Teaching

My teaching philosophy is centred on fostering student engagement, feedback loops, and clear communication to create a supportive learning environment. I employ various teaching methods and activities, such as interactive quizzes, group projects, and problem-based learning in labs, to cater to diverse learning styles and encourage active involvement in the learning process. I actively seek and value student input to continuously adapt my teaching strategies. I present information in an organised and accessible manner and use online discussion boards to maintain open lines of communication and foster an inclusive atmosphere where students feel comfortable seeking clarification and expressing their thoughts. I aim to empower students to reach their full potential and develop a lifelong passion for learning.

University of Sydney (since 2018)

Units

University of Newcastle (2015 – 2017)

STAT3010 Statistical Inference

• Semester 1 2017

STAT3170 Surveys and Experiments

• Semester 1 2017

STAT1070 Statistics for the Sciences

• Summer 2017
• Semester 2 2016
• Semester 1 2016
• Semester 2 2015

University of Sydney (2010 – 2014)

Lecturing

• MATH1905 Statistics (Advanced) (S2 2013) – half a semester of lectures (weeks 7-13) to advanced first year students on statistical inference (~190 students).
• PHAR1811 Foundations of Pharmacy (S1 2011, S1 2012, S1 2013) – a series of lectures first year pharmacy students on basic data analysis (~280 students each year).
• PHAR2821 Drug Discovery and Design B (S2 2012, S2 2013) – a series of lectures second year pharmacy students on correlation and regression (~260 students each year).

I developed and implemented a series of mathematics workshops for Business School students.  Topics included Probability, Sigma Notation and Combinatorics; Algebra; Functions; Simultaneous Equations; and Inequalities and Differentiation.  This project has since been successfully handed off and continues within the Business School. I’ve also put together some review slides on matrix algebra in econometrics and statistics.

Mentoring

I was the senior mentor for the University of Sydney Faculty of Science Tutor and Demonstrator Training Program. This involved providing guidance, advice and stimulate discussion at formal training sessions; provide feedback to new tutors on their responses to hypothetical tutorial scenarios; and coordinating communications between 250+ new tutors each year.

I have been involved in the University of Sydney Business School Tutor Development Program where I designed and facilitated (in 2010 and 2011) a session titled “Active learning in quantitative units.”  I also facilitated a session titled “Enhancing student learning through feedback” (2011).

For many years I was involved in the University of Sydney Business School Peer Assisted Study Sessions program.  In my later years with the program I co-facilitated the annual PASS peer facilitator initial professional development and was involved in coordinator reviews of PASS sessions and ongoing professional development throughout the year.

Tutoring

I have tutored a range of subjects in mathematics, statistics and econometrics:

• MATH1005 Statistics (S2 2008, S2 2009, S2 2010);
• MATH1905 Statistics (Advanced) (S2 2010, S2 2011, S2 2012, S2 2013);
• MATH1015 Biostatistics (S1 2009, S1 2010, S1 2011, S1 2012);
• MATH1003 Integral Calculus and Modelling (SS 2011);
• STAT2012 Statistical Tests (S2 2011);
• STAT3012/3912 Applied Linear Models (S1 2012, S1 2013);
• STAT3013/3913 Statistical Inference (S2 2011, S2 2012);
• ECMT6002 Econometric Applications (S2 2008, S2 2009, S2 2010, S2 2011);
• ECMT5001 Principles of Econometrics (S2 2009);
• ECMT3110 Econometric Models and Methods (S1 2010, S1 2011, S1 2012);
• ECMT3120 Applied Econometrics (S2 2008);
• ECMT1020 Business and Economic Statistics B (S2 2010);
• HSC Extension 1 Mathematics Bridging Course (2013); and
• the statistics component for various first and second year pharmacy units.

In 2010 I received the Business School Award for Excellence in Tutoring. The purpose of this award is to recognise, promote, reward and share excellence in facilitating student learning by tutors within the School. The award comes with $1,000 prize money. (Application)

In 2010, 2011 and 2012 I received Dean’s Citations for Tutoring (ECMT1020 and ECMT3110), awarded for scoring a minimum of 90% agreement in the following three items on the end of semester questionnaire:
1) My tutor respected each student and responded to individual needs.
2) My tutor maintained a classroom atmosphere conducive to learning.
3) Overall my tutor effectively supported my learning.

PASS Facilitator

My first job with the university was as a Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) Facilitator. My role was to facilitate team-focused, collaborative study sessions by creating a friendly and co-operative atmosphere to foster learning and student growth. I worked in first year econometrics units for which I prepared relevant, insightful and entertaining exercises for each PASS session. In this role I was required to communicate effectively with a diverse cohort to motivate and mentor students of all levels of ability and interest in the subject matter.

I joined the PASS program at its inception and as the program developed I took on a variety of leadership roles within the team. As the PASS team mentor I conducted reviews of PASS sessions and provide feedback to facilitators on their performance and filled in as acting PASS coordinator when required. I was the timetable coordinator responsible for the logistical nightmare of finding rooms and timetabling more than 90 weekly PASS sessions each semester. I was also involved in the recruitment of new facilitators: assessing applications; interviewing candidates; calling referees; etc.

In 2011 I, along with the PASS program coordinators Kellie Morrison and Jessica Morr, received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Systems that Achieve Collective Excellence in Teaching and Learning for our contributions to the Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) program. The award noted that our program has been “sustained over a period of years … was strategic in its support of student learning and which met all the criteria for a system that achieved collective excellence. Evidence was provided of the program meeting its goals of creating a sense of belonging, fostering an academically stimulating learning community, enhancing student academic achievement and creating an outstanding peer environment.” As the referees noted, it aligns not only with the Business School’s goals but also with the University’s renewed focus on the First Year Experience.

In 2008 I received an Outstanding Senior Facilitator Award (competitive across all Australasian PASS programs) at the National PASS Forum.