Erin
Certified Tutor
Since 2015, I've helped more than 100 students and counting in subjects including all topics of high school and college biology, drawing on my education (B.S. in Biology, PhD in Biological Oceanography) and 5+ years experience teaching biology and microbiology at the college level.
I don't lecture (unless needed most students are already being lectured to), instead I work interactively and respectfully with students to quickly identify areas of struggle and overcome them through explanation, analogy and two-way questioning. The appropriate help varies with student, ranging from exam preparation to weekly sessions going over course materials.
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Undergraduate Degree: University of South Florida-Main Campus - Bachelors, Biology, General
Graduate Degree: Massachusetts Institute of Technology - PHD, Biological Oceanography
Gardening, Kayaking, Camping, Cooking, Sustainable agriculture
- AP Biology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- College Biology
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Evolutionary Biology
- General Biology
- Geology
- High School Biology
- High School Science
- Honors Chemistry
- IB Environmental Systems and Societies
- Life Sciences
- Microbiology
- Other
- Science
- Study Skills
- Study Skills and Organization
What is your teaching philosophy?
My teaching philosophy is to use questions and discussion to assess a student's current comfort level with the material, and then use participatory examples, metaphors and concepts to help them move forward by building on their existing understanding. While I sometimes recommend memory-based tools for remembering names or concepts, I de-emphasize memorization as a learning tool and focus on concepts and visuals. All students learn best in different ways, and I think it's critical for teachers and tutors to be flexible in how material is presented and questions are answered.
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I typically will first explore their difficulties with the material, their objectives in the short- and long-term (as appropriate), and, if possible, learn a bit about their preferred learning style. Then we can form a plan for moving forward together.