Department of Chemistry University of Toronto

3359 Mississauga Rd., North

University of Toronto at Mississauga

Mississauga Ontario L5L 1C6 CANADA

Tel: 905-828-5263(w), Fax: 905-828-5425

Sung Han Park

Teaching Experience and Philosophy

I undertook extensive undergraduate and graduate chemistry courses in order to build an excellent background in chemical sciences. Some of the major chemistry courses that I have taken in the past include General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Catalytic Process, Physical Methods in Chemistry, Crystallography, Organotransition Metal Chemistry, and Inorganic Materials. The chemistry courses that I have taught include General Chemistry and its associated Lab, Inorganic Chemistry and its associated Lab, Physical Chemistry and its associated Instrumental Analysis Lab, and Analytical Chemistry and its associated Lab. In addition, I also have experience in teaching a Short Chemistry Course for Mass Spectrometry for the American Chemical Society.

Given my past experience and studies, I have the understanding and essential knowledge in chemistry along with the confidence and desire to instruct students. This results from the theoretical experiences in my undergraduate school and practical experiences in my graduate schools that were attained from the courses that I have taken and taught, and the research in which I have participated.

Of all the experiences that brought me here today, the basic and theoretical experience in chemistry in the undergraduate school has been most important for my extended study. The knowledge from lower education has helped me in my graduate and postgraduate research. Another aspect of my experiences in chemistry is the study I undertook in several different countries. This was an advantage in that I would be able to compare and analyze the academic profession of the different countries. In a larger sense, this gives more clear vision and comprehensive answers to the questions as to how to teach effectively, what directions and with what kind of subjects in courses I will have to teach.

In a more individual sense, there are the following two important aspects for me to consider as a teacher. First, students should be taught so that they can explore their futures in their area of study positively. For this to be realized, the instructors in the major are responsible for not only teaching fundamental part of knowledge, but also presenting desirable direction for students according to their future prospects and plans. It is equally important that teachers should effectively advise and assist students to achieve positive progress based on their desires for future careers either in industry or graduate studies.

Second, students should certainly know What Is Important in a subject and What Is the Current Trend in the subject they are dealing with. This means students have to not only gain any “knowledge of facts” in a subject, but also to catch up “the current trends of the knowledge” which is often ignored by both advisers and students. It is very desirable for students to acquire the very basic knowledge they need, and it is equally, or more importantly desirable, to follow up the most recent research results of the subject. These are directly related to their future career right ahead in doing research for a firm, or preparing a proposal for graduate study.

Based on my experiences I will be able to advise and assist students and teach any area of chemistry courses including biochemistry, general chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and material chemistry.