Veronica Ciocanel

For my teaching philosophy, detailed teaching experience, and sample course materials, consult my Teaching Portfolio (Updated: Spring 2016).

In Spring 2017, I also developed additional syllabi, sample assignments and rubrics as part of the Brown Sheridan Center Certificate on Course Design: Linear Algebra and Modeling Biological Systems.

Instructor

• Summer 2015: Co-instructor with Eirini Kilikian for APMA 0340, Methods of Applied Mathematics II (systems of ODEs and intro to PDEs, during the Undergraduate Summer Session at Brown)
  • The syllabus can be found here.
  • Recitations for the course consisted of small group work on practice problems, as part of Brown University's participation in the AAU Undergraduate STEM Education Initiative supported by the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning at Brown. The inititative aims to help STEM departments in developing and implementing effective student-centered teaching methods, such as group problem sessions to "flip the classroom".
  • For our learning goals-focused approach and emphasis on group work and applications, Eirini and I were selected as the recipients of the Reginald D. Archambault for Teaching Excellence in Summer Session education (1st prize for Summer Session Education).
  • Sample course materials: Group problem session, Homework, Worksheet, Tutorial for numerical tools.
• Fall 2014 - Fall 2016: Instructor for Beginning Mathematics (pre-high school) through English for Action, Providence, RI. More information in Service Projects.

Teaching Assistant

• August 2016: TA for GirlsGetMath@ICERM, a Summer Math Camp for High School Girls in the greater RI area
• Students learned topics such as modular arithmetic and fractals through lectures, worksheets, and daily Matlab labs and tutorials.
• During the day on Graphs and Applications, I gave a lecture accompanied by a worksheet on network applications (graph colorings, social network clustering, rumor/infection spread), and led a Matlab lab on spreading an epidemic on a network.
• Spring 2014: TA for APMA 0350, Methods of Applied Mathematics I
• Fall 2013: TA for APMA 1650, Statistical Inference I

• Summer 2016: Supervised two undergraduate students in an REU project on Lead propagation in the body, led by Professor Todd Kapitula, and three undergraduate students in an REU project on Stability of stripe patterns, led by Professor Björn Sandstede.
• Spring 2016 - Spring 2017: Met with mentees at least monthly to discuss course selection, career plans, research and graduate school as part of the Applied Math Undergraduate Mentorship Program.
• Academic year 2014, 2016: Academic buddy for an incoming Applied Math graduate student. Provided tips for settling in Providence, advice on course selection, and connection with the department community and resources for two incoming graduate students.
• Summer 2015: Supervised two undergraduate students in an REU project on Epidemic dynamics on networks, led by Professor Björn Sandstede. Provided feedback to the team during daily meetings as well as for their weekly progress presentations.

• Teaching Certifcate I: Reflective Teaching seminar. Year-long Certificate program offered by the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning at Brown University. As part of the program, I learned how to improve my approach to developing a course and its syllabus, how to devise grading and evaluation strategies, how to understand student learning and how to use elements of persuasive communication in teaching settings.
• Teaching Certificate II: The Course Design Seminar. Semester-long Certificate program offered by the Sheridan Center in which I developed syllabi and sample assignments for two college level-courses ( Linear Algebra and Modeling Biological Systems) as well as provided feedback to my peers' materials.
• Teaching Certificate IV: The Teaching Consultant Program. Year-long Certificate program offered by the Sheridan Center in which I developed and practiced peer observation and feedback skills for classes taught by fellow graduate students or postdoctoral scholars.
• Teaching Certificate III: The Professional Development Program. Year-long Certificate program offered by the Sheridan Center in which I developed components of the teaching portfolio and learned to effectively communicate the core of my research.
• Diversity and Inclusion Professional Development Lunch Series. In Fall 2016 and Spring 2017, I learned about topics such as microaggressions, stereotype threat and support strategies for diverse populations of students (queer, first-generation, international, etc.) through this series organized by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at Brown University.

In the academic years 2013-2016, I served as the Division of Applied Mathematics' Sheridan Center Liaison. I attended meetings every semester to discuss departmental teaching needs, and informed the department about new resources available through the Center.

In addition, I led the Inclusion and Diversity discussion at the first Teaching Assistant Orientations for graduate and undergraduate students in Applied Mathematics at Brown University (Fall 2016 and Spring 2017).