Teaching Statement
Teaching Experience
My first experience teaching in classroom was during my senior year in college, I started learning the dynamics of teaching and learning as a volunteer chemistry tutor. As I helped other student’s puzzles over basic concept of chemistry, I gained tremendous amount of knowledge in an attempt to answer questions evolving from the discussion. That experience actually helped me to understand the teaching and learning are inseparable.
Teaching Assistant: After graduating college, I took a position as a teaching assistant at university of Colombo where I taught general chemistry and analytical chemistry labs. I was appointed as a tutor for physical chemistry, and General chemistry. In 2008, I have joined the …show more content…
The key is to start from the known to unknown and make connection to day-to day chemical related events. In the process I developed the ability to present complex chemical process in a simple logical manner that helps students make connection between science and “real life”.
I was satisfied with my teaching methods until I began my PhD program at Texas Tech University (TTU). From the graduate classes, I became aware of the importance of crating intellectually stimulating classroom environment. At Texas Tech University I was a teaching assistant for seven semesters General Chemistry Lab (CHEM 1108, 90 students/semester), for one semester I was given the responsibility to teach supplementary course for general chemistry due to my excellent teaching record and also worked as a graduate part time instructor (CHEM1117,80 students), for two …show more content…
As a graduate student in Dr. Krempner’s group at TTU I was given the opportunity to supervise few senior chemistry major students as well as two welch scholars. These mentoring Duties have mainly included guiding them to synthesize different ligands for main group metals. Isolation, purification and characterization the material. I’m currently working as a post-doctoral associate in Dr.Quitevis’s group and involved in mentoring two undergraduates in synthesis of ionic liquids and cellulose dissolution. I’m also working closely with two graduate students with their projects. I always encourage independent thinking and analytical reasoning to augment problem solving. I enjoy working closely with students to motivate them to intellectually develop their potential as an independent scientist. It was comfortably challenge themselves. Encouraging students to question basic concepts in textbooks as related to real life meaningful learning. I have found that senior undergraduate students learn better when they are challenged with problems that to their research interests, they are more fascinated with theoretical concepts that connect to their practical experience. I seek to motivate and inspire students to cultivate inquisitive attitude as they leave my classroom or the laboratory
Teaching Experience
My first experience teaching in classroom was during my senior year in college, I started learning the dynamics of teaching and learning as a volunteer chemistry tutor. As I helped other student’s puzzles over basic concept of chemistry, I gained tremendous amount of knowledge in an attempt to answer questions evolving from the discussion. That experience actually helped me to understand the teaching and learning are inseparable.
Teaching Assistant: After graduating college, I took a position as a teaching assistant at university of Colombo where I taught general chemistry and analytical chemistry labs. I was appointed as a tutor for physical chemistry, and General chemistry. In 2008, I have joined the …show more content…
The key is to start from the known to unknown and make connection to day-to day chemical related events. In the process I developed the ability to present complex chemical process in a simple logical manner that helps students make connection between science and “real life”.
I was satisfied with my teaching methods until I began my PhD program at Texas Tech University (TTU). From the graduate classes, I became aware of the importance of crating intellectually stimulating classroom environment. At Texas Tech University I was a teaching assistant for seven semesters General Chemistry Lab (CHEM 1108, 90 students/semester), for one semester I was given the responsibility to teach supplementary course for general chemistry due to my excellent teaching record and also worked as a graduate part time instructor (CHEM1117,80 students), for two …show more content…
As a graduate student in Dr. Krempner’s group at TTU I was given the opportunity to supervise few senior chemistry major students as well as two welch scholars. These mentoring Duties have mainly included guiding them to synthesize different ligands for main group metals. Isolation, purification and characterization the material. I’m currently working as a post-doctoral associate in Dr.Quitevis’s group and involved in mentoring two undergraduates in synthesis of ionic liquids and cellulose dissolution. I’m also working closely with two graduate students with their projects. I always encourage independent thinking and analytical reasoning to augment problem solving. I enjoy working closely with students to motivate them to intellectually develop their potential as an independent scientist. It was comfortably challenge themselves. Encouraging students to question basic concepts in textbooks as related to real life meaningful learning. I have found that senior undergraduate students learn better when they are challenged with problems that to their research interests, they are more fascinated with theoretical concepts that connect to their practical experience. I seek to motivate and inspire students to cultivate inquisitive attitude as they leave my classroom or the laboratory