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Daniel

Certified Tutor

My passion for science and teaching others has led me around the world- medical internships in West Africa, on Navajo Reservations, and at top tier medical institutions across the United States. In learning, and in science particularly, understanding the 'how' is equally as important as understanding the 'why'. My teaching methods will prepare you not only for test day, but leave you with an intrinsic understanding of material necessary to build future knowledge on. By understanding how you learn best, I will mold a personalized curriculum around your strengths and weaknesses to make you the best learner possible! I enjoy teaching through a lens that turn the problems on paper into a practical and real world understanding of the material.

In pursuit of knowledge, I attended Augustana College graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Biochemistry, and Pre-Medical Studies. I then earned a seat at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio where I graduated summa cum laude with a Masters of Science in Physiology and Clinical Neuroscience. During my graduate program my research was recognized as first in class, achieved Honors notations during clinical rotations, and earned top scores on my medical physiology board examinations. I recently took the MCAT where I received competitive scores and I’m currently applying to medical school.

In my free time I enjoy looking after my salt aquarium- full of fish, coral, and anemone. I also enjoy scuba diving and I’m looking forward to gaining advanced certifications this summer! And no, I don’t scuba dive in my aquarium (but that would be awesome!).

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Daniel’s Qualifications
Education & Certification

Undergraduate Degree: Augustana College - Bachelors, Biology, Biochemistry, Pre-Med

Graduate Degree: Case Western Reserve University - Masters, Physiology, Pathophysiology, AOC: Neurophysiology

Test Scores
ACT Reading: 34
Hobbies

Salt aquariums, band/music, reading, medicine, running

Tutoring Subjects
10th Grade
10th Grade Math
10th Grade Reading
10th Grade Writing
11th Grade
11th Grade Math
11th Grade Reading
11th Grade Writing
12th Grade
12th Grade Math
12th Grade Reading
12th Grade Writing
1st Grade Math
2nd Grade Math
3rd Grade Math
3rd Grade Science
4th Grade Math
4th Grade Science
5th Grade Math
5th Grade Science
6th Grade Math
6th Grade Science
7th Grade Math
7th Grade Science
8th Grade Math
8th Grade Science
9th Grade Math
Adult Literacy
Advanced Placement Prep
Anatomy
Anatomy & Physiology
AP Biology
Biochemistry
Biology
Biomechanics
Cardiology
Cell Biology
Chemistry
Clarinet
CLEP Biology
CLEP Chemistry
College Biology
College Chemistry
Developmental Biology
Elementary School Math
Elementary School Science
Evolutionary Biology
General Biology
General Chemistry
High School
High School Biology
High School Chemistry
High School English
High School Writing
Intermediate Algebra
Laboratory
Life Sciences
Linear Algebra
Medical Terminology
Middle School Science
Molecular Biology
Neurobiology
Nutrition
Other
PCAT Biology
Physical Science
Science
Sociology
Summer
Test Prep
Zoology
What is your teaching philosophy?

My teaching philosophy is that the student comes first. Striving to understand how a student learns best, and taking advantages of different modalities of learning, ensures a legitimate understanding of instructed material. It is far more powerful to understand the logic and reasoning behind a mathematical equation or concept than discretely memorizing.

What might you do in a typical first session with a student?

Within the first session of the tutoring session, I feel it is my responsibility to create a comfortable learning environment. I want the student to feel free to ask any questions regarding the material- no matter how elementary it may be. Building a foundation of trust, baseline achievement, and security within the student-tutor relationship are all priorities during the first lesson.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

As an undergraduate, I took the VARK test. Created to help students understand what modalities of learning foster the greatest understanding of content. Visual, hands on, textual, or auditory. I would encourage a student to be an independent learner by taking advantage of the manner in which they learn best.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

Creating goals is an important tool for motivation. I believe setting realistic goals and encouragement when goals are reached are powerful means of motivation and self-confidence enhancement.

If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?

When I am faced with difficult concepts, I often try to relate that concept to something that is already familiar with me. I may understand how a sponge already full of water may not hold any more water, no matter how much I add to it- in this manner I can relate to the concept of saturation, unsaturation, and super-saturation.

How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?

As one who personally had a difficult time with reading comprehension during my time in early academia, I find it helpful to pause and recap/summarize after each paragraph. At the conclusion of the passage, it is often helpful to recall the summary you made for yourself at each paragraph. I used this same technique while taking the MCAT verbal reasoning section.

What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?

I have found that relating to a student's interests and prior knowledge significantly helps in the development of understanding of new concepts. Learning how a student learns and molding your teaching style around his/her learning style yields rewarding results.

How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?

Engaging students in subjects they are struggling in is always a difficult situation. Consistent affirmation, encouragement, and assurance goes a long way.

What techniques would you use to be sure that a student understands the material?

A professor of mine mentioned that if you can speak for 5 minutes on a subject without stopping, you know enough for a quiz. While this may have been his particular technique, gauging a student's understanding through oral, written, and diagrammatic means are often most revealing.

How do you build a student's confidence in a subject?

Confidence stems from consistency. If a student is able to consistently grasp concepts and answer questions correctly, a confidence on the subject is established. Building the confidence in the first place relies on persistent building to more difficult questions, starting at a foundational level.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

Oftentimes, a seasoned student will know what their needs are. Outright asking the student their goals and expectations of tutoring sessions may reveal their needs. Evaluating these needs is also dependent on the student- where do they feel they need help and how are they examined?

How do you adapt your tutoring to the student's needs?

As I have previously mentioned, I am a firm believer in the VARK evaluation of learning styles. Adapting my tutoring sessions to a student’s needs- whether it be creating diagrams, reviewing concepts in a simpler or more relatable manner, or encouraging alternative resources, I am able and ready to adapt.

What types of materials do you typically use during a tutoring session?

I am partial to using metaphors, real life examples, as well as drawing figures or diagrams to illustrate particular concepts. Any and all media available!