Questions and Answers
Students asked me the following questions on a handout I gave them on the first day of class. I didn't have time to answer them all in class, so here they are...
Do we have class tutors?
We can probably arrange for a tutor to work with students from our class, but we won't have tutors in the class
Do you have an adjunct studies class?
Not for my classes this quarter
How late can we be?
I don't care too much if you're a little late, as long as you come in quietly. Students who are late a lot usually end up not doing well in the class, so keep that in mind
Can we eat in class?
No
What area of math do you like the most?
I really like the visual aspects of math. I liked Geometry in school, and still do, but I like how graphs can illustrate the same things an equation can do, and I really like that
Do you enjoy teaching math?
Of course. If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing it
Is this going to be a fairly easy class so long as I do the work?
I think 'easy' is relative. I wouldn't say any class is easy because every class requires work to be done, and it's the responsibility of the student to reach the point where they feel comfortable with the material
Do you think you're a difficult teacher?
Some students would say that and some would probably say the opposite. Because I don't curve, I often get irate emails from students at the end of the quarter, complaining about their grade, so in that sense, I guess I'm difficult. I also do give students opportunities to improve their grades, so I think I'm a fair teacher
Why do you teach math?
I was going to be an engineer, then work as an actuary, then work with a consulting firm. In the end, I started teaching as part of my grad program, and really liked it, so it turned from something to get me through grad school to a career
Do you believe your way of teaching is fun and helpful?
This is a hard question. I have fun when I teach, and I'd like to think that I'm helping students, I don't know how much fun students have though so you tell me
Besides math is there anything else you would like to teach?
I would love to teach about West African culture. So many people in the US know so little about sub-Saharan Africa, and I think it would be cool to enlighten folk
What is your educational background?
I went to elementary school at Staff School in Zaria, Nigeria
I went to 3 middle schools: Demonstration School in Zaria, Huntley Middle School in DeKalb, Illinois, and Dumbarton Middle in Towson, Maryland.
I went to Towson High School in Towson
Bachelor's from Michigan State University
Master's from Michigan State University
Started a Ph.D. at UC Berkeley
Currently working on an MBA at San Jose State University
What do you want to do with your MBA?
That's the big question these days. I'm hoping to finish it up by December, and I don't have a good answer. I've thought about teaching business classes, becoming more of an administrator at a school or college, or open a Bed and Breakfast (my secret dream for the past 10 years)
What is your nationality?
My 'nationality' is American. My ethnic background is 1/2 Ghanaian, and a mixture of English, Dutch, Irish, and other things my dad would know more about
What do you do for fun?
I haven't had much time for fun as of late. I play soccer, go the gym (which is not always fun), watch TV shows on hulu, play with my cat, and spend time with my wife
What kind of music do you listen to?
I've been listening a lot to pandora over the past few months, and it just feeds music to you, so I don't know if there is a kind of music I like. I've recently become a fan of Blossom Dearie and Rachel Yamagata, but there is nothing like some classic Motown on a Sunday afternoon
How long have you grown your hair?
The last time I cut it was August 2003. I started 'dreading' it in January 2004
Will you ever cut your hair?
I'm sure I will at some point, but I don't know when that point will be
What is your favorite football team?
To be honest, I'm not a fan of the NFL. I LOVE college football, but the only NFL game I ever watch is the Super Bowl. My favorite team is the Michigan State Spartans!
Do we have class tutors?
We can probably arrange for a tutor to work with students from our class, but we won't have tutors in the class
Do you have an adjunct studies class?
Not for my classes this quarter
How late can we be?
I don't care too much if you're a little late, as long as you come in quietly. Students who are late a lot usually end up not doing well in the class, so keep that in mind
Can we eat in class?
No
What area of math do you like the most?
I really like the visual aspects of math. I liked Geometry in school, and still do, but I like how graphs can illustrate the same things an equation can do, and I really like that
Do you enjoy teaching math?
Of course. If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing it
Is this going to be a fairly easy class so long as I do the work?
I think 'easy' is relative. I wouldn't say any class is easy because every class requires work to be done, and it's the responsibility of the student to reach the point where they feel comfortable with the material
Do you think you're a difficult teacher?
Some students would say that and some would probably say the opposite. Because I don't curve, I often get irate emails from students at the end of the quarter, complaining about their grade, so in that sense, I guess I'm difficult. I also do give students opportunities to improve their grades, so I think I'm a fair teacher
Why do you teach math?
I was going to be an engineer, then work as an actuary, then work with a consulting firm. In the end, I started teaching as part of my grad program, and really liked it, so it turned from something to get me through grad school to a career
Do you believe your way of teaching is fun and helpful?
This is a hard question. I have fun when I teach, and I'd like to think that I'm helping students, I don't know how much fun students have though so you tell me
Besides math is there anything else you would like to teach?
I would love to teach about West African culture. So many people in the US know so little about sub-Saharan Africa, and I think it would be cool to enlighten folk
What is your educational background?
I went to elementary school at Staff School in Zaria, Nigeria
I went to 3 middle schools: Demonstration School in Zaria, Huntley Middle School in DeKalb, Illinois, and Dumbarton Middle in Towson, Maryland.
I went to Towson High School in Towson
Bachelor's from Michigan State University
Master's from Michigan State University
Started a Ph.D. at UC Berkeley
Currently working on an MBA at San Jose State University
What do you want to do with your MBA?
That's the big question these days. I'm hoping to finish it up by December, and I don't have a good answer. I've thought about teaching business classes, becoming more of an administrator at a school or college, or open a Bed and Breakfast (my secret dream for the past 10 years)
What is your nationality?
My 'nationality' is American. My ethnic background is 1/2 Ghanaian, and a mixture of English, Dutch, Irish, and other things my dad would know more about
What do you do for fun?
I haven't had much time for fun as of late. I play soccer, go the gym (which is not always fun), watch TV shows on hulu, play with my cat, and spend time with my wife
What kind of music do you listen to?
I've been listening a lot to pandora over the past few months, and it just feeds music to you, so I don't know if there is a kind of music I like. I've recently become a fan of Blossom Dearie and Rachel Yamagata, but there is nothing like some classic Motown on a Sunday afternoon
How long have you grown your hair?
The last time I cut it was August 2003. I started 'dreading' it in January 2004
Will you ever cut your hair?
I'm sure I will at some point, but I don't know when that point will be
What is your favorite football team?
To be honest, I'm not a fan of the NFL. I LOVE college football, but the only NFL game I ever watch is the Super Bowl. My favorite team is the Michigan State Spartans!
posted by Jefferson at 9:10 PM
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