Summer Bridge
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Elaine MacDougall | Brandon Myers | Julie Oakes | Timothy Phin | Mark Ramos | Donald Snyder | Deb Webb
Kathy Scales Bryan
AMST100: Intro to American Studies
I was raised in Iowa and came here 40 years ago as a graduate student at UMCP. I have a bachelor’s and master’s in economics and my doctorate is in American Studies. I’ve been teaching at UMBC for over 30 years, and have a wide range of courses in the American Studies department. In addition to the introductory, methods, and research courses in our core, I have taught courses on childhood, the family, gender and race relations, poverty, the American dream, and the interrelationships between the United States and the rest of the world. I have taught the introductory course that I’ll be teaching this summer nearly every semester that I have been at UMBC.
I will be teaching Introduction to American Studies during virtual summer bridge. The course focuses on understanding the ideas that are shaping current debates in American politics and society in social and historical context. Students who take this course will: learn about important issues being debated now in American society; develop skills in applying academic theories and models to analyze those issues and debates; and get extensive practice writing about their analysis in the academic style. The knowledge and skills you will get in this class will be useful in later courses.
The most important thing students learn from my class is to put our current political discourse into historical and social context, and to talk and write using the conventions of the academic community.
I will be using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities for the course this summer. Students will have a schedule of readings and film viewings to do outside of class. I will be posting some pre-recorded lectures to be viewed individually. Class sessions will be scheduled in the platform provided by UMBC, which is currently Blackboard Collaborate, which will primarily consist of discussion of the assigned readings and viewings, although they may include brief lectures.
Read, read, read. Read the assigned materials and any optional reading and anything laying around that looks interesting.
Bambi Chapin
ANTH211: Cultural Anthropology
I am an anthropologist who has been conducting research among Sri Lankan families for two decades. I am especially interested in figuring out how culture is passed on, taken up, used, and transformed over generations. I have also conducted research regarding health, mental illness, and spirit possession. Before coming to the faculty at UMBC in 2006, I completed my PhD in Anthropology at the University of California, San Diego and a postdoctoral fellowship in Human Development at the University of Chicago.
This summer is the first time that my Cultural Anthropology course, ANTH211, has been included as part of the summer bridge program. This course is the core introduction course to our program, as well as meeting a general education requirement in the area of “Culture” and in “Social Science.” It is a great way for new students to have a small class experience with students from a range of levels and interests, as we talk together about the ways that lives are shaped by social and culture forced.
Students in this class will read and discuss first hand reports from anthropologists working around the world, which we will use to think about what this can tell us about human life and its potential. This class will also give students the chance to develop core reading and writing skills that are vital to success in college and beyond, but in a structured and manageable ways. This summer, we will be reading recent ethnographies – books about life as it is lived among particular culture groups – set in the Marshal Islands, India, and here in the U.S.
Online instruction is new to me this semester, so we will be doing some learning together about what will work best for us. But this is very much in keeping with my approach to in person learning: I will work to structure our activities in a way that I think will work best, but then we will adapt to what we find along the way. I am planning for us to meet for part of the regularly scheduled class time on line – from 10:30 – 12 on Tuesdays and Thursdays – so that we can develop ideas together in conversation and get to know each other (which is my favorite part of class). But for students who can’t attend every session in person, I will record our live sessions for them to watch later. Students will work through the rest of the material and activities on their own time using Blackboard, UMBC’s online course site.
Be curious, engage with others, and expect to change your mind about all sorts of things!
Lillian Chow
Math 155: Applied Calculus
I am a second year Ph.D. student in the Statistics Department. I have. B.S. in Statistics with an emphasis on Economics from San Francisco State University.
I am teaching Math 155: Applied Calculus this summer, the class will teach students the foundations of calculus and see examples that will showcase the wide range of industrial applications of calculus.
Calculus is a scary subject for many students, but in this summer course we will start from the very basics and build our way up to the more complex ideas. We will use our knowledge of mathematics to understand how and why calculus is used in various industries (biology, economics, etc.).
Students will have a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities, they will be expected to complete assignments on their own time, but we will have synchronous discussions where students can ask questions and learn the material in real time.
Time management is the backbone to success in any university, but you do not have to develop these skills on your own. There are a wide variety of recourses available on campus and online that will help you develop the skills you need to succeed in your degree!
Saeed Damadi
MATH151: Calculus
I am a third year Ph.D. student at Math department working on the theory of Machine Learning.
I am teaching CALC I this summer and if you join me we are going to have example-oriented style where you will be presented so many solved questions from them you can catch the patterns and solve all similar problems on your quizzes and your exam.
You will find out in order to understand a difficult topic we have to go back to the original idea which is so simple and understandable. Once you figure that out, your mind will be more comfortable to catch the advanced topics built upon that original idea. This method always works since we learn through generalizations. Nowadays, computer scientists taking advantage of this method and teach machines to do tasks.
We are going to have synchronous sessions where you can learn the material online. Also, the lectures will be available for you to practice. The class has online discussion where you can come in and clarify any ambiguities from the lecture, homework, or quizzes.
UMBC is a great place to study so take the full advantage of it because all resources you want is here. The only thing we need is to think where we are going from UMBC. For example, if you want to be a programmer, search around and be prepared for the best that pushes you toward that goal.
Brian Dunnigan
ENGL100: Composition
Hello! My name is Brian Dunnigan. I am a Lecturer in the English department at UMBC. I have taught composition, research tutorials, and literature since fall 2003.
I will teach English 100 this summer. As a former student, my most rewarding classes were the courses that were both fun and highly informative. As a teacher I have always tried to remember that learning can be dynamic and connect to the world beyond academia. In that vein, this course is dedicated to improving a student’s writing and critical thinking skills. This means that the class will approach both writing and critical thinking with knowledge & passion. While any lesson should prepare students for the next assignment, real learning occurs when an idea can be applied to the various facets of life. Our virtual course is here to offer students a strong understanding of how to write an effective essay, while also improving a student’s ability to excel in an ever evolving complex world.
As previously mentioned the class will examine the elements of sound writing and critical thinking. With that said, we will spend a significant amount of time focusing on analysis, perspective, and evidence. While the structure of an essay matters, a paper without depth & evidence will crumble. To this end, students will learn to practice the art of gathering information and judging the credibility of said sources. This process is paramount to understanding how research works at the university level.
The online environment will offer us the opportunity to approach the class from several angles. That is, English 100 will be both synchronous & asynchronous. Essentially this means our class will operate in both real time (video conferencing) and non real time (a range of Blackboard activities). Occasionally this will allow students to approach the class on their own schedules. For example, there may be moments when I will prerecord lectures and post them on Bb. There may be other times when we can use the Bb discussion board to peer review papers, receive feedback on the progress of research, or tackle issues that are essential to writing a strong paper. This sort of course flexibility maximizes learning while also considering how each student processes skills & ideas differently.
Be open and stay curious. These two qualities will serve any student who desires growth–emotionally & intellectually. Please know that UMBC will offer you a treasure trove of new experiences. Be brave and embrace the newness!
Emoke Galambos
MATH104: Quantitative Literacy
My name is Emoke Galambos and I have been a Mathematics Instructor at UMBC since last summer. I have a B.S. degree in Education and a M.S. degree in Mathematics and have been teaching different math courses, including different calculus courses, as well as MATH104 at UMBC.
I am teaching MATH104 this summer, which is a great course for those who would like to refresh their basic math skills. Some of the mathematical concepts and skills we will review include number concepts to describe quantitative relationships, manipulating and solving equations, solving word problems in various contexts, solving systems of linear equations algebraically and graphically, summarizing and interpreting data using graphs, tables and statistics including measures of central tendencies and dispersion.
The goal of this course is to help students build a solid background in basic mathematics and problem solving and prepare them for more advanced mathematics and statistics courses.
We will be using a web-based artificially intelligent assessment and learning system, called ALEKS which will complement the online lectures. The system will help to assess your current knowledge on the given topics and will assign practice problems to everyone’s individual needs.
Work hard, be motivated and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Elaine MacDougall
ENGL100: Composition
Hello! My name is Elaine MacDougall, and I teach in the English Department here at UMBC. I actually graduated from UMBC in 1999 with a BA in English, and I went on to earn a Masters in Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University. I’m currently a student in the Language, Literacy, and Culture Ph.D. program at UMBC. I have been teaching writing courses since 2004 at various colleges and universities in the Baltimore area. I love my current position as Director of the Writing Center because I get to work with an amazing, bright group of undergraduates. I am also a 500 hour certified yoga instructor on the side. Lastly, I love to watch HBO series, and I have two cats, Indie and Luna.
I teach English 100. Summer bridge is a great opportunity to get a feel for college writing before starting full-time in the fall. I try to engage students with relevant writing opportunities and have a little fun, too!
My hope is that students begin to understand the collaborative nature of writing and appreciate their own writing style and unique voice.
We are all adapting to the online learning environment, so we will use a variety of methods to communicate, such as discussion posts, group chats, and some synchronous meetings. I will try to make the class accessible to all learning styles!
Communicate with your professors. We are here to work with you, so utilize office hours and email.
Brandon Myers
MATH120: Intro to Contemporary Mathematics
“Brandon Myers, a champion for all students, is an Adjunct Lecturer at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is also an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and serves as the Program Coordinator for Developmental Mathematics Education at Baltimore City Community College.
Brandon is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education degree in Instructional Systems Design and Technology from Sam Houston State University. He has earned a M.S. in Mathematics Education from Towson University and a B.S. in Mathematics with a minor in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. He has over 8 years of leadership experience in PK-12 and higher education and holds an advanced professional teacher certification from the State of Maryland in the area of Secondary Mathematics in grades 7 – 12. Brandon also holds his Administrative I and Administrative II credentials to be an Assistant Principal and Principal in the state of Maryland.
Brandon’s primary focus is to blend fun and math together to conquer even the most difficult problems. He believes there is never a problem there is always a solution. ”
I am teaching Math 120 – Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics during virtual summer bridge. This course focuses on math concepts such as buying a home, credit cards, loans, etc that would be essential math skills to know in the real world. Less of an algebra based course (although some algebra will be used) and more of a real-world math based course.
Students will learn 3 essentials to any college course: Focused Note-taking strategies, organization, and time-management. Students will also learn that build math esteem and to conquer “difficult” math problems.
Each week there will be an asynchronous discussion board task that will ask students to apply concepts to real-world situations. During synchronous sessions a variety of games, group exercises, and discussions will take place to enhance the lecture portion of the course. All assignments will focus on application of the course content through project based learning rather than memorization via an exam or quiz.
Keep track of all due dates and important dates. Use either a paper calendar or your phone calendar and set reminders at least 24 hours before a due date so you can submit assignments on time.
Julie Oakes
HIST103: East-Asian Civilization
Dr. Julie Oakes has been a member of the UMBC community since 2007, teaching numerous courses for both the History Department and Asian Studies Program. After receiving her M.A. in East Asian Studies from Stanford University, she went on to the University of Chicago where she earned a Ph.D. in Japanese history. Her research interests center on Japanese art policy, and she is currently revising her manuscript on the creation of Japan’s National Treasure system. In the 2016-2017 academic year, Dr. Oakes served as Acting Associate Director of the Honors College, following that up with a year as the Interim Director of the Asian Studies Program. In the spring of 2019, Dr. Oakes returned to the Honors College as the Assistant Director of Curriculum and Retention, which entails working with the Honors College Faculty Fellows and the freshmen residents of the Living Learning Community. Outside of her work at UMBC, Dr. Oakes is the Baltimore seminar coordinator for the NCTA (The National Consortium for the Teaching About Asia), whose aim is to help elementary, middle, and high school educators better incorporate East Asian topics into their curricula. She also gives talks on Japanese history and culture to various community groups, ranging from elementary school students to adult learners.
In addition to being super fun, HIST 103 carries a Culture OR Social Science attribute. Also, East Asia is one the most politically and culturally significant region in our world today, so we should ALL know more about its history and traditions.
My aim is that students will leave the class understanding the main underpinnings of today’s East Asia–philosophy (Confucianism and Buddhism), politics (development of systems of rule), gender relations, historical reactions to outsiders, and artistic heritage.
We will meet synchronously Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-noon (via Blackboard Collaborate); in terms of asynchronous work–in addition to homework–I will assign videos, pre-recorded lectures, and other activities to make up our contact hours. But it will ALL be awesome 🙂
I suggest setting up for yourself–at least at the start–set blocks of time to study. You will be surprised how much “free time” you have compared to high school, and you don’t want to discover in November that you six papers, ten labs, and twelve books to read in the next two weeks!
Timothy Phin
ANCS210: Classical Mythology
I have taught at UMBC since 2009, and my faculty appointment is in the Ancient Studies Department. I teach courses on mythology, Greek and Roman history, and Latin language and literature. I completed my graduate work in Classics at the Johns Hopkins University, and my research interests are primarily in the field of Roman imperial culture. I am from New York originally, but I’ve been in Maryland since 2000, when I came to the state to be an undergraduate at UMBC.
I teach Classical Mythology. You should consider taking my class if you want to learn about some of the oldest stories and legends in the world. The study of mythology opens doors to centuries of human experience, and helps us to understand some of the many facets of the human mind.
The most important thing that a new student will learn in my class is that a good story can shape the world.
My course has several features: interactive lectures, vigorous class discussion, and short, focused quizzes. When you begin you’ll find a welcome message from me followed by the first in a series of lectures that while recorded previously will use VoiceThread technology to allow you to comment on them in real time. In this way, I hope to create as lively a virtual space as possible. Class discussion will focus on our reading of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two instrumental texts in the study of Classical Mythology. Students can expect a course that moves fluidly through lecture topics and readings, and that guides them as they delve into the mysteries of mythology.
Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Mark Louie Ramos
MATH150: Pre-Calculus
This is my 3rd year at UMBC. Before this, I had been teaching at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines since 2007. At UMBC, I have taught Math 155, Stat 350, and Stat 432. I have a Masters Degree in Statistics and another one in Mathematics Education and I am currently a PhD Candidate at UMBC’s Department of Math and Stat.
I am teaching Math 150 and Stat 432 this summer. Math 150 is a solid entry-level course in Mathematics. It is essential to building the strong foundation needed for taking not just other Math courses, but other courses that require the application of concepts and methods in Calculus.
Understanding Calculus in a way that allows one to recognize and execute its application to practical problems that arise in other courses.
The quality of instruction will be at least on par with in-person instruction. There will be both recorded lectures that you can view at your convenience and synchronous meetings where we can discuss about the content and answer questions in order to ensure that everyone understands the lesson.
Never be afraid of Math. It is a subject, just like other subjects. It can be taught; it can be learned; it can be conquered.
Donald Snyder
MCS222: Intro to Media and Comm Studies
I earned my Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Maryland where my research focused on the relationship between producers and beta testers in online gaming. I have been teaching courses at UMBC for more than a decade including Media Literacy, Professional Development, and Social Media. In 2017, I was honored with the University of Maryland System Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.
This summer I am teaching Introduction to Media and Communication Studies, which is a historical survey of major technological innovations, from the earliest evidence of cave paintings, all the way up to Twitter. The course helps students understand the central role that media and communication technologies have historically played in the development of culture, knowledge, and social interactions. In doing so, we also explore the possibilities for engaging more critically the powerful presence of communications media in our everyday experience.
While the content is more important, I focus heavily on helping students develop strong reading and reflection skills that will support them throughout their college experience. The course is built around developing students’ critical thinking. I have some teaching experience in online environments through hybrid courses, and am excited to teach fully online this summer. The course will contain two major connected components. First, there will be a series of online units built around recorded lectures, readings, and tasks. Second, I will host two ‘live’ classes a week where we will share thoughts and ideas about the ideas and arguments at the heart of the course.
Here are my top three tips for new students:
- Professors are potential references, advocates, and mentors participate in class;
- Make sure the professor knows your name (in a positive light);
- Pay attention to the world around you – look for connections between your experiences, current events, and your courses.
Deb Webb
MATH106: Algebra & Elementary Functions
In addition to teaching, I am the Assistant Director of UMBC’s SI PASS program in the Academic Success Center (ASC). I received an Associates of Science in Industrial and Digital Electronics from CCBC, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Information Systems and a Masters of Education in Instructional Technology from UMUC. I have been teaching since 1998, and I have taught the several UMBC math courses including LRC 099 (algebra 1), MATH 104, and MATH 106. I have also taught a variety of math classes at AACC.
I will be teaching Math 106 during the second summer session. This course is taught like a college algebra course and will prepare students for Precalculus and Applied calculus courses.
Students will learn the foundations of mathematics with real-world applications and examples that they can relate to. Understanding these basic concepts will help students in the subsequent math course and in life.
We use an online program called ALEKS as a learning component and BB Collaborate and Panopto video as online platforms to deliver instruction. I will use both asynchronous and synchronous modes of instruction to promote flexibility and active learning, so students can interact with me and other students as well as use recorded materials for review and to enhance learning.
Students should work on math concepts for at least 30 minutes per day. Remember the old adage, “practice makes perfect”. Practicing problem-solving will help students gain a better understanding of the material, make connections, build confidence, and discover how math not only relates to their everyday lives but how it can be fun as well.