2012 Teaching Initiative Award Winner

Jennifer M. Tobias, Ph.D.

• Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the University of Central Florida (2009)
• Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics

Teaching philosophy

I believe that learning is a constructive process in which students must actively participate to not memorize rules and formulas but learn mathematics in a way that makes sense to them.

Most rewarding aspect of teaching

Seeing the “light bulbs” go off in my students’ heads when they understand why a rule or formula they have been using since elementary school works.

I want to improve my teaching

By continually modifying how and what I teach to keep my methods pertinent to my students.

Proudest teaching accomplishment

Directly seeing the impact my teaching has on my students’ ability to teach children in a classroom.

Best compliment from a student

I learned a lot from this class and the instructor. Even though her teaching style was something I had never seen before, I was able to learn a lot.

My motivation to become a professor

Comes from wanting to impact more than just one classroom of K-12 students at a time. By teaching current and future teachers, what I do not only affects my students but also my students’ students and allows me to have a greater impact on the education community.

Technique to recommend

Let students struggle. I have found that when students struggle and then resolve the issue themselves, they retain knowledge better than if I just tell them the answer.