Prof. Iarrobino: Teaching, and Course Information
Teaching philosophy (nutshell):
I think students should work hard, and if they do, they
should do well. My quizzes and exams are often not easy, but students are usually prepared.
I believe students prefer to understand what is going on behind the subject, rather than
just memorize. Lots of problems are done as homework and gone over in class, there is
some work in small groups in class. If a student wants to meet with me,
or needs extra time in office hours, I am very committed to being available.
Undergraduate Research
(Added Fall 2011). Students may take a directed study that involves undergraduate research, and this may if approved by Prof. Jekel
serve as a math capstone course. It is very likely, also that the
there will soon be a math capstone option that will involve students who choose it in undergraduate research.
The topic of commuting nilpotent matrices that I with some colleagues have been working on has a number of problems
suitable for undergrad research. Currently one student is doing research on a problem involving the Jordan
canonical forms possible for two commuting nilpotent matrices.
Advising: I an happy to informally (or formally) advise math majors, particularly those having
unusual background, and transfer students; note that I wlll always collaborate with Prof. Jekel, who is the head undergraduate advisor
and especially knowledgeable re requirements, so undergrad majors or students considering a minor
should be in touch with him.
I have good listening skills and encourage students to
explore their interests, gifts. Some of my undergraduate advisees have been advanced in
math, one a Presidential Scholar, some eventually taking a few graduate courses. The NU Math
Department is very strong, with exceptional depth in combinatorics, algebra, and geometry,
and strength in differential equations, and it can be an excellent department for a strong student
who wishes to develop a specialized interest. The math curriculum leaves space for other
interests, and we support students who wish to develop their unique combination of interests:
in the past there have been double majors in music and mathematics, geology and math, and of
course computer science and math.
I have a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology: I did a practicum
involving patients having head injury or spinal cord injury at a rehabilitation psychology
center at University Hospital, and I was a Volunteer Counselor at a community mental health center.
My role with students is not the same, of course, but I am committed to attentive listening.
If you need to reach me, please use e-mail:
a.iarrobino@neu.edu
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Created: October 16, 1999, by A. Iarrobino. Last modified: September 5, 2011.
URL:http://www.math.neu.edu/~iarrobino/teaching.html