Teaching
General Philosophy on Teaching
Teaching or doing recitation for such a range of courses has taught me that students learn in vastly different ways and that teaching effectively means adapting your teaching methods to what works best for the students. Before going to graduate school I taught for one year at Parkland Community College in Urbana-Champaign. The students there generally came from a different educational background than students at a four-year university yet were motivated to learn, and my short time there helped shape my teaching philosophy. It taught me that students' education may be hindered in many ways, in and out of the classroom, and a good teacher works with them in any way possible to help them succeed.
At the end of each semester I reflect on what worked to benefit students, what didn't work as I intended, and what how I can adjust my teaching to account for these shortcomings. This self-reflection has made me eager to try different teaching methods, including Inquiry-Based Learning, Assessment-Based Learning, and "Ungrading" in my courses, and I hope to continue refining these alternative teaching methods in the future.
My primary goal as a teacher is to make students independent learners while developing an analytical and critical mindset, which I believe is done best through guided activities that forces them to think about why a concept is true or why a technique works. Math is only learned by an active engagement with the material, which is why I try to structure my classrooms to be student-oriented by posing probing questions and providing time in class for students to ask me questions and work through problems and discussions with each other.
Just as important, however, is to make students want to learn and want to perform their best. By providing a relaxed atmosphere through moments of joking levity and conversation, along with discussions of students' interests and concerns, I want to make sure that all my students feel welcome in the classroom, to be seen and heard, so that they can not only achieve but be proud of their achievement.
Teaching Experience
While at Bucknell University I have taught a wide range of courses for three courses a semester, including Introduction to Mathematical Modeling, Topics in Calculus, Calculus I, II, and III, Linear Algebra, and Topology.
In my first semester as an Assistant Professor at Fitchburg State University, I taught three sections of precalculus while I taught two sections of Calculus I and one section of Applied Statistics in my second semester.
I was the instructor or teaching assistant for two courses each fall and spring semester since the beginning of grad school at Mizzou, along with one course each summer. The courses I taught ranged from lower level ones like intermediate and college algebra to more advanced ones like matrix theory and ODEs. I was also the TA for both undergraduate and graduate abstract algebra courses. You can see the full list of courses on my CV or below.
Courses taught or TAed with links to course evaluations (when available)
(This list does not include the number of sections taught of each class for the given semester)
Bucknell University
Spring 2022: Introduction to Mathematical Modeling; Calculus II
Fall 2021: Topics in Calculus; Calculus I
Spring 2021: Linear Algebra; Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
Fall 2020: Topology; Calculus III
Spring 2020: Linear Algebra; Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
Fall 2019: Calculus II; Calculus III
Fitchburg State University
Spring 2019: Calculus I; Applied Statistics
Fall 2018: Precalculus
University of Missouri-Columbia
Spring 2018: Calculus III; Advanced Calculus
Fall 2017: Trigonometry; Calculus II
Summer 2017: Differential Equations
Spring 2017: Introduction to Abstract Algebra
Fall 2016: Calculus I; Introduction to Advanced Mathematics
Summer 2016: Matrix Theory
Spring 2016: Calculus II; Introduction to Abstract Algebra
Fall 2015: Finite Mathematics
Summer 2015: Intermediate Algebra
Spring 2015: Calculus II
Fall 2014: Calculus I
Summer 2014: Calculus II
Spring 2014: Calculus II
Fall 2013: Calculus I
Summer 2013: College Algebra
Spring 2013: College Algebra
Fall 2012: College Algebra
Parkland Community College
Summer 2012: Prealgebra
Spring 2012: Prealgebra; Intermediate Algebra
Fall 2011: Prealgebra
Teaching Materials
Below you'll find some of the typed notes, homework, worksheets, and reading assignments I've made for some of my classes (exams, quizzes, completed notes, and solutions not all included).
Topology: Course notes, Homework, Exams, Final project topics
Linear algebra: Homework, Reading assignments
Calculus III: Reading assignments, In-class worksheets
Calculus II: Reading assignments, In-class worksheets
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling: In-class worksheets
Precalculus: Course notes
Applied Statistics: Slides