About
I graduated from the University of California San Diego and got my MS degree in Computer Engineering in Jun. 2020. I was a teaching assistant for many undergraduate courses including Calculus, Linear Algebra, Intro to Python, Intro to robotics, Machine Learning and AI, etc. I enjoy helping students to truly understand the intuition behind problem concepts so that they can solve similar problems themselves.
Certification: Software Engineering Essentials, Certified Scrum Master, Certified Associate Project Manager.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhichenzhang/
Highlights
Reviews
Arnold Y.
Narayan S.
Anton Q.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First, I try to understand the student's background by discussing school, life, short and long term goals, etc.
Second, I learn about what the student is struggling with, the student's strengths and weaknesses. I will then find out the root cause of the problem.
Last but not the least, I tackle the problem together with the student. To me, understanding the intuition behind the problem and concepts is very important. That is one of my key principal when it comes to teaching, which is understanding the intuition behind concepts so that the students will be able to solve similar problems on their own in the future.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
BS degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Military Institute. (GPA 3.98/4.0)
MS degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California San Diego.
Math, Physics, EE, and Mandarin Group Study Session facilitator from 2016-2018.
Math, EE teaching assistant 2018-2020.
How did you get started teaching?
I always enjoy sharing my knowledge especially the way I learn the material with other students or peers. Therefore, I started teaching when I was at Virginia Military Institute and became a Group Study Session facilitator for multiple subjects including Math, Physics, Mandarin, EE, etc. The teaching assistant experience improved my interest in being a tutor because I got a 100% positive rating from 170 students for a calculus course in the Winter quarter of 2020, which impressed the department head.
What types of students have you worked with?
Subject-wise: engineering, math, physics, economics major students, etc.
Personality-wise: over-confident students, under-confident students, shy students who don't like to ask questions, and outgoing students who raise their hands every time I ask a question in lectures.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I got a 100% positive rating from 170 students for a calculus course in the Winter quarter of 2020, which impressed the department head.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Looking for a teacher who can help you solve a series of similar problems and help you with your long-term goal. Many tutors or teachers they only solve the problems students have questions with and do not focus on helping the students to solve similar problems. Maximizing the teaching efficiency to best suit the students' learning curve is the key to help students succeed.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Am I able to try to solve it myself? Have I tried my best?
Have I read the textbook and understand the sample problems provided by the textbook?
What is my short-term goal? Do I need an A for the course? or do I just need to finish this homework to pass?
What is my long-term goal? Do I want to be an engineer to solve complex real-world problems? Or do I want to be a researcher to work in academia?