Teaching
A Scout is helpful!
Teaching Assistant Position
As a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, I also enjoy helping others and teaching where I can. Most recently, I have been a TA for every semester of graduate school. In this capacity, I work under Lab Coordinator Daniel Block, who handles the lab portions of most controls classes on campus. It has been an extremely gratifying experience to be able to assist other engineers in their academic endeavors.
I have TA’d classes, helped Dan develop course material, taught other TAs, and assisted in updating and fixing equipment when needed. I mainly advised the following classes: Industrial Control Systems (ME 460), Control Systems (ECE 486), and Computer Control of Mechanical Systems (ME 461).
My favorite lab to TA was always ME 461. There’s countless skills for the students to develop and it’s fun to see them progress. Sometimes, it’s the mechanical engineers’ first applied coding class. Most students get to learn how to solder for the first time in the class as well. I enjoyed seeing everyone’s final project as it is very open ended; it is always a rewarding project-based class.
Illinois Space Society Educational Outreach
Through Illinois Space Society, I had the opportunity on numerous occasions to assist with local space education thanks to the group’s educational outreach (EdOut) team. We would host events at local libraries, travel to local schools in surrounding towns, and even host Illinois Space Day (ISD). I also helped plan many events during the 2019-2020 school year as I held the position of Logistics Lead on the EdOut board.
ISD is a full-day event which promotes space and STEM education amongst elementary and middle school students. It consisted of engineering demos, a yearly guest speaker, and thoughtful talks and discussions.
ISS also participates in Engineering Open House (EOH), which is a multi day event where students come to campus from all around to see engineering displays and innovations. I routinely volunteered for this event to help show off Illinois Space Society’s interesting projects.
No matter the event, it was always a blast teaching about space to students of all ages. I am excited about science today thanks to those who opened my view to it as a child. I am forever grateful I got to do the same for those younger than me.
