Advanced Personalized Learning
Guiding Students to Become Self-Educators
About the Classes
What Makes it Personalized?
In my previous teaching experience I created most of my material from scratch. This included simple things like handwriting solutions so students could model my written organization and penmanship, to altering my robotics curriculum for each class to match the students’ capability. I was simultaneously known to be the hardest teacher, while also boasting the highest pass rate of 100%. I pay close attention to my students, give detailed feedback, and give additional help when it is needed.
What Makes it Advanced?
Having experience with alternative as well as traditional education helped me appreciate where both systems are useful. Traditional education has its flaws, but it is the product of experts who have been refining this system for approximately a century. Creatively combining this wisdom, with practices seen in alternative schools and then delivering this combination in very small classes produces something powerful.
In my classes I not only teach the material, I teach how to absorb the material, how to think about the material, how to study, and how to prepare for tests. The strategies I teach are based off my research in advanced learning methodologies while in graduate school and medical school. I refined these ideas into a system that I lectured to approximately 600 medical professional students. I also understand that helping a student develop their learning style is a process of teaching skills and modifying habits. My experience was developed through working as a personal trainer and through developing a published curriculum entitled “Small Changes Counseling,” which taught medical students how to sensitively counsel patients to lose weight.
About Each Class
Math Classes (Pre algebra, Algebra, Algebra2/Geometry, PreCalc/Statistics)
My math class has three primary goals: to develop a deep understanding of the language of mathematics, to use math to mature a student’s ability to think, and to genuinely connect the student to the subject by making it fun and relevant. Since I have instructed math from the second grade level to calculus, I understand the greater “game” of math. I know what types of concepts they need to learn and which procedures are irrelevant. I also intelligently schedule review within in my class to ensure the students truly retain what they have learned.
Programming and Game Design (Levels 1 - 4)
My goal with programming and game design is to teach kids an academic level of programming that they would see in an intro college course (similar to AP programming) but give it in the context of something fun, game design. The students progress through the fundamentals of programming and develop to being able to create games such as Pong, Breakout, Flappy Bird, etc. using object oriented programming.
Robotics (Levels 1 - 4)
The hands-on project based robotics class naturally develops thinking skills, creative problem solving, grit, and the ability to apply logic and math. The class progresses from having the student build simple circuits that turn on LED lights to building a robot that can navigate a maze autonomously. It teaches the basics of electricity and wiring, computer programming, and how to use assorted sensors and motors to create robots. The class can be offered at multiple levels to fit the child’s level of understanding so that they feel challenged, but never overwhelmed. I also offer this class as an independent study where the student and I determine a project and build it together.
Physics including AP Physics
Having written the textbook Mastering AP Physics 1 to prepare students for the national AP Physics 1 exam, I am very qualified to teach physics. I use physics as a way to connect math with their physical reality and see the world on a deeper level. The math involved in many physics problems is relatively simple; physics is more about thinking about how you can describe a situation with math and use it to make predictions or build a machine. The projects in the class will challenge them and go well beyond typical experiments seen in most classrooms. Students will also learn how to read scientific research papers, evaluate their claims, and then reach their own conclusions independent of the authors.
Life Science with a Focus on Human Physiology
This class will teach some traditional topics in biology including understanding parts of plant and animal cells, but will have a greater focus on the mechanisms of physiology. For instance, students will learn how a neuron communicates with other neurons using action potentials. Students will not only have to memorize and understand key terminology, but they will also have to be able to think about how the body works mechanistically. Students will understand human physiology more from an engineer's perspective as opposed to rote memorization. This also will carry over into basic exercise physiology, students will understand how exercise affects the body and causes physiological adaptations.
The labs will be hands-on activities where students will gain an understanding of how to perform an experiment. For instance, students will grow two different sets of sprouts (one treated, one untreated) and then compare assorted measurements. Other labs will include measuring their body's response to exercise.
Pricing And Schedule
What is the Course Schedule?
At present we are now creating our Summer and Fall 2022 schedule. The Summer robotics course for 9-12 year olds will meet during the month of July twice a week. The Fall 2022 schedule is currently being decided upon and will be finalized by the end of July. This gives us an opportunity to accommodate as many students as possible.
How Much do Classes Cost?
All regular fall classes meet twice a week and cost a total of 60 a week. The cost includes two classes a week plus access to office hours to get additional one-on-one help. The classes are typically 1.5 hours in length. Most classes meet once a week in person and once a week online, though classes can be entirely online or in-person depending on what the community desires.
Summer intensive classes are a total of 100 per week and last about 2.5 hours each.
If you want to receive a class or tutoring in a one-on-one setting from the instructor it costs $150 per hour. The co-teachers can also give one-on-one instruction at a rate of $50 per hour. Supplemental tutoring for a class costs $30.