Experience Summary
I have taught at three universities (The University of Michigan, Henry Ford Community College, and Lawrence Technological University) and tutored formally at two (Henry Ford Community College and Georgia Perimeter College). I have also tutored as an independent tutor, giving me a career of 18 years as an educator. I have also maintained a career as a computer software developer, doing contract work in several cities in the United States, as well as Torino, Italy, and Durban, South Africa. In addition to the courses shown in my profile, I have taught various computer programming languages, including C, FORTRAN, C++, PL/I,and COBOL.
Teaching Style
As a teacher and tutor, I focus on developing conceptual knowledge (rather than memorization), and structured study methods, problem-solving techniques, and test-taking skills,including post-test analyses of mistakes as a learning tool. I encourage the student to develop skills appropriate not only to the discipline, but to his or her own personal learning style. I like to use on-line interactive tutorials, especially with students who are highly visual or hands-on learners. At the same time, as a tutor,I like to interact with the student's instructor (and, where appropriate, the parents) to best serve his or her needs.
My Hobbies
I am an active poet, and I am in the process of a writing a highly multidisciplinary book on the common foundation of science, the arts, and spirituality. I also enjoy composing music. When the opportunity presents itself, I love to play bridge. I also enjoy concerts, museums, and plays.
Other Comments
I have a particular concern with the large number of low-income students who cannot afford expensive tutors or even more expensive agencies that prepare them for tests such as the ACT, the SAT, and the LSAT. I am willing to work at a lower rate for such students as my way of "paying forward" for the money that has been spent on me by the people of America.
| Algebra |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Having taught remedial arithmetic and prealgebra, I am very experienced at helping students make the transition to the greater abstractness of algebra and the greater difficulties of its story problems. I also teach study skills to lay the groundwork for future courses. |
| Algebra I |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| Having taught remedial arithmetic and prealgebra, I am very experienced at helping students make the transition to the greater abstractness of algebra and the greater difficulties of its story problems. I also teach study skills to lay the groundwork for future courses. |
| Algebra II |
 This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| I am very experienced with all levels of algebra, and focus on developing study and test-taking skills in addition to developing structured problem-solving techniques to assist the student in developing high proficiency in Algebra II and up0. |
| Algebra III |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I am quite experienced with all levels of albebra up to, and including, moderns algebra. I focus on teaching my students math-specific learning and test-taking skills as well as structured problem-solving methods to smip0lify tha process of learning new techniques. |
| Biology |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have a Ph.D. in this area, with concentration on ecology, evolution, and animal behavior. I have participated in the conduct of the basic two-semester sequence at the college level numerous times, and I have taught and tutored ecology,evolution, genetics, and other courses. I have tutored many students in various areas, including physiology. I focus on the basic concepts uniting the various areas of biology. |
| Calculus I |
This is one of my top subjects!
Proficiency: Expert
|
| I have taught Calculus I at least 4 times and tutored numerous students over the years. My graduate study of analysis allows me to bring a great deal of geometric insight into teaching the underlying concepts differentiation and integration. I utilize on-line tutorials whenever possible in order to help students visualize the operations of differentiation and integration. I also help students develop structured study and test-taking skills that will prove useful in succeeding courses. |
| Calculus II |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I use structured study and problem-solving techniques to help the student master the different ways of integrating. I help the student learn to recognize which techniques are appropriate to which kinds of integrals, and spend a fair amount of time showing the student how to set up and solve various story problems. I also help the student prepare for exams and go over the results afterward. |
| College Algebra |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have taught college algebra and tutored many students, helping them learn structured problem-solving techniques and develop understanding of the concepts. I can help the more gifted student see how college algebra generalizes, and give them guideposts to further learning. |
| Genetics |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have not only taken several courses in genetics (including independent study of the genetics of development), but I have taught a basic genetics course. I have also tutored many students in various areas of genetics. |
| Geometry |
Proficiency: I know the basics
|
| I have taught Euclidean geometry, and I am also familiar with related subjects, such as non-Euclidean geometry and topology. I focus on teaching proofs and derivations, and teach structured problem-solving techniques specific to the area. If possible, I like to use Geometer's Sketchpad to work with students in learning to visualize geometric relationships. |
| Homework Help |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I am familiar with a wide range of subjects, and I have studied appropriate problem-solving methods in many disciplines, including mathematics, physics, biology, and English. I can show the student how to develop problem-solving techniques that will prepare him or her for later courses in their area. |
| Life Science |
|
| With my Ph.D. in biology (including evolution,historical geology, genetics, and physiology), I am equipped to relate the basics of life science to students, along with an introduction to the logic and methods of science as a whole. |
| Logic |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have taught classical logic, and I also have studied the logic of the scientific method in some detail. I emphasize both classical syllogisms and the philosophy of effective arguments. |
| Math |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I am a highly interdisciplinary individual, and I not only teach students structured problem-solving techniques, but I work to develop story problems that non-mathematically gifted students can relate to. I am very concerned in helping my students see the relevance of mathematical thinking to their lives. |
| Physics |
Proficiency: I know the basics
|
| I was a physics minor as an undergraduate, and took numerous courses in basic physics, including a course in special relativity and the basics of quantum mechanics. I also took courses in applied physics, including thermodynamics, strength of materials, and statics. I can therefore show many of the applications of physics as well as teaching the fundamentals. I have taught physics at the college level, albeit only once for each of the first two semester. However, I have also tutored any number of physics students. |
| Pre-Algebra |
Proficiency: Expert
|
| I have taught courses in remedial arithmetic that served as pre-algebra courses. I am familiar with many of the problems students have in such courses, due in part to years of experience tutoring such students as well as teaching them in class. I teach structured study and problem-solving techniques, as well as test-taking skills. |
| Pre-Calculus |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| Having taught both the algebra courses preceding these courses and the calculus courses that follow, I am quite familiar with the development of the geometrical insights that need to be developed in the student. I thus focus on developing those concepts as well as teaching structured methods of problem-solving. |
| Science |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have a very broad background in science -- I have taken courses in earth science, meteorology, oceanography, physics, chemistry, biology, genetics, population genetics, evolution, ecology, environmental physiclogy, botany, entomology (biology of insects), and computer science. Thus I can successfully work with students in virtually any introductory course. |
| Statistics |
Proficiency: I know the basics
|
| I have taught one course in statistics and tutored at least 15 students intensively in various areas of statistics. I have used statistics in my own research activities. I teach structured problem-solving techniques as aides to learning the algorithms used in statistical analysis. |
| Study Skills |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have made an extensive study of proper study and test-taking skills methods specific to mathematics and science courses, and I am experienced in teaching writing skills for technical and scientific reports. I teach these methods to my students the techniques appropriate for the particular disci0oine I am tutoring inl |
| Trigonometry |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| While I have not taught a formal course in trigonometry, I have, in the course of tutoring many students, have developed the knowledge of how to present the subject to students and help them learn the various identities and derivations, along with the associated problem-solving techniques. I also teach students structured methods of studying and solving problems. |
| Writing Skills |
Proficiency: Experienced
|
| I have taught writing at the college level, specifically report-writing for science courses. I have also taken several courses in creative writing, and have participated in critique groups for over three years. I have tutored many students idividually, and I am currently in the process of writing a book. |