Lowe STEM Tutoring
About
While in graduate school, I pursued additional STEM educational training through the Professional Development Program (PDP) held by the Institute of Science and Engineering Educators (ISEE) at UCSC. Through this program, I learned and implemented inquiry-style teaching methods that emphasize depth of scientific concepts, through mirroring authentic research and incorporating inclusion principles into the classroom. I think it is important to ground the scientific concepts in ‘why this matters’ and make STEM learning fun and a rewarding experience for learners. During my time a teaching assistant at UCSC, the Ocean Sciences Department recognized my effectiveness and named me 'best teaching assistant' one year.
My favorite part of teaching is the ‘click’ moment, when a student that is struggling to understand a concept finally gets it, and is able to describe the material / do the problem in his/her own way. I noticed dramatic improvement in many of my student’s math skills and scientific understanding, thereby contributing a few bricks towards building a learner’s STEM identity and confidence. I enjoy working with students individually and in small groups and seeing dramatic improvement in their math skills and STEM confidence.
Highlights
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I enjoy working with students one-on-one or in small groups. I especially enjoy helping students through their homework - I never do the problems for them, but will walk them through a problem and help them grow through the assignment.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
PhD in Ocean Sciences from University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)
Certificiate in Inclusive Inquiry STEM Education from the Institute for Science and Engineering Educators (UCSC)
Teaching Assistant 6x at UCSC in classes: the Oceans (introductory science class), Fundamentals of Climate (statistics and science course), and Our Changing Planet (statistics and science course)
B.S. Marine Science with minors in Applied-Mathematics and Physics from Coastal Carolina University (CCU)
How did you get started teaching?
As a college student, I was a teaching assistant for a math course and Marine Chemistry. Then, as a graduate student, I was a teaching assistant 6x for large lecture classes.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have mostly worked with college students at UCSC and CCU, incoming transfer students from community college, and college students in Hawaii preparing for STEM internships.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Colorado ski season!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
STEM fields have a broad range of expertise. For upper level students (college and high school), I think it is important to make sure the teacher has expertise in the subfield you are interested in. There are many transferable skills (math, stats, coding), but there is also a lot of specialty.