Francis Omotola Olanrewaju

I was privileged to be a visiting lecturer of engineering at the African Unviversity of Science & Engineering, AUST, Abuja, Nigeria in February 2013. My task on the contract was to develop the curriculum, lecture material for Computational modelling module as well as o-lecture the module. The module involved intensive teaching of finite element method/analysis (FEM/FEA) from first principles to students studying Engineering and Mathematics at Masters level. I also trained the students on the use of FEA software to verify the calculated results. (FEA is a challenging aspect of Mathematics that involves calculus, matrices, coding and sound understanding of core Sciences. I was invited by the university to teach the same module in 2014 and 2016.

Prior to the contract at AUST, I was a private teacher (one-on-one) to about three high school students (apart from my junior siblings) who were preparing for their O-levels. They all passed the subjects that I taught them, including mathematics which is often times dreaded by students.

My approach is to first dispel the fear that students have for maths. Thereafter, I treat the subject from a practical vantage point to make students discern the everyday-practical application of mathematics including A level partial differential models. In this way, my students no longer saw maths as an impossible, abstract subject.

I currently will teach remotely via well-presented Power Point slides. However, I can organise ti meet with students to teach in person once in while if necessary.