Introducing Me

Ben R

Evolution of Me – Pre-MAT

•Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

•Education

•Public Elementary School in Toronto, Ontario

•Toronto Learning Center Grade 7

•Day Student at Private Boarding School outside of Toronto Grade 8-9

•Private High School (Singapore American School), Grade 10-12

•BS and MS in Civil Engineering from RPI, Troy, NY

•Employment

•Teaching Assistant for several classes throughout college career

•Field Engineer for Nicholson Construction, Boston, MA, 2 years

•Geotechnical Engineer for small consulting firm, Niskayuna, NY, 10 years

•Volleyball Coach, 8 years, currently RPI women’s club team coach, 3rd

season

•Owner and Photographer, BKR Portraits, 3 years

•Life

•Married to a civil engineer (college sweetheart)

•Two children, Son (1) and Daughter (3)

Hmm…Look at all that life

experience

Yep…Singapore…on the other side of the world.

Evolution of Me – Pre-MAT

•Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

•Education

•Public Elementary School in Toronto, Ontario

•Toronto Learning Center Grade 7

•Day Student at Private Boarding School outside of Toronto Grade 8-9

•Private High School (Singapore American School), Grade 10-12

•BS and MS in Civil Engineering from RPI, Troy, NY

•Employment

•Teaching Assistant for several classes throughout college career

•Field Engineer for Nicholson Construction, Boston, MA, 2 years

•Geotechnical Engineer for small consulting firm, Niskayuna, NY, 10 years

•Volleyball Coach, 8 years, currently RPI women’s club team coach, 3rd

season

•Owner and Photographer, BKR Portraits, 3 years

•Life

•Married to a civil engineer (college sweetheart)

•Two children, Son (1) and Daughter (3)

My Teaching

That’s right….I’m not teaching yet

My Science Persona

•I see myself as 1 part Beaker, 1 part mad scientist, 1 part

Einstein and all cartoon. An intelligent, unpredictable

scientist who may, or may not, be a little accident prone.

OOPS!!!!!

•I want to bring the best of these

characteristics in to the classroom with

me to educate and entertain the

students in a safe and productive

environment.

Key Elements of My Classroom

Field Work

Technology

Exploration

Teamwork

Ridiculousness

Key Elements of My Classroom

•Field Work

•In the field of Earth Science we study the earth and it’s environment. How can we

expect students to learn about earth science without actually getting out and seeing

what we are discussing in class?

•Exploration

•Not only has past exploration let to the discoveries that we study today but exploration

within the classroom and course work will encourage self motivation and learning by

the students.

•Technology

•Using technology will not only engage the students but it will give them some

experience with the tools that they may be using in their future careers whether it be in

science or another field.

•Teamwork

•Teamwork is a skill that is needed in all fields. Encouraging teamwork within the

classroom will create the foundation that the students will need for their futures.

•Ridiculousness

•Using a little humor and outrageous examples will help to foster motivation in the

classroom while also providing a break in the perceived tediousness of the lessons.