Faculty Spotlight: Carl Weant
- What is your academic area of expertise? “My academic area of expertise is teaching mathematics with an emphasis in the Algebra’s and analytical Geometry.”
- What courses have you previously taught or are currently teaching?“I am presently teaching college algebra for NAU. I have taught Junior High School, High School and College level. I have taught Algebra 1, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Advanced Math, calculus, and College Algebra for high school students. While teaching for the Department of Defense Schools over-seas, I taught upper level math and International Baccalaureate mathematics which was a college prep mathematics course for high school students. I taught five years for the University of Maryland extension course’s over-seas to the military community in Bahrain where our fifth Naval Fleet is located. While there I taught college algebra, college geometry, and college trigonometry to military students that were stationed with the fifth fleet.”
- How long have you been with NAU and what do you enjoy the most about teaching? “I have been teaching with NAU for 1 year working out of the Knob Noster office. Students enter my class with learning experiences that vary greatly. I enjoy the challenge of teaching them mathematics in a manner in which they can clearly understand and leave my class with the confidence and understanding that they can do mathematics without fear of the subject. It is an enjoyment to see a student increase their confidence and self-esteem knowing that they have overcome the fear of mathematics. Knowing that I have the ability to make a difference in a student’s life gives me great satisfaction. I enjoy teaching because each class is different in range of ability and that makes my job interesting and challenging. I get to deal with people from a wide range of good and bad experiences that stimulate my senses to want to do some drastic remodeling or over-haul of their educational experiences and to make my class an enjoyable learning experience.”
- How has teaching influenced your life?“Teaching mathematics for thirty-four years has influenced my life tremendously. I have learned that low-achievement in mathematics is a product of our society. We have let teachers continue to teach who can’t teach or won’t teach with commitment and dedication to their subject area. We have allowed teachers to teach who are not qualified in their fields. We have allowed students’ to be “lazy” and not committed to learning but more committed to electronic devices such as video games, computer face book, texting, and the list goes on. I have also been influenced by the lack of parent support at home for education. So through the years, teaching has influenced my life by making me realize that I have the commitment, dedication, and subject knowledge to help students make the connections to mathematics, understand clearly the concepts being taught, build confidence and self-esteem, and promote an environment conducive to learning and promote higher level thinking skills. I have learned over the years that “if you can’t teach and promote learning”, then be willing to accept advice and learn how to overcome your deficiency so that your students don’t suffer the loss. “If you can teach and promote learning”, then be willing to give it 110% commitment and dedication so that your students will succeed. This theory has influenced my life both in the classroom and my endeavors that I have encountered throughout my life.”
- What advice do you have for NAU students? “My advice to the students of NAU is to treat your course as job you love knowing that it will reflect on your future promotions in life. Attend every class, be on time, take detailed notes, pay close attention to details in class, ask questions when you don’t understand, do all your assignments with commitment, study for quizzes, test, and your final exam as though your job, your livelihood and your future depended on your ability to succeed in your class. Your ability to succeed depends on YOUR commitment to want to learn. So the ball is in your hands. Are you going to fumble the ball or carry the ball into the correct end zone and be successful?”
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