Math to the People

SUMMARY:

• 7 terms experience teaching (full course responsibility) at the post-secondary level
• 5 years of Teaching Assistant experience in mathematics at the university level
• 10+ years part-time and 2.5 years full-time tutoring experience
• M.Sc. in Mathematics
• completed coursework in Provincial Instructor Diploma Program; will receive diploma in 2014
• experience teaching a variety of mathematics courses from college algebra to calculus
• won awards for teaching, research, and academics
• native speaker of Canadian English

TEACHING SKILLS:

• ability to explain complicated concepts in both mathematical and ordinary language
• excellent oral and written communications skills
• use of interactive learning activities; ability to encourage students to participate actively
• knowledge and experience of various techniques for creating intrinsic motivation in students
• passion for turning struggling students into competent students
• ability to teach in either lecture-based or problem-based course formats
• awareness and observation of students’ individual strengths, difficulties, and needs
• individualization of instruction to meet individual students’ needs and learning styles
• ability to motivate and support students with exceptional difficulty learning mathematics
• creativity required to make math interesting, exciting, and fun
• enthusiasm for mathematics which inspires students to excel
• ability to keep course organized, and manage time while teaching
• ability to “think on my feet” to respond to students’ questions
• creation of reliable, valid, and fair tests and other assessments
• use of interactive computer programs and other technological aids to support instruction
• design and creation of class websites, forums, and wikis to enrich learning
• ability to develop and implement curriculum
• ability to support students with non-intellectual issues such as math anxiety

WORK EXPERIENCE:

University of the Fraser Valley (9/2012 – present, Abbotsford, BC)

• sessional instructor position; Mathematics and Statistics department
• taught courses in basic algebra and functions, precalculus, and calculus
• helped many students who were struggling succeed and excel
• experience using an interactive, accessible, learner-focused teaching style
• acquired a reputation among students as an excellent teacher
• experience using various forms of technology in and out of the classroom

Edutism Education Corp. (1/2013 – present, Vancouver, BC)

• content developer; developing materials for online calculus courses
• experience breaking down material into modules to make it easier to learn
• experience working with various forms of teaching technology 

Thompson Rivers University (6/2012 – 8/2012, Kamloops, BC)

• sessional instructor; University Preparation department
• taught precalculus upgrading course

Champlain Regional College (6/2009 – 7/2011, St.-Lambert, Quebec)

• instructor; Mathematics department
• taught linear algebra and calculus courses to science and commerce students

Self-employed Tutoring 1998 – present (Montreal, Quebec & Vancouver, BC)

• started tutoring part-time in 1998, tutoring full-time between 1/2010 and 6/2012
• founded and operated tutoring business
• worked with diverse youth and adult students with high school to university courses
• extensive experience working with students with difficulty learning mathematics
• adapted my teaching to the needs and pace of each particular student

McGill University (1/2007 – 12/2008, Montreal, Quebec)

• teaching assistant; Mathematics and Statistics department
• taught tutorial sections of first- and second-year courses in calculus and algebra
• won award for excellence as a TA

Queen’ University (1/2004 – 4/2006, Kingston, Ontario)

• teaching assistant; Mathematics and Statistics department
• taught tutorial sections of linear algebra course

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

Provincial Instructor Diploma Program (4/2011 – present)

• School of Instructor Education, Vancouver Community College
• program designed to help instructors in various institutions become better at teaching

• completed all courses required for diploma; plan to complete Capstone Project in winter 2014
• learning about instructional strategies, practical classroom skills, evaluation of learning, etc.
• new knowledge about education has inspired me to improve my teaching methods

M.Sc. (Pure Mathematics) (graduated 2/2009)

• McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
• thesis topic: foundations of mathematics and algebraic set theory
• supported by a Canada Graduate Scholarship

B.A. (Honours: Mathematics and Philosophy) (graduated 6/2006)

• Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario
• Prince of Wales Prize (honourable mention) – faculty-wide academic award
• supported by a Chancellor’s Scholarship
• exposed to many excellent teachers whom I have aspired to emulate