

ZHENHAO ZHOU
Post-doctoral Researcher
Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences
Florida State University

Let's do and share great science together!
I am passionate about teaching! I am always patient, inclusive, and offering clear guidance to my students. My teaching philosophy is all about creating an engaging and interactive learning environment. I have been involved in multiple petrology and mineralogy courses, especially lab sessions. Instead of waiting for students to ask questions, I like to join their groups and ask, 'Tell me what you see?' This approach really helps spark conversations and encourages students to share what they’re observing.
My philosophy proved effective, especially during my time as a teaching assistant in graduate school. I designed lectures and problem sets, applying this philosophy to create a natural and rewarding learning experience for undergraduates. My efforts were recognized by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I was honored as one of the 'Teachers Who Ranked As Excellent By Their Students' (See insets [a], [b] for details).

(b)
(a) University of Illinois Official Notice regarding anonymous teaching effectiveness rating results;
(b) My rating result.

(a)
Courses for which I was a TA in lab sessions:
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ESS262 Earth System Processes (University of Toronto) 2022
ESS322 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (University of Toronto) 2020, 2021
ESS224 Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology (University of Toronto) 2021
ESS221 Minerals and Rocks (University of Toronto) 2019
GEOL436 Petrology and Petrography (University of Illinois) 2016, 2017
GEOL107 Physical Geology (University of Illinois) 2017