Kelvin Smith, PhD 

My teaching philosophy began to develop in elementary school as a tutor through my undergraduate days at Auburn University and my graduate studies at Georgia Tech. I came up with a learning philosophy that I carry with me to this day. It is the notion that students do well when they study to learn, not study to pass. In other words, do not think about the grades. If you master and learn the material, the grades will follow. This type of metacognition drives how I deliver the material when I tutor or teach. I have enjoyed gaining experience as a teaching assistant and a guest lecturer for 3 years in various courses at Georgia Tech. To foster a positive learning environment, I give respect and attention to students’ needs. I accommodate questions and answer them honestly and timely. Even if I cannot answer right away, I would be glad to discuss it after class. I like to incorporate humor from time to time to loosen a potentially stiff classroom environment.

 

Participating in the Tech to Teaching Program to develop my skills in lesson planning and course design contributed to my progress as a scholar in my discipline as well. Education is at the center of what I enjoy doing on a regular basis. I love learning and sharing my knowledge with others. I am motivated and committed to education and I love it. Teaching is fun and exciting when the light goes on in the student’s mind. When I teach, I am reminded of a quote that Benjamin Franklin said: “Tell me, and I will forget (Lecturing by itself is not enough). Show me, and I may remember (Showing a student how to solve a problem is OK, but more is needed) Involve me, and I will understand (Active learning is the key to academic success in the classroom).”

 

How Can I Help You?

My goal on this platform is to create an environment that fosters openness, trust, and transparency with students in  Academic Coaching. My passion for teaching is real because I enjoy making the complex simple and seeing the lightbulbs go off in the heads of students. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching the past three years at Georgia Tech. My Tech to Teaching experience was great. I learned how to manage a classroom, write a syllabus, and incorporate active learning techniques. I am gifted in imparting knowledge. My teaching assistant experience and lecturing opportunities will always be memorable.

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Academic Coaching

My anxiety issues from Asperger’s Syndrome is nonexistent when I teach because I am in my element and I’m confident in the material I present. I must admit I felt exposed transitioning from being a “consumer” of knowledge to a “creator” of knowledge in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering PhD Program. With great advisors, I found my niche and passed my thesis defense in June 2022, and graduated in December 2022.

 

I am a certified instructor through the Tech to Teaching Program. I enjoy helping students learn and overcome difficulties in various subjects from High School to Graduate School. My expertise is STEM subjects and my target audience are students with Asperger’s/High Functioning Autism (All students are welcome). I have a gift for teaching and will offer Academic Coaching/Executive Functioning sessions teaching STEM courses to students who are struggling in class and I will make the complex material simple to understand. By being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, I bring immediate comfort to the student who has a diagnosis onr the Autism spectrum.

 

We all have our own superpowers under the spectrum and I will be able to unlock that hyper-focused gift and relate it to the lesson. I will customize the 1-to-1 academic coaching sessions to meet the needs of the student. I will provide instruction that is logical, systematic, and clear, which will demystify issues that the students' issues. Sometimes teachers make the material more complicated than it needs to be. I will lessen the frustration of grasping difficult concepts.

 

Through my gift of teaching, my mission is to produce the following results:

1. Increase understanding of concepts and make the complex simple.

2. Improve study habits, transition support from high school to college, and executive functioning skills

3. Provide homework to student for reinforcement of materials covered

4. Help students on the autism spectrum to focus on the material through their hyper-focused gifts and relate them to teaching techniques.

5. Let’s make the complex simple and I look forward to seeing you in one of my sessions. My contribution to students is my gift of teaching, mentoring and passion for learning.