Andrew Cooper-Sansone
About
I'm passionate about helping students to truly understand the material so that they can succeed on their own. To me, tutoring is about fostering the student's own curiosity and natural intelligence. I'm here to listen and learn with you!
Subjects: Biology, chemistry, college algebra, statistics, psychology, neuroscience, writing, and editing.
LinkedIn: Andrew Cooper-Sansone - University of Colorado Boulder | LinkedIn.
Background: My first experience with tutoring was in college, where I specialized in subjects including biology, organic chemistry, college algebra, writing, neuroscience, and psychology. There I worked for a federally funded organization called TRIO, which aimed at helping first generation college students, as well as those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Since graduating in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in molecular biology, I've worked part time in a neuroscience laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder where one of my major repsonsiblities is teaching new undergraduate volunteers everything from crash courses in neurobiology to working with animals to operating complicated laboratory machinery. I love this part of my job because I'm able to interact with students eager to learn, and I often find myself learning from them as well.
In addition to my background in science and math, I'm a freelance writer and currently pursuing a master's degree in journalism from the Univeristy of Colorado Boulder. I'm now help students with grammar, college essay writing, expository writing, scientific and technical writing, academic writing, journalism, and editing.
Tutoring Certification: Level II Tutor Certification from the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA)
Examples of my writing can be found at the following:
Biology and Life | Biology, psychology, ethics, and everyday life.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
Overall Approach: My goal with new students is to listen so I can understand where they are having difficulty. I want to understand how they're thinking about the concept or problem. I always prefer to help students find the answers on their own because I believe this fosters much more robust learning than simply giving them the answer.
Typical Process: I start by asking general questions, such as, "What material are you confident that you understand, and what is difficult or doesn't make sense?" I then typically ask the student to explain what he or she knows so that we can start to figure out what precisely is giving him or her trouble.
Once we've defined the major gaps in understanding, we then try to fill them in together. Depending on the nature of the student's challenges, I start by either explaining the underlying principle or by working through a problem together.
I typically conclude a session by asking students to explain to me what they learned and, if necessary, what they might still be having difficulty with. This is helpful to both of us because they are able to formulate their own learning goals in their own minds and I'm able to begin to set an agenda for our next session.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Education:
- Bachelor's degree (Summa Cum Laude) in cellular and molecular biology from Fort Lewis College in Colorado. I was a professional peer tutor during my time here.
- Pursuing a master's degree in journalism from the University of Colorado Boulder.