Tom LoFaroMathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics
Posted on April 15th, 2024 by

So when my students struggle with a problem I tell them to “embrace the stuck.”

Portrait photo of Tom Lofaro in a red shirt. What are your areas of research and teaching expertise?

Dynamical Systems and Mathematical Biology

What is your teaching style?

I want to reward students for learning the material, not learning the material fast.  My teaching and grading style varies depending on the course level but this is the guiding principle.

Describe your “lightbulb moment.”

The few that I’ve had are too “mathy” to describe in a sentence or two.  However, they were all proceeded by long and seemingly fruitless struggles thinking deeply about the problem.  So when my students struggle with a problem I tell them to “embrace the stuck.”

What do you enjoy outside the classroom?

Fly fishing and other outdoor activities.

What tips do you have for student success? 

Go to class and use office hours.

What is your favorite author/book?

Every college student should read “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert Pirsig.  The “embrace the stuck” idea comes from that masterpiece.

 

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