I have found three primary obstacles to students' learning math and physics:
1. Motivation. Many students do not see any relationship between math and physics and their lives, now or in the future. I discuss with students how math can be used to describe, understand and control the world around them from their day to day activities and decisions to the world and cosmos we live in.
2. Lack of confidence. Students have been convinced that they are incapable of learning math. I show students that mathematical concepts are logical, coherent and can be understood and that tools can be applied simply to arrive at answers to problems.
3. Teaching methods. Most math and physics teaching consists of instructors lecturing by working problems before a class of students. In my experience, students can follow the steps the instructor takes to solve a problem but are left in the dark as to how the instructor knew, and the student is supposed to know, what steps to take to solve a problem. I help students learn how to think about math and problem solving and how to see, in advance, the steps leading to a problem solution.
With a Master's degree in engineering, I have extensive training in a wide variety of mathematics and science and have been a working engineer for the past three decades. I have also taught at levels from fourth grade through college and have enjoyed the experience. I have not been 100 percent successful in helping students become math and physics scholars, but I have helped many students achieve success.
I look forward to tutoring students at all levels.
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