Teaching Experience – University of California, Berkeley

CE 70 Engineering Geology in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Taught in Fall 1994, Spring 1995, Fall 1995, Spring 1996, Fall 1997, Fall 1998, Fall 1999 and Fall 2000. 2 unit lower division mandatory course for CEE majors.  Includes 3 hrs lecture and 1.5 hr lab/discussion per week, and one all-day Saturday field trip.  I changed focus to an introductory civil engineering course, focusing each lecture on a particular aspect of geology, with examples of how the topic has impacted engineering works. The course contains a lot of engineering history, with numerous disasters and failures to illustrate points.  Used colored chalk on board, color slides, laser disks and videos to illustrate key points.  Implemented discussion sessions in my office, and invited every student to provide e-mail feedback.    Tried to learn my students’ names by taking photos of them holding name cards, then memorizing. Tried to present pictures and subjects that were unique and interesting.  Enrollments increased, from 65 in Fall 1994 to 93 in Spring 1996.  Audits increased from 2 to 12 over same period, and up to 22% of enrollees come from outside civil engineering. 

 

EPLA 220 Environmental Geology for Planners in the Department of Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture, College of Environmental Design.  4-unit graduate course taught in Fall 1995 and Fall 1998.  16 to 24 enrolled.  3 hours lecture and 3 hours lab per week.  Four field trips: 1) one Saturday all day field mapping in Berkeley Hills; 2) 4 days in Sierra Nevada Mtns, White Mountains, Deep Springs Valley geologic mapping. 3) afternoon field trip to view hillside development and slope stability problems in East Bay and 4) 2-1/2 day trip down California Coast, view flooding, coastal retreat, erosion and debris flow hazards associated with highways, channelization and land use practices. Term project required on current topics chosen by instructor.   Instructor meets with each student 2-3 times to discuss problem, references, contacts, research approach, focus on assembly of relevant report, worthy of publication. 

 

Guest lecturer in Introduction to Civil Engineering CE 92 in spring semester 1994, spring 1995, spring 1996, spring 1997, spring 1998, spring 1999.  Guest lecturer in Art and Practice of Civil Engineering CE 192 in Fall of 1994, 1995 and 1996.  Topics usually revolved around some historical aspects of civil engineering (for CE 92) and professional development and ethics for CE 192.

Coordinated Berkeley’s summer intern program for civil engineering undergraduate students in 1995 and 1996.  Encouraged students to seek internships with engineering firms during the summer. Lectured on various methods to apply for internships at ASCE student chapter and Chi Epsilon meetings.  Had a direct hand in helping 32 students to find internships in summer of 1995, 27 in 1996, and 8 in 1997. Also served as advisor to Vietnamese and Asian students during 1995-96.  Helped them to form a Vietnamese Science and Engineering Students Association, and wrote some articles for their newsletter in 1996.

 

Guest lecturer in Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, 1990-present. Lectured in following courses: Natural Factors in Planning and Design EPLA 201 (Spring 1990, Fall 1990 and Fall 1998), Environmental Geology for Planners EPLA 220 (Fall 1992); Current Topics in Environmental Planning EPLA 254 (Spring 1997), Environmental Planning Studio EPLA 205 (Fall 1998);   Restoration of Rivers and Streams, EPLA 227, Fall 2000.