Herman Wong Rio Hondo College Employment Application Math Instructor #10-37 Supplemental Questionnaire, Items #4-7 4.

Students in developmental math courses often have a hard time grasping the core concepts and being versatile in their applications. For example, I often see students do homework following the exact methods as the examples given in the book without reading the chapter explaining the concept. In addition, they often question the necessity of solving certain problems using a particular method, or how the teaching at hand is needed for their future academic career/development. In fact, the students are right that specific problems assigned in class will not be often seen in real life, but the fundamental logical and geometrical aspects of the concept is important and relevant if they learn to recognize when and how to apply them in their future careers. I would use a bulk of my teaching to explain the concept in class and then supplement it using examples that they can relate to. I think it is important to show more difficult problems in class, encourage student questions, elicit their problem areas from those questions, and solve them in class so they will feel more confident solving the easier problems by themselves. To address students tendency to solve problems using only the method they know, the best solution is to show students that how they could be wrong when they limit themselves to few methods for problem solving. From my experience as a student, learning from ones mistakes is the most effective way to ingrain concepts in ones mind. To address the students curiosity of the necessity of learning such material for their future academic paths, I think it is best to explain how knowledge in future courses build upon fundamentals from the course they are attending now. 5. From my experience as a student and teaching assistant, the teaching method I favor most is the traditional lecturing concepts/theory with examples explaining the theory to enhance student learning. I feel examples are a necessity to complement the lectures to aid students to learn since solving examples engages the students into a collaborative learning experience with instructor and other fellow students. Such discussions have reciprocating effects as the teachers can learn from students about their weaknesses and problem areas, as well as how they can amend their teaching styles to facilitate student learning. In addition to the traditional pedagogical method, use of computer software packages to enhance learning experience is another complementary teaching tool. For example, using MatLab to teach linear algebra and differential equations by having students complete computer exercises is a great method for them to attain the math concepts at work. Aside from teaching, I will encourage students to put in their effort into learning as I think that students motivation to learn is the most important factor in the learning process.

6. As a teaching assistant, I often have the advantage of working with students in small groups and recognizing obstacles hindering their understanding more so than professors teaching to a class of two hundred students. I realize that sometimes teachers skip the minor details thinking that students know it already, but in fact, the students need to be reminded of exactly those little things for the bigger picture to come together. As a teaching assistant, I was particularly successful at filling in the details of the derivations and by drawing concepts and examples that they were familiar with. I loved seeing students light up as they expressed that finally everything clicked together. Thats when I know that theyve grasped the bigger picture and will have more confidence in approaching the material being taught. 7. For many, community college is a chance to shine as students while achieving their goals. A community college is where people of differing socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds come together, sharing a common goal to further their career through course enrichment and higher education. For some, it is an important turning point before they could pursue a higher degree. For others, it could be a struggle while they learn to speak English and adapt to the American lifestyle at the same time. In any case, a college education is invaluable to every student. As a teaching assistant as UCSD, I had the opportunity to teach students from diverse backgrounds with differing levels of academic preparations. From teaching the completely uninterested to the highly motivated, the nervous, and the unprepared to the confident and knowledgeable students, I have learned to be patient, accommodating, encouraging yet impartial towards each and every student. As a teacher, not only do I want to find my teaching necessary and applicable to students future careers, it is also a goal of mine to motivate an endless learning attitude because of learning is a life-long endeavor.