Rachel

I have spent the last 4 years working as a Teaching Assistant at the University of British Columbia for both first and second year university courses along with studying for a Master`s in Zoology. I am currently living in the UK writing up my thesis and I intend to graduate in March. My Master`s at UBC consists of a combination of taught courses and a self-designed research project, which is much more similar in scope to a PhD in the UK. For my project I am investigating the role that temperature acclimation has on intrinsic heart rate in rainbow trout and associated cardiac mRNA expression changes. In 2013 I graduated with a BA in Physiological Sciences from Oxford University.
I strongly believe that the best way to learn a subject is to understand the basic principles. Understanding the subject rather than simply memorising facts allows greater application of this information to answer a wider range of material. I focus on individualised learning and over my 4 years as a teaching assistant at UBC I have developed a range of different teaching techniques to aid students in understanding challenging material. While working as a teaching assistant I have particularly enjoyed helping students in their progression from struggling with a topic to mastering the subject and increasing in confidence.

Availability: After 5 Monday - Friday

Willing to travel: 15 miles

Experience: During my 4 years at UBC I have also been working as a Teaching Assistant. I most recently taught a second year undergraduate genetics course where I was responsible for running tutorials, writing problems for tutorials and exams, as well as marking midterm and final exams. I have also taught a first year undergraduate course in human biology with responsibility for teaching physiology and running laboratory sessions as well as marking laboratory reports, tests and exams. While at UBC I have also received a Biology Program TA Professional Development (BioTAP) Certificate and privately tutored students studying for third year physiology courses at UBC.



In my most recent teaching evaluation I received an average rating of 4.71/ 5 for the statement `was an effective instructor` with no negative responses. Comments from students on these anonymous evaluations include:

`She is by far one of the best TAs I`ve ever had.`

`She is really good at explaining things.`

`I know for a fact I would have had a much worse mark without her help.`

`She took the time to come up with new ways to explain each concept to ensure we fully understood them.`

`Rachel was an awesome TA. She is always well prepared.`

`Very friendly and approachable, really liked her willingness to help.`

In non-academic teaching roles I have taught novice rowers and coxes in my role as undergraduate College Women`s Vice-Captain and Captain of Coxes, and also as a swimming poolside assistant on a Saturday morning at my school.