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Teaching is not a discrete activity, but an integral part of who we are. While teaching includes classroom instruction, it extends beyond those confines to outside interaction through office hours and hands-on experiece in research laboratories.
Teaching Philsophy (PDF) (work in progress)
Instructor for CMSC250 — Discrete Structures (Summer 2007)
Although not a PhD requirement, because I firmly believe teaching is important, I actively sought for an opportunity to teach a computer science class. I was given the opportunity to teach this course. More details about this course are listed below:
- An eight-week, four credit-hour course that met every day for one and a half hours
- Course covered core computer science materials, such as: propositional logic, predicate calculus, elementary number theory and proofs, summations, recurrences, mathematical induction, set theory, counting and combinations, functions, the pigeonhole principle, and relations (reflexivity, symmetry, transitivity, etc.)
- Composed 13 homework assignments, five quizzes, and three exams (including the final) by creating original problems, using the book, and modifying previous instructors materials
- Used the textbook Discrete Mathematics with Applications, third edition, Susanna Epp, Brooks/Cole — Thomas Learning, 2004, ISBN 0-534-35945
- Received positive instructor evaluations from the students (despite it being a hard class for many of them)
Teaching Assistant (2001-2003)
Was a teaching assistant (TA) for Introduction to User Interfaces and Advanced User Interface courses
- Individually helped students with difficult programming and user interface concepts
- Advised instructor about the development of projects and their specifications
- Graded programming projects
Language Teaching (1998-1999)
Taught classes in a rolling, eight-week, intensive Portuguese language course to volunteer missionaries who would go to Brazil or Portugal for two years.
- Prepared 10 (±2) students every eight weeks to teach, live and interact in the Portuguese language
- Prepared and presented lessons in Portuguese grammar, vocabulary and usage
- Taught principles on how to effectively teach principles in Portuguese
- Gave individual assistance to those who had more difficulty with the language
- Evaluated and provided feedback to other instructors
- One of few asked to continue teaching after most of this Portuguese program was moved to Brazil
Tutoring
- Through the years I have had several opportunities to tutor people whether it be siblings, extended family, friends and beyond
- Currently I am working with an individual twice a week to prepare to pass the Praxis exam
Misc Teaching
- Invited Lecturer: Mobile Computing (LBSC 698, February 21, 2007)
- Presented concepts and led discussions on papers related to several graduate classes
- In various capacities through church service, I have taught numerous youth and adults
While working with Allison Druin, we had the good fortune of having several interns. I was assigned to work and mentor these interns. Through working with the individuals below, I learned to adjust assignments based on capabilities, and perhaps most saliently, through experience learned how I may better mentor individuals in the future. As can be seen, these interns came throughout the same year, and so I was learning to manage several interns at the same time. In retrospect, I realize there were many things I would do differently that would better further the development of the interns as well as the research. In all though, I feel the interns understood they were respected and relied upon to fulfill important tasks. They also gained beneficial base knowledge that will help them as they go forward in their own chosen careers.
Kevin McGehee — High School Intern (Summer 2006, Senior Project)
Kevin and I worked closely during the summer to develop Mobile Storyteller, a prototype which was used the next year in several design sessions, including one at Fort McHenry National Park. Kevin learned new concepts quickly and programmed well, so we were able to collaborate well and achieve a high-functioning prototype at a rapid pace. He wrote a final report for his senior paper.
Juliette Taillandier — Undergraduate International Exchange Student from Ecole D'Ingenieurs in France (Fall Semester 2006)
In her short stay, she not only helped with practical "people-power" support needed for Kidsteam activities, but she also worked on sound recording and playing code for both desktop and mobile device implementations. She also began investigations into using infrared communication for near-field collaborative interactions. She wrote a final report summarizing her experience.
Bobby Owolabi — Undergraduate Research (2006-2007)
Worked with Juliette on strengthening the code that recorded and played sounds on mobile devices. He also did some background work on tyring to think about synchronization mechanisms between the devices.
Shaili Desai — Graduate Research Assistant (2006-2007)
Originally Shaili helped out with coding, but migrated towards being more of a support for completing tasks in preparation for regular Kidsteam activities.
Last Updated: 11/24/2008 08:28 AM