WPI Education

Mathematics Coursework

At WPI, I am working toward a bachelor's degree in mathematical sciences and a master's degree in applied mathematics. I have studied discrete mathematics and algorithms, calculus and analysis, linear algebra and numerical methods, statistics and probability, group theory, rings and fields. Courses at WPI are rigorous and fast-paced, so I can work at a high level and take a variety of courses during each semester.

Many professors in the WPI math department choose a traditional format for their courses: lectures, exercises, midterms, and final exams. However, there are a few professors who embrace WPI's project based learning (PBL) initiative and arrange for group projects in place of the usual assignments. These courses offer more to students than just an appreciation for mathematical thinking and ideas; the PBL model offers opportunities to practice collaboration and communication skills, critical thinking, leadership, professionalism, timeliness, and other soft skills which are frequently used in real-world settings. Group projects also allow students to meet each other while working together; this rarely happens in lecture-formatted courses. Participating in a PBL mathematics course has inspired me to reconsider traditional teaching in favor of group projects which are more memorable and create practical experiences. I hope to become a professor one day, and these courses would set an example as I develop courses of my own.

Teaching Coursework

Students in WPI's Teacher Preparation Program (TPP) are required to follow a sequence of pedagogy courses before the teaching practicum. These courses provide the background and training for teaching K-12. The course timeline is shown below along with excerpts of the official course descriptions for School Psychology, The Psychology of Education, Teaching Methods, and Sheltered English Immersion. I took all four pedagogy courses before starting my teaching practicum at Worcester Tech.

School Psychology
"School psychology focuses on understanding children and adolescents’ mental health, behavioral health and learning needs in order to work with educators and parents to help students succeed academically and socially. This course provides an overview of the field of school psychology, drawing from educational, developmental, and cognitive research. Students critically examine the theoretical, methodological, and practical approaches to understanding how in and out of school interventions and contexts influence the academic, social, and emotional development of children. Topics include school readiness and transitions, behavioral and self-regulatory skills, socio-cultural diversity and skill gaps, assessment tools and classification, teacher-child interactions, and school- based interventions that promote positive development."

The Psychology of Education
"The psychology of education is concerned with the learning of persons in educational settings from pre-school through college. Material in the course is organized into five units covering a wide range of topics: Understanding Student Characteristics - Cognitive, Personality, Social, and Moral Development; Understanding the Learning Process - Behavioral, Humanistic, and Cognitive Theories of Learning; Understanding Motivation to Learn; Understanding Student Diversity - Cultural, Economic, and Gender Effects upon Learning; Evaluating Student Learning - Standardized Tests, Intelligence, Grades, and other Assessment Issues."

Teaching Methods
"Within the context of contemporary secondary education in mathematics and science (biology, chemistry, physics), this course introduces and demonstrates effective teaching methods as they relate to curriculum goals and current methods of assessment. These methods take into account diverse learning styles as well as various technological resources. Topics to be covered include: a brief history of education; curriculum and course guidelines; legal issues; developing a course syllabus; and the issue of breadth versus depth in course planning and delivery. The course also covers practical questions of organizing, delivering and assessing a course."

Sheltered English Immersion
"This course is to prepare undergraduates looking to become future Commonwealth teachers with the knowledge and skills to effectively shelter their content instruction, so that the growing population of English language learners (ELLs) can access curriculum, achieve academic success, and contribute their multilingual and multicultural resources as participants and future leaders in the 21st century global economy."

Course descriptions - web.wpi.edu