VITA

 

Kazuo Ota Cottrell

 

 

Qualifications: I am a highly qualified and motivated teacher with substantial experience in working with students from the most basic applied level to the advanced honors level. By using a patient and engaging approach I have found that it is possible to develop enthusiasm for learning in my students, which translates into their ability to learn science and mathematics effectively. There is no limit to what a student may achieve once she or he becomes enthusiastic about learning. I am passionate about science and mathematics, and passionate about teaching, and I enjoy sharing this excitement with my students, their parents, and other faculty and staff.

 

Experience:

 

            Teaching:

 

            2010 fall

Substitute Teacher of Honors Physics and Chemistry at Lyndon Institute in Lyndon Center, Vermont.

This position involved teaching four sections of Honors Physics and one section of General Chemistry, and monitoring one-and a-half study halls. The academic sections consisted of preparing and delivering lectures, laboratories and assessments, and maintaining accurate records of academic achievement. Age levels taught included primarily juniors and seniors.

2004 fall – 2010 spring

Honors Chemistry, Chemistry and Physics teacher at Lake Region Union High School in Orleans, Vermont.

This position involved teaching Honors Chemistry, General Chemistry, Freshman level Physics and Chemistry, as well as occasional sections of Earth Space and Environment. Ages of students taught ranged from freshmen to seniors, with levels ranging from basic applied to advanced honors. In the final year of this position, I was responsible for codesigning a new web-based course which blended physics and chemistry for students at the junior level. Besides the standard duties of assessment, supervision, and faculty service, other duties included maintaining a well-supplied lab and chemical stockroom, maintaining accurate records of student achievement, and communicating student outcomes to parents.

           

2007 spring – 2009 spring           

Adjunct faculty in Physics at Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vermont.

This position involved teaching first-year college level Physics (mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics) along with labs, including lecture preparation and delivery, class review and grading of problem sets, timely topical assessments, and maintaining accurate records of student progress and achievement.

 

2004 spring                   

Faculty in math and science at the Chelsea Public School in Chelsea, Vermont.

This position involved making learning interesting while teaching Pre-Algebra, Earth Science, and a basic math course called Math Workshop. Designed a science course called Journey Through Space and Time which focused on Astronomy, Physics and the technology of spaceflight. Grade levels taught included freshmen through seniors.

           

            2003 fall – 2004 spring        

Substitute teacher for science, Sutton Town School, in Sutton, Vermont.

This position involved successful implementation of the lesson plans of the regular science teacher when she was absent. Grade levels taught included 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades.

           

            2003 fall                                                      

Adjunct Faculty in mathematics at the Littleton Branch of New Hampshire Community Technical College.

This position involved teaching Technical Mathematics in a clear and compelling way to students primarily interested in technical careers,

           

            2002 summer – fall 2003   

Faculty in math and physics at the Caledonia School in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

The challenging position at this alternative school involved motivating and teaching Problem Solving, Algebra I and Algebra II, Geometry, Physics, Electricity, Astronomy, and a self-designed “Beautiful Equations” course based on the book, “Five Equations that Changed the World,” by Michael Guillen. Grade levels taught include freshmen through seniors.

 

2000 fall – 2002 summer     

Faculty in math and science at the King George School in Sutton, Vermont.

The time intensive but extremely satisfying position at this coed emotional growth boarding school involved teaching Physical Science, Algebra I, Geometry, Precalculus, and Physics. A major component of working here involved supervision, including duties at the dorm, and participation in all activities related to helping the students to develop fully as individuals. Grade levels taught include freshmen through seniors.

           

                       

Education:

 

            B.S.                 (Physics) University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio.

            M.S.                (Biophysics) University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.

            M.S.Ed.           (Secondary Science, Physics) State University of New York

                                    College at Brockport, Brockport, New York.

 

           

Master’s Thesis Research:

 

            Completed in August 1992, a final project in partial fulfillment of the

            requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Education, entitled,

            “Cognitive Development and the Growth of Conceptual Understanding in

            Physics.”

 

Publications:

 

Kazuo Ota Cottrell, A reexamination of the role of rest mass in special relativity. Spacetime & Substance, Vol.5, No. 4 (24), pp. 163-171, 2004.

 

Kazuo Ota Cottrell, A study of kinetic energy to clarify the role of gamma in the transformation of variables representing physical quantities. Spacetime & Substance, Vol. 5, No. 4 (24), pp. 154-161, 2004.

 

Kazuo Ota Cottrell, A reexamination of spacetime transformations from the viewpoint of matter waves. Spacetime & Substance, Vol. 5, No. 3 (23), pp. 104-112, 2004.

 

Xiao-Yuan Liu, Kazuo Ota Cottrell and Thomas M. Nordlund,

Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Quenching of Tyrosine in Lima Bean Trypsin/Chymotrypsin Inhibitor and Model Peptides. Photochem. Photobiol. 50, pp. 721-731, 1989.