

Contact Information:

1. Email - same as above. My email is aswan@citruscollege.edu.

2. Phone - (626) - 319 - 4953