What is your teaching philosophy?

I believe that to be an effective teacher, it is vital to have the respect of your students. To achieve this, it is necessary to be completely prepared for each teaching session and to be alert to the needs of the students. Sometimes a student will need more than just plain subject teaching. I feel it is vital to treat students equally and to be firm but fair; they need to be aware that the teacher is concerned for their welfare and wants them to achieve to the best of their abilities. This concern is reflected in how a teacher's interaction with the students is conducted.

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

During a first session I will go through an orientation to the General Chemistry Course and complete a detailed discussion of the syllabus before starting on the fundamental concepts of general chemistry.

How can you help a student become an independent learner?

In addition to helping students learn course content, I think it is a teacher’s role to help students develop broader skills that are important in all fields and future careers. These skills include oral and written communication, critical thinking, and consideration of issues from multiple viewpoints. I use discussion sections for student presentations of homework problems in order to build student confidence, improve oral communication skills, and instill a “class spirit” toward learning the course material. The laboratory curriculum I have developed includes a strong emphasis on writing skills and substantive discussion, along with several opportunities for oral presentations.

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

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

I believe it imperative to offer constructive feedback on all assigned work so that students may assess their progress and improve their learning. I strive to be available as a resource for questions about course content or concerns on any other issues that may otherwise affect a student.

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

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

While a teacher can distribute a syllabus, deliver lectures, grade exams, and assign grades, all actual learning is done by the student. Thus I view my role in the teaching/learning process not only as a “communicator,” but also as a “facilitator” and “motivator” whereby I empower and encourage students to learn. At the outset of every class, I describe where we are heading and what we can expect to learn. I welcome learners of all styles into the classroom through the use of different teaching styles and techniques in my classes (e.g., lecture, real-life applications, demonstrations, discussion, worksheets, group exercises, student presentations). I attempt to interject some of my personality into the course through enthusiasm, humor, and personal experiences. I encourage student questions during and outside of classes, and I incorporate independent projects into my courses as a means for pursuing individual student interests.

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

Developed new experiments for general chemistry laboratory using Late Nite Labs. The criteria for the selection included injecting industrial applications into the freshman chemistry laboratory, using more environment friendly and safe experiments, attempting to fill gaps missing in our current laboratory manuals and trying to include more concepts relevant to the lecture material but not covered in the laboratory.

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

I build a student’s confidence by going over the subject and solving examples using PowerPoint.

How do you evaluate a student's needs?

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

Every student is unique and tutoring should be adapted to the student's needs and preparation.

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

My materials often include PowerPoint lectures and On-Line Laboratory.

How would you help a student stay motivated?

I help a student stay motivated by not going over his/her head in my presentation and making sure the student understands the material before moving ahead.