Teaching
Teaching Philosophy
Education is an essential element in scientific research and the function of our society as a whole. I believe that the purpose of education is to give students the joy of knowledge and understanding, and to prepare them for their future goals in life. In particular, our students will be facing a global job market. Therefore, it is critical to help them develop soft skills including the ability to communicate with others in both written and oral forms, and the ability to work in teams.
Teaching in my philosophy is not only to convey knowledge to students but also to stimulate curiosity, independent thinking, and creativity of the students. I believe that students learn the best when they want to. Therefore, the most effective way to learn is by thinking about and working out problems. I encourage students to explore the unknown scientific world under necessary guidance. I also try to integrate recent breaking results into the courses.
Classes
09/2023-08/2024 Academic Year
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Fall 2023
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2023
09/2022-08/2023 Academic Year
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2023
Physics and Chemistry of the Earth’s Mantle, GEO 391, Fall 2022 (co-taught with S. Grand)
09/2021-08/2022 Academic Year
Materials of a Habitable Planet (at Adam Mickiewicz University as a Fulbright Scholar, 2-hr credit, 15 students, Spring 2022)
Earth Materials, GEO 416K, Fall 2021
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2022
09/2020-08/2021 Academic Year
On sabbatical
09/2019-08/2020 Academic Year
Earth Materials, GEO 416K, Fall 2019
Physics and Chemistry of the Earth’s Mantle, GEO 391, Fall 2019 (co-taught with S. Grand and T. Becker)
09/2018-08/2019 Academic Year
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2019
Mineral Physics, GEO 391, Spring 2019
Physics and Chemistry of a Habitable Planet, One-week summer course at National Cheng-Kung University, Taiwan, 07/2019
09/2017-08/2018 Academic Year
Earth Materials, GEO 416K, Fall 2017
Methane Hydrates, GEO 391, Spring 2018 (co-taught with Dr. Flemings)
09/2016-08/2017 Academic Year
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2017
Physics of the Earth’s Interior, GEO 391, Spring 2017
09/2015-08/2016 Academic Year
Earth Materials, GEO 416K, Fall 2015
Mineral Physics, GEO 391, Spring 2016
09/2014-08/2015 Academic Year
Mineral Physics, GEO 391, Fall 2014
(Sabbatical semester in spring 2015)
09/2013-08/2014 Academic Year
Earth Materials, GEO 416K, Fall 2013
Physics of the Earth’s Interior, GEO 391, Spring 2014
09/2012-08/2013 Academic Year
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2013
Mineral Physics, GEO 391, Spring 2013
Technical Sessions, GEO 193, Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 (co-taught with Dr. Kyle Spikes)
09/2011-08/2012 Academic Year
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2012
Technical Sessions, GEO 193, Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 (co-taught with Dr. Tim Shanahan)
Physics of the Earth’s Interior, GEO 391, Spring 2012 (co- taught with Dr. Steve Grand)
09/2010-08/2011 Academic Year
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2011
Mineral Physics, GEO 391, Spring 2011
09/2009-08/2010 Academic Year
Physical Geology, GEO 401, Spring 2010
Physics of the Earth’s Interior, GEO 391, Spring 2010
09/2008-08/2009 Academic Year
Mineral Physics, GEO 391, Spring 2008
Undergraduate Individual Course in 2008