Chemistry Department
Owen Clements, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry, was assigned CHEM 212 (Inorganic Chemistry) as a teaching assistant assignment last Fall. Students commented that Owen did an outstanding job as a TA. “The first thing that struck me about him was that he asks your name, he is actually interested in getting to know who you are. He is the first TA that has ever shown interest in us personally, and he remembers and refers to us by name.” Owen contributes time during his weekly office hours and also sets up appointments with students during off-hours to help with problems the students are experiencing. The students also note that Owen “is well accomplished at the subject and has great explanations for all of our questions”. By using models, diagrams, etc. he is actively involved in getting the difficult conceptual ideas across. He helps the students reason their way to the right answer by making them talk their way through it. This helps with the current questions as well as at testing time when students can use the same reasoning to solve the problem. Owen, as part of his Teaching Assistantship for CHEM 213 (the follow-on from 212) this term, is assisting with the development of web based exercises and assignments.