Theresa

Certified Tutor

I am a graduate of The College of Saint Rose receiving both, a masters and bachelors in business administration. Also, I earned my associates degree in business management (entrepreneurship) at Bryant & Stratton. Currently, I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland University College working towards the completion of my dissertation, and fully expect to complete my degree requirements by December 2017, followed by a summer graduation in 2018. Outside of academia, I enjoy completing different assessment tests, fishing, reading, writing poetry/short stories, and watching science fiction. Throughout the course of my graduate training, I have been fortunate enough to be chosen as leader for several collaborative projects, and I learned to interact with my colleagues in the way which makes it interesting to learn and I will follow the same procedure while tutoring. The application of technology through learning environments (e.g., WebTycho, LEO, and Banner) and computer-based material in the classroom (e.g., wikis, YouTube, etc.) are helpful tools in the promotion of meaningful learning via face-to-face (one-on-one and group settings) and online with the use of software and apps such as Oovoo, Skype, Hangouts, Tango, Facetime, and different messengers. From the moment I became a student, my passion for education emerged. I pride myself on helping others to not only achieve their goals but to excel far beyond any limitations that may appear. I have had the opportunities of tutoring different subjects at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels, to include supporting graduate students. My favorite subject is mathematics because of the varying levels/subjects (e.g., algebra, calculus, statistics, accounting, finance, etc.) the logic, problem solving, communication, reasoning and connections involved (there are several different ways to complete problems). Once the concept of a problem is understood, then finding the solution become effortless or at least second nature. I am and will always be a catalyst for learning. My teaching philosophy which follows, expresses my passion for both, learning and educating others. Educators (teachers/tutors) shape the lives of students, passing on values, beliefs, and knowledge while increasing the levels of these components for students. All individuals, particularly students have the capacity to learn and experience a proper education. As such, an essential learning environment that continuously flourishes will consist of the following three primary elements: (1) the educator acting as a guide, (2) enabling students to reach their full potential and beyond, and (3) promoting collaborative learning environments. The educators role is to provide access to information rather than act as the primary source of information, facilitating the students' search for knowledge and process of learning to find answers to their questions. For students to construct knowledge, they need the opportunity, the encouragement, and the tools to make discoveries and the ability to practice skills in authentic situations for themselves. An educator can aid in the students reaching their goals by leading the way, promoting collaboration, and facilitating learning. I am responsible for educating my students both, academically and socially. As an educator and catalyst for educational change, my students will not experience mere lecturing nor will they have an educator that succumbs to paper pushing. It is my responsibility to be a reflective educator that keeps growing, discovering, and continuously evaluating my teaching/tutoring and remaining open to change. A reflective educator is an effective teacher/tutor! As a catalyst for educational change, I realize and can attest to not all students learning at the same rate or at the same level as their classmates. As such, I will be an unbiased educator/tutor and treat all students with respect and fairness. I will also participate in continued education through classes, workshops and experiences to stay current in the educational field. This is a profession that requires dedication and continued education. What better way is there than continuous learning for an educator to put into practice the expectation she has of her students? I will invite student dialogue about their curriculum and units of study by encouraging them to ask questions and strive for knowledge beyond closed-ended questions and responses. Given the opportunity for input, students generate ideas and set goals that make for much richer learning environments enabling them to take stock in their education. When students have ownership in the curriculum, they are motivated to work hard and master the skills necessary to reach their goals. Therefore, an educator/tutor guiding students in their learning results in students no longer feeling forced to learn. The objective is not only to help students further develop their potential, but also reach beyond their expectations. My role as an educator is to give students the tools with which to cultivate their own gardens of knowledge. Students vary in their abilities and learning styles. Therefore, I must reach students that are visual learners, auditory learners and kinesthetic learners, respectively. To accomplish this goal, I will utilize various methods of teaching and evaluating my students. The areas of education that I personally value are gaining knowledge, problem solving, cooperative learning, and the conveyance of knowledge. I believe that the purpose of education is to enable students to become successful in their lives. Political leader, Marcus Garvey and activist, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who are both leaders, not only facilitated learning but also believed that learning is very essential. While Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., believed we must either learn to live together as brothers, or we are going to die together as fools, Marcus Garvey believed that intelligence rules the world, ignorance carries the burden. This means that throughout the learning process, students should learn from the guidance of educators/tutors, to include a great deal of communication, discussion, and knowledge transfer, rather than solely from the information introduced in lectures. Effective educators/tutors continuously relate learning to the real world, making learning concrete and meaningful to students. Utilizing technology, I will give students the necessary tools to become successful in life, increase interaction and collaboration with others, and gain additional exposure to differing philosophies, while also effectively conveying and practicing lessons learned. Educators learn from the students and in return, we become better educators. If we teach the students well, and let them, they will lead the way with a sense of pride! Life is a lesson to be discovered and a journey to fulfill. In life, there are countless types of educators/tutors who indubitably facilitate teaching. Teaching then, is a lifelong learning process of learning about new philosophies and new strategies, educating those who are ready, willing, and seeking knowledge, learning from each other in the communities where we work and reside in, learning from colleagues, and especially learning from the students. Being a tutor will provide me an opportunity for continual learning and growth. One of my hopes as an educator is to instill a passion for learning in my students, as I share my own enthusiasm for learning with them. I believe my philosophy promotes me as an educator who will lead students, promote collaboration among students, facilitate quality education, and always strive to be the best educator that I can be.