Oisaemi

Certified Tutor

I have a doctorate in Environmental Science (Environmental and Analytical Chemistry) and a Masters in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Venda, South Africa and Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria respectively. A long time ago, I came across this quote: 'Given equal opportunities, every learner is a potential achiever'. This quote and the learning theory, constructivism, sums up my teaching philosophy. I believe that active participation, collaborative learning, and critical thinking are vital for effective learning. To achieve this, I create a student-centred learning environment where students are given individualized support. To have active participation, every learner needs to have a good grasp of concepts. That way, all learners will be able to collaborate. This can only be achieved in an inclusive environment, that is, all barriers to learning must be removed.
I had the opportunity to teach chemistry to secondary school students in a rural community. After interacting with them, I saw they were lagging and worked with them to cover the syllabus. Working with these students taught me some great lessons one of which is that no two children are the same and as such, they learn differently. I gave ungraded tests, using past questions, to the students to help judge their level of understanding and identify their areas of weakness. Based on this, I tailored my teaching approach to suit each student's unique learning style and provided additional resources. These included extra practice problems, simplified explanations of complex concepts, making use of relatable examples, and individualized guidance during practical lessons. Then, with their consent and that of their parents, I introduced after-school lessons focused entirely on solving past examination questions in chemistry. Through these after-school lessons, I was able to provide more personalized attention and support to each student and at the same time, assess their progress. It also helped them not only to understand the subject matter but also to gain the confidence they needed to excel in their exams. As a result, the students showed significant improvement, with many achieving grades above their expectations.

I love to teach Chemistry because I love to see the expression on the faces of children when they understand previously difficult concepts. I also love to take long walks as it tends to clear my head and help me appreciate nature.